Okay, this is gonna be really long. But I need help. I was gifted this birds of paradise about 4-5 years ago and it used to be so happy for a long time. It was putting out tons of new leaves and was gorgeous. Mind you, I had zero clue about plants I just got it as a gift and it loved my brightly lit apartment. Fast forward years later and we moved to a house where it wasn’t growing. I assumed it needed a larger pot (I did zero googling, I didn’t know it was more complicated than that) so I repotted it and of course it got worse. I started researching and learned it was the placement that was hurting it originally because it wasn’t getting enough light, and now it was also in too big a pot. I eventually repotted to smaller pot but my friend accidentally pulled it apart and so the roots while “helping” me so they are much smaller now and I know that gave it some trauma (I don’t want to talk about it 😞). I did trim the sad leaves off to hopefully encourage it to give energy to the remaining 3 leaves. She now has been in ICU with a grow light for 1.5 months or so now, but no real progress. She Hasn’t gotten worse and did appear to perk up a bit but no new growth. As I learn more about plants and potting, Im thinking the soil is too compact (just regular potting soil) and maybe pot is still too big. I did recently stake it with moss pole and that seems to help, but now the dang thing has fungus gnats. It’s my fault I let it sit above a drain pan full of water. Im definitely learning by screwing up and dealing with the consequences. I’m 🤏 close to putting it on curb but I really love it and want it to come back. I have put the cinnamon in it and moved it away from other plants. Also ordered some stuff to treat it. I’m scared to do the hydrogen peroxide treatment since the soil is still damp from watering last week. IM SO OVER THIS BIRD. Can anybody advise on what the best course of action should be? I feel like it needs to be repotted in a smaller, taller pot with much airier soil but I don’t want to traumatize it anymore. Also I don’t know if you’re supposed to repot when it has gnats. The internet is so back and forth, I really want human opinions! Photos are of it the past 3-4 weeks and last photo is of it today. I don’t have the heart to show you what she did look like 😭. Thanks for any help in advance.
