Orchids are one of the most popular houseplants due to their beautiful and unusual blooms but if they’re not flowering as much as usual, it could be due to a lack of nutrients
Orchids are well-loved for their colourful and unique flowers, but many enthusiasts get disappointed when their prized plants don’t blossom as they should. One top tip from green-fingered experts suggests that a lack of nutrients might be the cause, and here’s a nifty way to help: simply add banana peels to the soil.
Olivia, an expert gardener and the brains behind Gardening Olivia, has let slip a garden secret that turns banana peel rubbish into golden bloom booster. She said: “Believe it or not, banana peels can be a terrific organic fertiliser to help your orchids bloom! Who would have thought that something we consider garbage has such great value for our plants?”
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She recounts her own scepticism turned success story: “When I first heard this idea, I was sceptical too. But after trying it myself, I’m a believer.
“My orchids used to bloom so sporadically, maybe once or twice a year if I was lucky. But ever since switching to banana peels as a fertilizer, they bloom like clockwork several times a year.”
But why are banana peels such a game-changer for these houseplants? It turns out that feeding orchids with banana peels not only helps them keep hydrated, especially during the scorching summer months, but also encourages more frequent flowering, reports the Express.
Dishing out the science behind the magic, Olivia explains, “Potassium is important for overall plant health and plays a key role in flowering. It helps transport carbohydrates, which orchids need for energy to produce blooms.”
And now, how exactly do you transform those kitchen scraps into an orchid’s delight?
Once the banana peels have hardened, crumple them up until they resemble breadcrumbs. A food processor will make this task easier, but it can also be done by hand.
Next, simply sprinkle the crushed banana peels around the soil of your orchid plant so the peels release the nutrients over time.
Olivia said: “The dried peels will slowly release nutrients into the soil over several months as they decompose. I like to add a new layer every few months.”
This quick and simple fertiliser will help orchids bloom more and provide healthier flowers, but it only needs to be done sparingly a few times a year otherwise there is a risk of overfertilizing the plant.
According to Oliva the best time to fertilise orchids is in late summer or early autumn to give the orchids a time to grow stronger roots for winter and will have even better blooms next spring.
Olivia said: “For such a simple, natural fertilizer, banana peels really can’t be beaten. Your orchids will thank you with an amazing bloom show. Give it a try and see for yourself.”
