Orchids are a popular houseplant as they are easy to care for and produce large elegant blooms, but there is a simple way to get their flowers to last much longer. 

This magnificent houseplant can bloom for several months if given the proper care, but orchid owners can get it to rebloom straight away by feeding it one simple natural fertiliser. 

Anne Gibson, a gardening expert and founder of The Micro Gardener, has shared that watering an orchid with banana peels will give the plant the nutrients it needs to thrive. 

She said: “Want to save money in your garden and grow healthier plants?  One of the easiest ways to do this is to make your own free DIY fertiliser with organic materials and household food waste, including banana peels. A sustainable solution!”

It may sound bizarre, but banana peels contain the essential nutrients potassium, which is essential to keep plants healthy, and phosphorus, which plays a crucial role in flower production. 

You can turn banana peels into a slow-releasing fertiliser which will not only produce magical blooms but will make the plant much more resistant so it can sustain its flowers for a longer period. 

However, is it very important to not simply place banana peels around on the soil of orchids and leave them as it will likely attract pests such as fruit flies or ants. 

Instead, it is better to dry out banana peels to use them as an orchid fertiliser as it will lower the sugar content to make them unappealing to pests while also keeping the nutrients a plant needs. 

Anne said: “Bananas are mineral rich and recycling the peels back into your garden saves money and returns these nutrients to the soil where they can benefit other plants. This is NO WASTE gardening!”

How to make a banana peel fertiliser to water orchids

All you need to do is chop a banana peel into pieces using a pair of scissors. Then, dry out the banana pieces by slowly cooking them in the oven on low heat. 

Alternatively, you can place the banana peels on a tray and place them outside under a strainer to dry them out in the sun. 

Once you have your dried-out banana chips, bury them in the soil at the base of your orchid in the centre.

Give the orchid a thorough watering, and every time you water them in the future, the banana peels will slowly release nutrients. 

Feed your orchid houseplant one banana peel every one to two months to provide a steady supply of nutrients to keep the plant producing vibrant blooms for much longer.