Orchids are gorgeous houseplants which can last for many years when provided with the correct watering and lighting conditions. Moth orchids are typically the most common in the UK, but they do have a reputation for being slightly stubborn when it comes to flowering.
Orchids may not bloom for several reasons, including insufficient lighting or improper watering. Luckily, sharing a handy hack on an online forum, one orchid owner managed to get her houseplant blooming after two years of no flowers. Posting on the Gardening Hints and Tips Facebook page, one orchid owner shared an “incredible” way she got her orchid to bloom from “nothing at all”.
Marie Porter wrote: “Just thought I’d share an incredible way I got my orchid to bloom. It hasn’t bloomed in two years and was literally a stick. I started feeding it properly around six months ago, on a schedule.
“I used banana skin water that I had made, and it seemed to love it straightaway. It’s now got some flowers poking through. Thought I’d share because it was there was literally nothing at all left.”
Along with the post was a photo of the white orchid, showing healthy roots and some white flowers starting to grow.
The post attracted hundreds of likes and comments, with some users asking questions so they could try it themselves.
Amy Taylor asked: “I’ve seen banana water everywhere, but too scared to try it. How did you make it?”
Marie replied and said that she made it by steeping banana skins in water for a week before diluting this concentrated liquid in water to create a “tasty” vitamin drink for the orchid.
Banana water can provide potassium and micronutrients to the orchid roots, which they need in order to thrive.
However, it is only recommended as a fertiliser and should be used sparingly.
You can also blitz the banana peel into a powder and use it in water, or even boil the peels; however, soaking is often the easiest method.
Using this handy trick helps avoid food waste, and it is also great for compost heaps if you have one.
If you don’t have any banana peels to hand, rice water is also said to work great as a natural nutrient boost.
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