A houseplant enthusiast has shared a secret for keeping orchids blooming all year round and it’s as simple as adding a certain fruity treat to your watering routine.
Revealing her hack in a DIY video on TikTok, Kiva Kriti promises regular blooms with just a slice of kitchen magic. “Take a banana peel,” Kiva instructs followers, holding up the fruit for viewers to see. Next, she demonstrates chopping up the peel: “Chop, chop into pieces,” which is key for the orchid care trick.
The crucial part comes next, as Kiva suggests: “Soak [the chopped banana peel] in warm water for a few hours,” before it becomes “ready to use” on your beloved orchids. Once the banana essence has worked its magic, Kiva waters her orchid over the kitchen sink, allowing any spare liquid to escape through the plughole.
It’s important to “Feed your orchids and wait until the water drains out,” Kiva advises, noting that soggy conditions can breed fungal illnesses. She recommends repeating this every 10 days, ensuring a “Happy plant, happy you.”
In the TikTok comments section, Kiva mentions that she does the banana treatment “once a month [during] blooming time”. When a viewer asked, “They bloom every month?” Kiva responded: “No, in my case it blooms twice a year… so I feed them once a month during blooming season.”
When exactly should you expect your orchids to be in full swing? Horticulture expert Victoria Lee Blackstone told Hunker that potted orchids’ bloom times can vary widely, depending on their species.
Moth orchids typically hit their blooming stride in March, with a well-tended plant’s flowers lasting for “several months”. For those passionate about their plants, horticulturalist Blackstone advises to “repot spring blooming Cattleyas immediately after blooming has ended”.
Doing so sets any orchid up for success ahead of the next blossoming season, especially as potting mediums tend to degrade over time. To repot orchids, clear away any spent or withering foliage and introduce fresh potting mix, reports the Express.
Sometimes these plants outgrow their homes, necessitating an upgrade to a roomier pot. For those looking to ensure their orchid thrives long-term, selecting either sphagnum peat moss or bark chips as a potting mixture is key.
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