Article content
Orchids are among the most popular houseplants thanks to their beautiful flowers, which can last for several weeks. However, if it seems that your plant doesn’t feel like flowering, it may just need a bit of natural support. You don’t have to immediately buy expensive chemical fertilizers – ingredients you commonly have at home in the kitchen will suffice.
Gardeners recommend a simple yet effective trick: use rice water. This seemingly ordinary ingredient contains important substances – nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and carbohydrates, which are absolutely crucial for the growth and flowering of orchids.
Magical rice water for orchids
Many people simply pour the water away after cooking rice. Yet this very liquid is full of B vitamins and minerals that can benefit your plants. If you use it correctly, it becomes a natural and inexpensive homemade fertilizer.
How to prepare rice water for orchids:
- Soak 50 g of rice in 500 ml of water.
- Let it sit for 24 hours, then strain.
- Store the water in the refrigerator, but always let it warm to room temperature before use.
- Water orchids and other houseplants with this water once every 15–20 days.
Regular watering with this solution will support the formation of buds, strengthen the plant’s immunity and give it shine and vitality.
Banana peel – the best natural fertilizer for orchids
Another tried-and-true tip is the banana peel, which is rich in potassium and phosphorus – substances that support flower formation and root strength. There are several ways to use it:
- Banana tea: Grind the dried peel into a powder, pour boiling water over it and let it cool. Use as a watering solution.
- Peel powder: Crush the dried peel and occasionally add it to the potting mix.
- Banana fertilizer: Let two peels steep for two days in 2 liters of water, then dilute 1:1 and use for watering.
- Fresh peel: Gently rub the inner side over the orchid’s leaves – they will gain a beautiful shine and also absorb valuable nutrients.
Homemade concentrated fertilizer
If you want to give your plants even stronger nutrition, you can prepare a mixture of several natural ingredients: rice water, a bit of milk, molasses, tea bags and crushed bones. The result is a real nutritional bomb full of calcium, nitrogen and magnesium. However, apply such a mixture at most once or twice a month, otherwise overfertilization may occur.
How to fertilize orchids correctly
- Apply fertilizer during active growth and the formation of new shoots.
- Use it every other watering, but always sparingly.
- During blooming, support the plants, but do not combine with commercial fertilizer sticks or strong chemicals.
- In winter and during summer heat, apply fertilizer at most once a month.
- Never overfertilize sick or weakened plants.
Conclusion
If you want your orchids to bloom regularly and abundantly, try the simple trick with rice water or a banana peel. These kitchen ingredients will provide the plants with all the necessary nutrients and are also ecological and inexpensive. Your flowers will thank you with beautiful, long-lasting blooms.
