Article: Dead flowers are pretty easy to spot in the bush because the natural color of the plant is so vibrant. Once the orange blooms and blue base of the flower begin to fade to brown, it’s time to deadhead (remove dead flower heads). It’s okay to begin pruning before all of the blooms on the plant have died. If you have even 2 or 3 dead blooms, removing them can help the remaining flowers live longer. Follow the stem of the dead flower to the base of the plant, then use your pruning shears to snip as close as possible to the base of the plant. This will prevent the long stem from browning and rotting after you remove the flower.  Bird of Paradise flowers won’t naturally shed dead stems after the flower is removed, so it’s important to remove as much of the stem as possible. This helps your plant to look clean and colorful year round! Always wear thick gardening gloves when pruning. The Bird of Paradise also has large green leaves that can die and begin to brown once blooming is over. Normally, you can pull these using just your hands. You can also use the pruning shears to remove any stubborn leaves that won’t come out.  Always try to remove any dead foliage as close to the stump of the plant as possible to maintain the trimmed appearance of the plant. Failure to remove dead leaves can result in rotting and fungal infections that can kill the plant completely, so make sure you dispose of the dead foliage completely! If you live in an area that can get the occasional freezing night, you should cover your plant with a tarp to protect its blooms. One freeze can cause numerous dead flowers and leaves. If your plant is in a pot, bring it indoors during very cold temperatures to prevent freezing of the leaves and flowers.

What is a summary?
Look for brown, dead flowers. Cut the stem of the dead flower as close as possible to the base of the plant. Cut or pull any excess brown foliage. Cover the plant with a tarp during deep freezes.