A gardening expert has revealed the unlikely household ingredient that will keep orchids blooming.
Kiva Kriti, from Harrow, north London, shared her clever trick on TikTok, which made her orchid bloom twice a year, instead of once.
The trick is to take a banana peel and cut it into pieces before soaking it in warm water for a few hours.
Once the water is infused with banana peel, Kiva then put water in a glass and fed the orchid.
Plant lover Kiva Kriti, from Harrow, shared her clever hack on TikTok, which made her orchid flower twice a year, instead of just once.
She then waited for the water to drain from the pot before replacing it.
Letting plants sit in damp pots could cause them to contract a fungal disease or “drown” because this prevents oxygen from reaching them.
The green-fingered TikToker then recommended following the process every ten days, before showing off her vibrant plant.
She then finished the video and said: “Happy plant, happy you. »
A user then asked Kiva how often she gives this particular water to her plants.
Kiva then takes some of the water the banana peel has been soaking in and uses it to hydrate her orchid.
She replied: “I do it once a month (during) the flowering period. »
Orchids have varied blooming seasons, according to horticulturist Victoria Lee Blackstone.
She said Hunker that potted orchids “have varied flowering seasons, depending on their species.”
Moth orchids tend to reach flowering season in March and, if cared for, should last “several months.”
Ms Blackstone recommended plant lovers repot spring-flowering Cattleyas “immediately” after the flowering season ends.
Planter Graham Rice told the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) that some orchid species can be difficult to get to flower more than once. Above: Dendrobium orchid flower
Sometimes the roots can outgrow the container the orchid is in, so it is important to pay attention to this and swap it for a larger pot if necessary.
Planter Graham Rice also told the Royal Horticultural Society that some orchid species can be difficult to get to flower more than once, especially if they are growing in the house.
But he revealed his tip: make sure the temperature at night is lower than during the day.
He said lowering the heat by 5C in autumn could “give flowering plants a boost”, adding that moving them to another room could also work.