Orchids should produce lots of flowers in summer, but they can struggle to grow and bloom properly if they are not given the right nutrients. During hot summer months, houseplants can quickly become stressed and dehydrated, which can greatly affect their ability to produce flowers.
However, with the right nutrients, orchids can grow stronger roots, which will cause them to absorb water more efficiently and cope better with high temperatures. Elle Ann, an expert from DIY Joy has shared that you do not have to spend money on a fertiliser as one of the best natural feeds for orchids is simply using leftover rice or potato water.
She said: “Rice water is rich in vitamin B while potato water contains calcium and potassium.
“There are a lot of fertilisers available that you can purchase any time but they could cost you a lot of money, plus, this DIY fertiliser is something you can always collect whenever you’re cooking.”
The leftover water you use to boil potatoes contains potassium, which is the main nutrient needed for flower production and also helps improve root strength.
Meanwhile, the water used to cook rice contains vitamins and trace minerals that help orchids recover when they become stressed or dehydrated.
Both rice and potato water help boost a orchid natural resilience and are also very starchy which feeds the plant to give it lots of energy.
How to keep orchids flowering and healthy with leftover cooking water
All you need to do is save a pot of starchy water after cooking potatoes or rice, then pour it into a heatproof container.
It should be noted that you cannot feed orchids this leftover water if it contains any spices or a stock cube, as the salt will damage the plant.
Make sure the water has cooled completely, then mix the rice or potato water with four parts fresh water from a tap. Natural feeds are really potent and you need to dilute them so you do not overfertilise your plants.
Once the water has been diluted, pour it in the soil at the base of the orchid plant. Avoid getting any mixture on the leaves or any foliage.
Water your plants with this mixture once every two weeks and it will give orchids the boost they need to flower throughout summer.