
Orchids 'bloom like crazy' using item 'better than banana peels'
Orchids are beautiful houseplants, but they can be quite tricky to get to bloom. Fertilising your orchids can be a game changer - and one woman swears by using a kitchen item
Orchids are stunning yet high-maintenance houseplants that require extra care to encourage blooming. Using banana peel water to fertilise orchids might be the secret to getting them to bloom, as attested by numerous gardening enthusiasts on the Orchids Tips and Tricks Facebook page.
Sarah Turner shared her experiment using banana peel water on her orchids after reading rave reviews about the hack. She explained: "People here keep mentioning watering their orchids with banana peel water and how they flower after doing so." Sarah then continued: "Confirming I did so, and now I have many flower stems growing! Thanks team - this group is awesome."
Elaborating on the process, Sarah mentioned that she soaked a banana peel in water for a few days, used it for watering, then added a new peel and repeated the cycle before reverting to regular watering. She noticed spikes and blooms appearing weeks after using the banana peel water, reports the Express.
Several group members corroborated her findings, attesting to the effectiveness of banana peel water. Kathleen Vaida said: "I use banana water on all my flowering plants and some I didn't even know flower.
"All my orchids have new spikes and two other plants flowered that I didn't know about." Ila Peters posted: "I have used the banana peels and water method and my orchids soon had flower spikes."
Denise Sanders exclaimed: "I have gotten flower spikes and lots of new roots doing this process. Who knew?" Similarly, Amber Ivey shared her success with the peculiar fertilizer: "I use banana water on all of my houseplants. They love it."
However, Judie Varty suggested a different kitchen hack that could give your flowers an extra boost: "I have tried the banana water, but garlic water works better than banana peels.
"It really did the trick for me. I got so many roots after using it and all my dormant plants bloomed like crazy this year."
Garlic doesn't just deter pests with its scent; it's also a superstar at enriching soil thanks to its richness in phosphorus, which spurs generous growth, and potassium, ensuring your greenery's leaves and blossoms stay in tip-top condition.
To whip up this magic potion, simply peel a few cloves of garlic then mash, blitz or chop them up before plopping them into your preferred container full of water.
Allow this concoction to steep away from sunlight for a 24-hour minimum, or for even more potent results, wait two to three days before introducing it to your plants.
While garlic water can work wonders, remember moderation is key - spritz your plants with this homemade elixir no more than once or twice per week to avoid impeding their growth.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Belfast Telegraph
an hour ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Council confirm Belfast Zoo closed due to E-coli detected in water sample
Earlier today, the zoo announced it would be temporarily closed on Tuesday due to an 'urgent maintenance issue'. In an update, a Belfast City Council spokesperson said: 'Following a routine inspection, a small amount of E-coli has been detected in a water sample taken from the Belfast Zoo site,' they told Belfast Telegraph. 'The Zoo has been closed to visitors today as a precautionary measure while we work with the NI Environment Agency and the council's own environmental health team to carry out additional sampling. 'The safety of our visitors and animals remains our top priority, and we hope to reopen the Zoo for visiting as soon as possible. The Zoo's dedicated team remain on site today and are continuing to care for the animals. 'Further updates on reopening will be provided via the Zoo's website and social media channels (@belfastzoo on Facebook and Instagram). 'We are sorry for any disappointment to those with pre-booked tickets for Belfast Zoo today, including school groups. Ticketholders can contact the Zoo on 028 9077 6277 for a full refund.' It follows reports that the 90-year-old zoo lost about £1.9m in the last year and an additional £2m being earmarked for safety works over the next four years. News Catch Up - Tuesday 10th June Sinn Fein councillor Ronan McLaughlin said 'something needs to be done' to turn things around. 'We are now in a non-sustainable position and I believe there is now the political consensus to try to bring some investment to the zoo,' he told this newspaper last week. 'We need to bring the zoo to a sustainable model that doesn't lose the council any money.' Meanwhile SDLP councillor Carl Whyte pointed out that, although it is operating at a loss, the zoo generates around £2m a year, and what needs to be examined are its running costs.

Rhyl Journal
8 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
Priest Father Dominic Cawdell announces last Sunday service
Father Dominic Cawdell, as well as wardens and church officers, are among those set to leave the Holywell and Greenfield Churches community in coming weeks. Father Cawdell sent a letter of resignation as vicar of those areas to the Bishop of St Asaph. He announced his decision during Sunday Eucharist services at St Peter's, Holywell, and Holy Trinity, Greenfield. A post, now deleted, from the Holywell and Greenfield Churches Facebook page stated that the 'situation has become toxic for everyone involved' and 'there seems to be no clear end in sight'. Father Cawdell has decided to step down for 'the sake of his physical and mental wellbeing'. TOP STORIES TODAY It has now been confirmed that he will take his last Sunday Service on June 29. A statement from Holywell and Greenfield Churches read: "It was announced today that Father Dominic's Last Sunday Service as Vicar of Holywell will be 11am on 29th June in St Peter's Church - followed by a Bring and Share Lunch." News of the vicar's departure has been met with disappointment from the community. Many people have described him as a 'wonderful man' and a number of fundraisers have also been set up to support him upon his departure. A spokesperson for the Diocese of St Asaph previously said: 'The Bishop and his senior staff have been engaged with a challenging and sensitive situation in the churches in Holywell and the Estuary and Mountain Mission Area for some time. "They continue to be committed to resolving the issues, with the wellbeing of all involved being the paramount concern. For that reason, it would be inappropriate to comment publicly on any details.'


Daily Mirror
10 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Monty Don names one daily job to make sure roses 'carry more flowers'
Gardening expert Monty Don has shared a top tip for gardeners who want to keep their roses flowering for longer, and it's a job that needs to be done daily Roses are treasured by many green-fingered enthusiasts for the stunning spectacle they present when in full bloom. Gardening expert Monty Don has highlighted a key task that should be performed daily to help these cherished plants "carry more flowers". In his blog, where he offers monthly gardening tips, Monty declared that people simply cannot herald the month of June without mentioning roses. He shared with his followers that he's increasingly opting for English roses that offer repeat flowering, therefore prolonging their beauty beyond the peak of June. Monty then divulged his "secret" to cultivating roses that boast a longer blooming period, reports the Express. His advice was clear: "The secret of keeping any rose flowering as long as possible is to deadhead daily." Deadheading involves removing wilted blooms to promote further flowering and enhance both the look and structure of the rose. For roses, arguably the most emblematic and enchanting of garden flora, consistent deadheading is crucial to maintain their opulent display throughout the season. This practice not only keeps the roses looking pristine but also helps stave off diseases and pests that tend to target decaying petals and hips. Monty stressed that gardeners should avoid merely plucking off dead petals; instead, they should use secateurs to cut the spent stem back to the next leaf or bud below, no matter how far down it might be. Monty highlighted the benefit of deadheading, stating it would "provoke a side-shoot which in turn will carry more flowers". He advised gardeners to regularly deadhead repeat-flowering shrub roses and those once-flowerers that don't bear hips. Furthermore, Monty emphasised the importance of continuing this practice well into July. He explained: "It is very important to keep deadheading roses in July as the petals fade to encourage repeat flowering, but some roses will have now finished all that they are going to do this year."