Orchids and peace lilies are known for their elegant flowers but need to be fed the right fertiliser to ensure they bloom throughout the rest of the year.
Both orchids and peace lilies tend to produce more flowers in the spring, so it is important to prepare now to get the most out of their growing season.
Houseplants need the right nutrients in the soil to grow properly, but you do not have to spend money as you can make one with items in your kitchen.
The experts at Almost Off Grid have shared that you can make a simple fertiliser tea for plants using leftover eggshells and banana peels.
They said: “Bananas contain nutrients that houseplants love. When you soak banana skins and the skins decompose, banana peels release potassium and small amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus and magnesium into the water.
“Meanwhile, egg shells are a rich source of calcium in the form of calcium carbonate…eggshells also contain other nutrients which are important for plants such as phosphorus and magnesium, together with traces of sodium, potassium, zinc, manganese, iron and copper.”
It may seem strange, but eggshells can help plant roots grow stronger while also stopping the soil from being too acidic so it can absorb water and nutrients better.
Banana peels contain nutrients that encourage flowering, making you more likely to get bigger blooms on your houseplants.
This natural fertiliser takes minutes to prepare and costs nothing to make. It will help plants store more energy, allowing them to grow more flowers this spring.
How to make a homemade fertiliser for houseplants
All you need to do is cut your banana peels and crush your eggshells into much smaller pieces.
Make sure to wash out the eggshells before crushing them, as any remaining eggy residue can attract pests.
Then, place the banana peel and eggshell pieces into a jar or container with a lid.
Submerge the fertiliser parts in water and then store it out of sight for a little while to allow the water to soak up all the nutrients.
It is best to wait at least one day, but do not leave the solution for more than three days, as otherwise it will rot too much and be more work to clean up.
Once the time is up, add one part houseplant tea and one part clean water to a watering can to dilute the fertiliser. Get rid of any remaining banana peels or eggshells, as you only need the water.
Water your peace lilies or orchids like you normally would. This should give them an organic boost and help them grow healthier and more abundant flowers.
Only feed these plants the houseplant tea solution once a month as they are light feeders, and using too much can risk overfertilising them.