Orchids 'bloom brilliantly' when watered with one kitchen ingredient every month
Orchids are treasured houseplants thanks to their stunning appearance, but it can be tricky to encourage them to flower during their blooming period.
It's crucial to ensure an orchid's fundamental requirements are satisfied, but the primary reason orchids fail to blossom is insufficient watering or a lack of proper nutrients. Mark Curran, a horticulturist and creator of Heavenly Orchids, has revealed that you don't need to splash out on expensive plant food for orchids as they can be rejuvenated using morning meal leftovers.
He explained: "Some of the best natural fertilisers for orchids are available on your kitchen shelves." It comes after Brits are told to never put one banned item in their garden bins, as you could face punishment.
It might sound peculiar, but one of the finest natural scraps to nourish your orchids during summer is a cup of tea. This is because it will assist in hydrating your orchid while providing essential nutrients, reports the Express.
How to create a natural plant food for orchids using tea
Mark explained: "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 revitalising dehydrated orchids."
Simply steep a tea bag in cool and filtered water for 10 minutes, then immerse the orchid roots in the tea mixture. When watering orchids, it's advisable to purify the water by filling a vessel with water and allowing it to stand for at least 24 hours to permit the chlorine in 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 give orchids black tea once a month during their growing season, as excessive acidity will damage the houseplant.
What else can you give orchids?
Banana skins are also among the finest kitchen scraps for orchids, as they contain potassium and phosphorus, which support flower development.
Mark said: "Banana peels contain potassium, phosphorus, and calcium and are a good organic fertiliser. 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 clean 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 explained: "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 fertilizer.
"To make an eggshell tea, place cleaned, ground eggshells in a large water bottle or container, let sit for one week before use."
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