Orchids are treasured houseplants owing to their stunning appearance, yet it can frequently prove difficult to encourage them to flower during their blooming period. Making sure an orchid’s fundamental requirements are satisfied is crucial, but the primary reason orchids fail to flourish is insufficient watering or lacking proper nourishment, reports the Express.
Mark Curran, a horticulturist and founder of Heavenly Orchids, revealed that you needn’t splash out on expensive fertiliser for orchids as they can be rejuvenated when given breakfast leftovers. He said: “Some of the best natural fertilisers for orchids are available on your kitchen shelves.” It may sound peculiar, but one of the finest natural scraps to nourish your orchids in summer is a cup of tea, as it will help moisturise your orchid whilst also providing it with a nutritional boost.
Mark said: “Black tea has tannins, similar to the tannins that orchids would receive in nature from tree bark, leaves, and moss. Black tea soaks are beneficial for rehydrating and revitalizing dehydrated orchids.”
Simply steep a tea bag in cool and filtered water for ten minutes, then immerse the orchid roots in the tea mixture. When watering orchids it proves best to filter the water by filling a vessel with water and leaving it to stand for at least a day to permit the chlorine in the tap water to dissipate.
Mark said: “Doing this on a daily basis for orchids that have become dehydrated has excellent results. My all-time favourite tea is Barry’s Tea from Ireland.
“When it comes to black tea there is no other tea that compares in flavour and taste. This tea is so strong that you could make an orchid tea solution with the leftover tea bag.”
Providing orchids with a black tea fertiliser will help enhance their leaf and root development as it contains nitrogen and potassium, which are vital nutrients for plant growth.
Orchids also favour slightly acidic soil to flourish in which will help minimise plant stress, but be cautious to only nourish orchids with black tea once a month during their growing season as excessive acidity will damage the houseplant.
Banana skins are also amongst the finest kitchen scraps to nourish orchids as they contain potassium and phosphorus which supports flower development.
Mark said: “Banana peels contain potassium, phosphorus, and calcium and are a good organic fertilizer. Make banana peel tea by steeping fresh banana skins in water for 48 hours, then dilute with four parts water to one.”
Eggshells can also help provide orchids with the nutrients they require as they contain a substantial amount of calcium, which is needed to keep plants healthy and grow stronger.
However, ensure you thoroughly cleanse eggshells of yolk as any eggy remnants will attract pests and crush up the eggshells as it makes it easier for the orchids to absorb nutrients.
Mark said: “Eggshells contain calcium and you can either make a tea from eggshells that have been cleaned and dried, or you can use a mortar and pestle to grind up the shells and sprinkle into your potting medium where it will act as a slow release fertiliser.
“To make an eggshell tea, place cleaned, ground eggshells in a large water bottle or container, let sit for one week before use.”