Woman uses two kitchen ingredients in water for orchids to make them bloom

Orchids are known for their stunning blooms that typically last a couple of months and reappear every eight to 12 months. However, orchid enthusiasts have discovered methods to encourage these plants to flower more frequently by paying attention to lighting, feeding, and pruning.

An orchid owner shared her success story on the Orchids Tips and Tricks Facebook page, revealing that watering and fertiliser are crucial for prompting orchids to bloom again. Alana Steele said: "For the past few months, I've been feeding my orchid banana tea and rice water, and I'm finally getting the magnificent blooms I imagined."

Banana peels are packed with nutrients such as potassium, phosphorous, and calcium, which are excellent for orchids. To create banana peel tea, steep fresh banana skins in water for 48 hours before diluting with four parts water.

Alternatively, banana skins can be dried out in the oven or under the summer sun and then ground into a fine powder. This powder can be sprinkled over the top of orchid bark or mixed into the growing medium when repotting.

Rice water is another beneficial feed for orchids, offering similar benefits to banana water or tea. Rich in nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, and starches, rice water serves as a "very good" organic, homemade fertiliser, reports the Express.

To prepare this, begin by immersing any variety of rice in water for at least 30 minutes. Then, strain the water into a bottle or jar and allow it to ferment for a week.

Ensure it is kept away from direct sunlight and allow it to breathe by loosely fastening the bottle cap or covering it with a cloth to facilitate airflow.

Monitor the rice water to ensure no mould or other growths appear. After a week, dilute the solution with an equal volume of water and apply it to the roots and leaves as a fertiliser.

This rice water feed can also serve as an effective insecticide for houseplants, particularly during the winter months.