A gardening expert has revealed an unlikely household ingredient that can keep your orchids blooming multiple times a year.
Kiva Kriti, from London, shared her ingenious trick on TikTok, which has enabled her houseplant to bloom twice a year instead of just once.
The method involves chopping a banana peel into pieces and soaking it in warm water for several hours; this banana water can then be used to hydrate the orchid.
The green-fingered TikToker recommends repeating this process every 10 days, before showcasing her vibrant plant. She concludes the video with: “Happy plant, happy you.”
When asked how often she uses this particular water for her plants, Kiva replied: “I do [it] once a month [during] blooming time.”
Intrigued, one TikTok user asked: “Can this cause bugs or mould, or something?” Kiva replied: “Not really.”
Zama_lunga protested: “My orchids are dying because of this.” Kiva responded: “Please don’t over water it.”
Orchids will not thrive if they are left in soaking wet soil, which is why the pot must have adequate drainage.
Kiva demonstrated that she waters her orchid in the kitchen sink so that excess water can flow down the sink.
According to horticulturist Victoria Lee Blackstone, orchids have varied blooming seasons depending on their species.
Moth orchids typically reach their blooming season in March and, if properly cared for, should last “several months”. Ms Blackstone advises plant enthusiasts to re-pot spring-blooming Cattleyas “immediately” after their blooming season has ended.
Orchid enthusiasts should be aware that the plant’s roots can sometimes outgrow their pots, necessitating a move to a larger container.
Graham Rice, a renowned plantsman, shared with the Royal Horticultural Society that certain orchid species can prove challenging to encourage into a second bloom, particularly when grown indoors.
However, he did share a handy tip – ensure a cooler temperature at night compared to the daytime.
He suggested that reducing the heat by five degrees could stimulate the plants into flowering, and even relocating them to a different room might do the trick.
