Question
HI,
I have been growing a bird of paradise (orange)for about 8 years now and as of late last year to presant the growth seems to be stunted. The leafs now are about half the size  and they also are sending up two at a time right next to each other. When the leafs open up they are creased and misshapen (and small) I have had 3 blooms in the last 3 years, but mostly I'm concerned with the growth issue.

Answer
Hi Jim, often times when a plant begins to wane, I have found that lifting it and moving it to a different location, where there is no competition from other plants, stimulates it into growth; there are numerous issues that could cause the cessation of normal growth in your bird, but without seeing it and having a history of how its been treated and what might have changed the soil base which it has spent 8 years, its difficult to even begin speculating. Try moving it to a sunnier location with a nice unspoiled soil base, give it a good watering and then plenty of time to acclimate itself and begin to send out new roots which will eventually result in healthy crown growth. Nick