Orchids are renowned for their beauty but also for being high-maintenance houseplants that require special care to encourage blooming. However, a simple and natural solution might be the key to getting these plants to flower, according to many gardening enthusiasts on the Orchids Tips and Tricks Facebook page.
Sarah Turner, a member of the group, decided to try using banana peel water on her orchids after reading numerous positive reviews. She explained, “People here keep mentioning watering their orchids with banana peel water and how they flower after doing so. Confirming I did so, and now I have many flower stems growing! Thanks team – this group is awesome.”
Sarah detailed her process: She soaked a banana peel in water for a few days, used the resulting liquid to water her orchids, then added a new peel and repeated the cycle before returning to regular watering. She noticed spikes and blooms appearing weeks after using the banana peel water, as reported by the Express.
Several other group members confirmed Sarah’s findings. 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 added, “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?” Amber Ivey also shared her success: “I use banana water on all of my houseplants. They love it.”
However, not everyone in the group was convinced that banana peel water was the best option. Judie Varty suggested an alternative kitchen hack that could give flowers an extra boost: garlic water. She said, “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 is not only effective at deterring pests with its scent but also enriches the soil due to its high phosphorus content, which promotes growth, and potassium, which ensures healthy leaves and blossoms.
To prepare this beneficial solution, simply peel a few cloves of garlic, mash, blitz, or chop them, and then place them in a container filled with water. Allow the mixture to steep away from sunlight for at least 24 hours, or for even better results, wait two to three days before using it on your plants.
While garlic water can be highly effective, it is important to use it in moderation. Spritz your plants with this homemade elixir no more than once or twice per week to avoid hindering their growth.
