Orchids will bloom throughout the year if fed one kitchen scrap (2024)

Orchids: Expert shares tips for looking after plant

Orchids are popular houseplants due to their distinct and colourful blooms, but it can be frustrating if they do not flower as much as they should.

One of the most common reasons orchids do not flower is a lack of nutrients, and you help give them a boost by adding banana peels to their soil.

Olivia, a gardener and founder of Gardening Olivia has shared that making a simple fertiliser made out of used-up banana peels will help them bloom routinely rather than once a year.

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?

“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.”

Read more: Four ‘little care’ tasks to ensure your orchid blooms for years to come

Orchids will bloom more when banana peels are added to their soil (Image: Getty)

Bnanan peels contain potassium which helps encourage plant grwoth (Image: Getty)

How are banana peels beneficial for orchids?

Banana peels contain potassium, one of the essential nutrients plants need to grow which helps improve disease resistance and also aids in the development of strong stems, healthy roots and more abundant flowers.

Feeding orchids banana peels will also help the plant retain more water which is essential in the summer and will also help get more blooms.

Olivia said: “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.”

How to use banana peels as a fertiliser for orchids

Simply collect your banana peels in a container and when you have enough allow them to air dry until they become dry and crispy.

Once the banana peels have hardened then crumple them up until they resemble breadcrumbs. A food processor will make this easier but you should also be able to do it by hand.

All you have to do is dry out banana peels and then add them to the soil of your orchids (Image: Getty)

Then all you have to do is 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.”

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