Hi I'm new here! I have a Bird of Paradise that I purchased from one of the direct gardening places and it came looking pretty pathetic. This is my first one and I want to be sure I take care of it properly.
Should I cut the wilted/brown leaves and stems, and if so at what point? Higher up or at the base? I'll be going to get it new soil as well, from what I've read it seems to need soil and fertilizer similar to my coffee plants, acidic and well draining.
Also if there are any other tips for caring for this plant I'd be happy to hear them.

I am no BOP expert but I had a similar question back when my Giant BOP was little. That was 4 years ago. I find it best to trim the stalks as far to the base as possible. This is not like a palm that creates beautiful weavings with the old leaf bases. In fact, most of it will eventually fall off and be replaced by new leaves. Keep us posted!

@Grimya

If brown or badly damaged cut back as low as possible. BOP will drop its lower leaves as it grows new ones at the top. This is normal.

That is a pretty poor shape plant. Were it me, I think I would ask for a replacement. This one is gonna take a while to grow out all the bad parts. If it were me, I think I would allow this to catch its breath before starting to whack away on it.

I have a giant White BOP that I picked up locally on sale. I kept it in full sun ( ~ 10 AM to sundown) last summer and watered the hell out of it - sometimes 2 times per day.

I left it in a pot and sank the pot since I must over-winter indoors. Kept it in the Living Room where it did ok.

Just moved it to the screen porch a few days ago.

aboard. Good luck.

OBTW - what Zone are you in

@ShadyGreenThumb - Is yours in the ground and hardy there?

@DavidLMO My Giant BOP is hardy until it freezes so I have it in a large pot so I can tote it into the greenhouse. It really enjoyed the mild winter. Had I known it would never freeze, I would have left it outside. It appears to have a flower coming. But it is not opening or changing. But it has sprouted a new baby. I have a healthy 10 ft BOP and 2 new babies. If I had a sunny place I would plant it in the ground this year as it is getting BIG. Those that are planted in the ground grow fast and tall and I hear can be messy. They do die back in a freeze but come back each year. I wish I had enough sun in the house to bring it in. I hear they make awesome house plants by a sunny window.

Yeah - I kept mine in my Living room. They are an attractive house plant and often used in offices.