Growing houseplants like orchids requires a lot of patience and consistency. You may already have tried the orchid coffee grounds hack or the very popular banana peel trick to keep them happy, but have you heard of using rice water? This is a trend group member Shifta Khan, from the Orchids Tips and Tricks Facebook page, has turned to for providing a new source of nutrients for these beautiful indoor plants.
Sharing a photo of her orchid in full bloom, Shifta detailed how the houseplant “hadn’t bloomed in 18 months” before testing out this hack. She said: “I was feeding it with orchid feed every fortnight, and it looked healthy, but wasn’t flowering.”
Her neighbour advised her to give rice water a go. This involved soaking rice for 30 minutes, draining the water, and placing the orchid pot in a pan half-filled with the rice water for 15 minutes.
Shifta said, “I did this three times and voila, a flower shoot started to grow, and it has been blooming non-stop for over a month.
“I’m in the UK and water my orchids every fortnight by soaking them in water for 15 to 20 minutes.”
So, is rice water actually beneficial for orchids? Well, it can be, as rice water contains starches that can provide energy to orchids. The water also contains vitamin B, which will be released into the soil when you use it.
Rice water will also build up beneficial bacteria in the soil, leading to a healthier root system.
Vitamin B in particular helps orchids establish a robust root system, which is why it is often found in plant fertilisers. The volume of vitamin B and starch in rice water provides the ultimate boost for orchid growth.
It’s worth noting that watering your orchids too often with rice water can have a negative effect, as the starch can create a paste that impacts drainage.
It’s best not to rely on rice water and rather use it moderately and less frequently to simply provide a boost for your orchid alongside regular fertiliser.
