Orchids typically bloom every eight to 12 months, but there are some ways to make them rebloom straight away.
Lighting, temperature and pruning are just some factors that can affect the blooming cycle of an orchid.
However, one woman proved that watering and fertiliser play a big role when encouraging an orchid to bloom again.
Taking to the Orchids Tips and Tricks Facebook page, one woman claimed to have seen fantastic results from her houseplant by using two kitchen ingredients in the water she uses for her orchid.
Alana Steele said: “For the past few months I’ve been feeding my phals [phalaenopsis orchid] banana tea and rice water and I’m finally getting the magnificent blooms I imagined. So thank you for all your tips and tricks.”
As banana peels contain potassium, phosphorus, and calcium, the experts at Heavenly Orchids claimed that they are a “good organic fertiliser”.
Make banana peel tea by steeping fresh banana skins in water for 48 hours, then dilute with four parts water.
Alternatively, gardeners can cut the banana peel into thin strips, dry it in the sun for two days, and then grind it into a fine powder that can be sprinkled onto the growing medium.
Rice water can also be used on orchids to give the plant a boost similar to banana water.
As rice water contains trace amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium as well as starches that feed beneficial mycorrhizae on the roots, it makes it a “very good” organing fertiliser, claims the experts.
To make rice water, start by soaking some rice – any type will do – in water for 30 minutes or more, strain the water into a bottle or jar, let ferment for one week and keep it out of direct sunlight.
The experts urged that the solution must be allowed to breathe, so loosely screw the cap on the bottle or cover it with a porous cloth to allow airflow.
After one week, dilute the solution with an equal amount of water and spray on roots and leaves as a “foliar fertiliser”.
Rice water foliar feed also has some benefits as an effective insecticide for the houseplant.
