Theres a reason the bird of paradise is one of the most popular tropical houseplants, and its not because its gorgeous (though that helps). For all its dramatic beauty, this tropical plant is relatively easy to care for, and with just a little work, it can thrive indoors. We say relatively because, honestly, caring for any indoor plant requires effort, and weve been led astray by more than one well-meaning editorial that claims a plant is indestructible. Just shimmy it into a corner with decent light exposure, weve been told, and forget about it. Rule of (a green) thumb: Nothing worth having should be forgotten, and maintaining anything good takes a little work. The bird of paradise is both worth having, and good. Treat it well and it might even bloom indoors. Confused? Thats fair. Though the bird of paradise can thrive indoors, an indoor bloom is considered rare. The reason it shows up in so many elegant parlors is in fact for its architectural stalks, waxy green leaves, and regal bearing. Like the banana tree or palm, the bird of paradise brings the outside in. Unlike those other two, the bird of paradise is easier to care for. Lets dive in.What is a bird of paradise?Jacky Parker Photography//Getty ImagesThe vibrant Bird of paradise flower also known as Strelitzia reginae, in South Africa it is commonly known as a crane flower. The bird of paradise, with its showy orange, blue, and purple blooms, was named for the bird of the same name, whose white and yellow plumage (on the male birds, anyway) arcs like a frozen waterfall. Bird of paradise is the common name for strelitzia, part of the strelitziaceae family, and actually describes five different species. However, most of us are familiar with only three (did you know theres a white-blooming bird of paradise?), and only two are fit for living indoors. In South Africa, where the plant is said to originate, and where its called a crane flower, the bloom is depicted on the countrys 50-cent coin. Its also the floral emblem of Los Angeles. If we can take any cues from these two places, it's the plants ideal growing climate: warm, in soil thats loose, and loamy (a little sand, a little silt, and a little nutrient-rich clay). Bird of paradise wants the temperature to hover between a balmy 70F and 90, during the day, and to never dip below 50 at night.How should you source a quality plant?Alexandre Morin-Laprise//Getty ImagesThe bird of Paradise, ready to plant in a garden in Medellin, Antioquia / Colombia.These plants are prone to root rot, aphids, and spider mites. When youre picking out a plant at the nursery, Do a pest check, advises Tegan Davis, chief creative officer of Variegated NYC. Turn the leaves over and look for creepy-crawlies and the webs made by spider mites. Its also a good idea to talk to staff about the plant youve picked up. The two types of bird of paradise typically grown indoors are S. reginae, with orange blooms, and S. Nicolai, with white-blooms. Youll want to know which one youre bringing home.Last, youll need a pot and soil mix recommended for tropical plants. Make sure you get a pot that can support the full growth range of the bird of paradise, which can be five and sometimes six feet tall. Starting with a 14-inch pot is a pretty safe bet. Ideally, however, the pot you get should be at least two inches bigger than the plastic one its been living in at the nursery. For soil, youll want to start with a mix intended for tropical plants, and then add things like white lava rock (perlite) and orchid bark to make a chunkier mix, as Davis puts it, that will dry out well.As soon as you get home, take the bird of paradise out of its plastic container, give the roots a shake and gentle untangling, and move it into its new pot along with the prepared soil mixture.Shop These Bird of Paradise ToolsSoil Sunrise Potting Soil10" Plant Pot$59 at West ElmWallowa Round Concrete Planter Set$179 at AmazonMiracle-Gro Miracle-Gro Liquid Fertilizer$13 at AmazonFiskars Fiskars PrunerNow 43% OffLeaf Cleaning Gloves$25 at wethewild.usWhere is the best place to put a bird of paradise? Right next to the window. However, light lovers though they are, they dont actually want to bake in the sun like succulents. Find a spot in your house thats hit by strong morning and early afternoon rays. Too much sun can cause the edges of leaves to get brown and brittle. Its a balancing act. Ultimately, the way to encourage those rare blooms is to give your bird of paradise a ton of the kind of light it likes. If you really want to up your game, says Davis, you can rotate the bird of paradise every two weeks or so. Left in place, the bird of paradise will grow toward the window. Rotating it will even it out, says Davis, so it doesnt grow lopsided.If you live in a warm climate, you can move your bird of paradise outdoors for the summer months. Just be sure to pull it back in before the first frost.How often should you feed and water your bird of paradise?These plants want well-watered soil, but they dont want their roots to stand in water. A good rule is to stick a finger into the soil. If the first few inches are dry, its time to water (roughly once a week, depending on house temps.) Though some will advise using a spray bottle to mist your bird of paradise, experts say this isnt a replacement for the humidity the plant actually wants. A humidifier is what youre going to want (tip: if the leaves are curling, or new growth is unable to properly unfurl, it might be due to insufficient humidity).In terms of feeding, its a good idea to set a reminder. The bird of paradise gets hungry. Using either liquid fertilizer or pellets that dissolve slowly, feeding should happen regularly, roughly once a month in the spring and summer. Feeding the plant in the winter, outside of its growing season, however, can be harmful to the plant. When is it time to prune (and handle other basic maintenance)?When you see brown stalks, frayed edges, and damaged leaves, its time to prune. Or, if you should be lucky enough to get a bloom, youll want to deadhead when the bright petals have begun to fade and droop (they can last up to three weeks). Using sharp sheers, gently cut away the dead matter, cutting the stalks all the way back to the soil if necessary. Its recommended to sterilize your instrument between cuts.Bird of paradise is known as a fast grower. This means repotting and dividing might have to happen every year to two years, once the plant has reached its full five or six feet. Propagating, or dividing and repotting new growth, should be done during the growing season. Look for growth at the base of your plant, and using a sharp trowel, divide and dig out the new growth along with its roots. Transfer to a new pot, fill with the proper soil mix, and water.It's also advised to keep dust off of leaves. You can use a rag for this or some beautiful gloves made expressly for the purpose. Is the bird of paradise safe for your pets?Pet owners, these plants are not for you. At least, not for the indoor spaces shared by your fur people. Bird of paradise plants are indeed considered toxic to cats and dogs.