The florist’s secret recipe for orchids. One thing and you’ll never count the flowers again.
Beware of shop-bought orchids
If you buy an orchid in a shop, it’s a good idea to repot it immediately. They usually come in pots that are unnecessarily small and may not even have been given good quality potting soil and fertiliser. Look carefully at all the roots and shoots to see if any are rotting – if you find any, remove them mercilessly.
Watch out for excess moisture
Orchids are undemanding plants. The only thing to watch out for is the amount and frequency of watering. Drought is not really good for plants – once the leaves start to turn yellow or brown, it usually means the plant is already dead and will be hard to save.
Too much watering won’t help orchids either. If their roots are in water, they’ll start to rot and sap the plant’s strength. It is likely that the plant will stop producing new shoots, let alone flowers.
Enrich the soil with nutrients
You don’t have to feed your orchids with overpriced commercial fertiliser. You can make the right fertiliser for your plant at home.
Like rice water! Boil a cup or so of ordinary rice in a litre of cold water. Then strain the water and pour it over your orchids. The rice has released many beneficial substances into the water, which will help your flowers to bloom better.
You can also make a watering can out of peeled banana peels, for example.
It is also a good idea to make a topping with wood ash from time to time. Add a few tablespoons of ash to your watering solution (but be careful, it should only be wood!) and water your orchids.
