how to separate birds-of-paradise plants must be mature in order to have enough healthy rhizomes available for dividing as well as to maintain the original plant divide plants that are at least three years old plants that produced healthy flowers and foliage the year before likely have many healthy rhizomes growing under the soil surface dividing takes place in spring or early summer before the bird of paradise begins actively growing again dividing during or immediately after flowering prevents the leaves from collecting the nutrients needed for healthy rhizomes this leads to stunted plants that aren't likely to survive dig around the area and slide a spade under the roots lifting them out of the ground take care not to cut the roots with the Spade while digging or to damage the fan of leaves protruding from the rhizomes potted birds of paradise just need to be lifted out of their pots cut apart the rhizomes with a sharp knife leaving a fan of leaves and a root on each rhizome piece replant each rhizome in the vent or a new pot to their original depth divided plants will begin flowering again within one to two years after splitting keep the soil in both pots and garden beds evenly moist especially in the first three months after dividing avoid over watering that leads to soggy soil place potted plants where they don't receive direct sunlight this allows them to concentrate on root growth instead of foliage production after two months move the pot into bright sunlight begin fertilizing the bird-of-paradise three months after dividing use an organic fertilizer or balanced granular fertilizer outdoors and standard house plant feeds for potted birds-of-paradise