Healthy and lush orchids: why are banana peels not recommended as fertilizer?
Among the fertilizers we can use for our plants, we can also use bananas. Although banana peels - which are very rich in potassium, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium - are widely used as an organic fertilizer, in the case of orchids they are not always recommended, mainly for 3 reasons:The skins attract ants and aphids, which could infect the plant;
- The peels attract ants and aphids, which could infect the plant;
- The ethylene contained in bananas can cause rapid plant growth (not recommended for slow-growing orchids);
- A fungus grows in the water of banana peels that can take root in orchids and damage them.
Despite these drawbacks, however, bananas are an excellent fertilizer thanks to their NPK ratio (the ratio between the nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium). Potassium is a very concentrated substance in the peels of bananas which makes them an excellent fertilizer for orchids. So let's see how best to go about this:
1. Banana peels soaked in water
This method consists of cutting banana peels into squares and leaving them to macerate in water for a week. The water will turn dark brown in color, sometimes with bubbles on the surface due to fermentation, and will be rich in dissolved potassium. After filtering the mixture, add 1 part of the mixture to 2 parts of water and use it to water the plants.
The reason why this method is contraindicated in orchids is fermentation: this is due to microorganisms that create an environment that favors the growth of fungi. Being lovers of high humidity, a fungus will be difficult to eliminate from orchids.
2. Banana peels in the pot
Another method is to simply insert banana peels into the pots, just under the soil. The slow decomposition of the skins will release the minerals they contain, thus enriching the soil and nourishing the plants. Apart from possible bad smells released from the decaying peels, this method is not recommended for orchids due to the ethylene released into the soil, along with the other elements. While many plants can benefit from accelerated growth (which ethylene causes), orchids, as slow-growing plants, could be badly affected by this.
Furthermore, the presence of decaying material inside a pot could attract ants and then it will be difficult to get rid of them.
3. Dried, powdered banana peels
The last method is the safest for orchids: the peels must be dried in the sun or in the oven and then reduced to a powder. At the time of watering the plants, simply add the powder to the water. The amount of potassium inside a dried peel may be slightly lower than that of the fresh peel, but it certainly won't cause any complications.
Get great-looking orchids using your DIY fertilizers!
