Growing indoor plants like orchids requires a lot of patience and consistent dedication. You may have already tried the coffee grounds trick or the ever-popular banana peel method to keep them healthy, but have you heard of using rice water?
This is a method that Shifta Khan, a member of the Facebook group "Orchids Tips and Tricks," has used to give orchids a new source of nutrients.
Sharing a photo of her orchid in full bloom, Shifta revealed that the plant "hadn't bloomed for 18 months" before trying this method.
"I fed it with orchid fertilizer every two weeks and it looked healthy, but it wasn't blooming," she pointed out.
Her neighbor suggested she try rice water. This involved soaking rice in water for 30 minutes, draining the water, and then placing the orchid pot in a container half-filled with this water for 15 minutes.
"I did this three times and lo and behold, a flower stalk started growing, and it has been blooming non-stop for over a month. I'm in the UK and I water my orchids every two weeks by immersing them in water for 15 to 20 minutes," Khan pointed out.
But is rice water really good for orchids? Actually, yes — to some extent. Rice water contains starch, which can provide energy to orchids. It also contains vitamin B, which is released into the soil when used.
Vitamin B in particular helps orchids develop a strong root system, which is why it is often found in plant fertilizers. The amount of vitamin B and starch in rice water can give an orchid a good boost in growth.
However, it should be noted that watering rice too frequently with water can have a negative effect, as the starch can create a thick layer that affects water drainage.
It is best not to rely solely on rice water, but to use it sparingly and not too often, as a supplement for the orchid alongside regular fertilizer.
