Today, I will share two important homemade fertilizer recipes that will help your orchids bloom abundantly and recover from leaf diseases. These natural fertilizers will not only nourish your orchids but also protect them from pests and diseases. Let’s dive into the first method we will use for today’s orchid care.
The First Fertilizer Recipe: Potato Peel Fertilizer
For this method, we need a common kitchen ingredient: potatoes. More specifically, we will use potato peelings.
Why Use Potato Peelings?
Potato peels are rich in vitamin C and potassium, both of which are essential for orchid health. These nutrients help orchid leaves stay vibrant, boost root growth, and protect against pests and diseases.
How to Prepare the Potato Peel Fertilizer:
- Take the peels of two potatoes and wash them thoroughly to remove any dirt or pesticides.
- Cut the peels into small pieces. Cutting them into smaller bits allows the nutrients to be extracted into the water more quickly.
- Place the chopped peels into a glass bottle or jar.
- Pour boiling water over the peels until they are fully submerged.
- Cover the jar with a lid or plastic wrap to keep in the nutrients.
- Let it sit overnight at room temperature.
After 24 hours, your potato peel fertilizer is ready for use!
The Second Fertilizer Recipe: Garlic Water Fertilizer
For the second method, we will use garlic, another powerful natural ingredient.
Why Use Garlic?
Garlic is packed with antioxidants and has antifungal and antibacterial properties. It protects orchids from insects, fungi, and diseases like mealybugs, red spider mites, and bacterial infections.
How to Prepare the Garlic Water Fertilizer:
- Take one clove of garlic and chop it into small pieces, including the peel.
- Place the chopped garlic into a glass bottle or jar.
- Pour boiling water over the garlic pieces.
- Cover the jar with a lid or plastic wrap and let it sit overnight.
By the next day, your garlic fertilizer will be ready to use.
Combining and Using the Fertilizers
Now that both fertilizers are prepared, it’s time to mix and apply them.
Step 1: Strain the Mixtures
- Use a fine strainer to separate the liquid from the solid potato peels and garlic pieces. We only need the nutrient-rich water.
- Mix equal parts of potato peel water and garlic water.
- Add 200 ml of clean water to dilute the mixture.
- Pour the liquid into a spray bottle for easy application.
First Method: Spraying on Orchid Leaves and Roots
This method is particularly useful for treating leaf diseases, insect infestations, and weak roots.
- Spray directly onto orchid leaves, making sure to coat both the top and bottom surfaces.
- If your orchid suffers from yellowing leaves, wounds, or pests, apply the spray once a week until the issue is resolved.
- For general maintenance, spray the mixture once a month.
- You can also spray the roots to encourage stronger and healthier root growth.
- After spraying, place the orchid in a well-ventilated area for a few hours to allow the mixture to dry naturally.
Second Method: Applying Fertilizer to the Soil
In this method, we apply the fertilizer directly to the orchid soil to nourish the plant from the roots up.
- Pour 5 tablespoons of the fertilizer mixture into the orchid’s soil.
- Be careful not to over-fertilize; this mixture should be applied only once a month.
- This method helps boost root and stem strength, leading to more flowers and healthier leaves.
The Benefits of These Fertilizers
By using these natural fertilizers, your orchid will receive the nutrients it needs to thrive. You will notice:
- New flower branches forming
- Healthier and shinier leaves
- Stronger root development
- Reduced insect infestations and diseases
A well-fed orchid is a blooming orchid. With these easy homemade fertilizers, your orchids will flourish and reward you with abundant, vibrant blooms. Try these methods and enjoy watching your orchids grow beautifully!
