Orchids are perennial plants with evergreen leaves. Some varieties, like the Phalaenopsis orchid, can easily be grown indoors. They can brighten up your home with their vibrant and varied colors. But to achieve spectacular blooms, it’s important to fertilize your orchid. Discover these four foolproof fertilizers to keep your orchids blooming all year round.
Fertilizers are good for plants. They provide nutrients to help them grow, as well as produce flowers or fruit. To fertilize your orchids so they continue to bloom beautifully throughout the year, you can use these four natural fertilizers.
What are the 4 foolproof fertilizers for making orchids bloom all year round?
Here are 4 natural fertilizers to help your orchids bloom and allow you to enjoy their beautiful flowers all year round.
Eggshells to Fertilize Orchids
Eggshells are beneficial for plants. Rich in potassium and calcium, they act as a natural fertilizer. To encourage orchids to bloom, crush the eggshells with a mortar and pestle and add them to a pot of water. Bring the mixture to a boil, then remove the pot from the heat and let it sit for 8 hours. Strain your preparation and store the resulting solution in the refrigerator. Use this eggshell tea to water your orchids.
You can also simply crush eggshells and sprinkle them into the soil of your flower pot.
Phalaenopsis orchid
Rice Cooking Water as Fertilizer for Orchids
The cooking water from certain foods, such as rice, is very effective for fertilizing orchids, as long as the water is not salty. After cooking the rice, collect the cooking water and let it cool before using it to water your orchids.
In addition to rice, you can also use potato cooking water. This tuber can provide your plants with potassium, as well as phosphorus. Simply save the potato cooking water and water your orchids with it once it has cooled. You can also boil small pieces of potato in their skins and place them directly in the pot.
Cow’s milk to fertilize orchids
Cow’s milk is rich in calcium and nitrogen proteins, which are useful for the healthy growth of orchids. Milk also has antifungal properties and can be used to prevent fungal diseases that can affect plants, such as powdery mildew. To fertilize your orchids, add a little water to the used milk carton if there is still some milk base left, then water your plants. Be careful not to use too much cow’s milk, however, as this can cause unpleasant odors and slow the growth of your plants. Irrigation should never be replaced with water. Also, prefer skimmed or partially skimmed milk to whole milk.
Tip: To combat fungal plant diseases, dilute 1 part milk with 4 parts water and water your plants with this solution every 2 to 4 weeks.