It's not just people who like to treat themselves to a beer every now and then. Orchids can also benefit from it. With the home remedy you strengthen shoots and promote growth. Even limp leaves can recover well if you add the right amount of barley juice to the water.
Fertilizing orchids: Why beer is a good fertilizer for Phalaenopsis etc
You may have heard that in Asia they water orchids with beer. In fact, barley juice is perfect as a liquid fertilizer.
Beer is made from hops, water and malt and contains many beneficial nutrients that promote plant growth andHelp with limp leaves. These include, among others:
- Vitamin B 12 promotes root formation. The plants grow strong, healthy and have a high resistance to diseases and pests.
- Potassium and magnesium promote metabolism, leaf formation and ensure rapid growth.
- Phosphorus stimulates flower formation.
- Beer is also rich in microminerals, which are also very important for the growth of the plant.
- The hops have a similar effect as compost for the orchid.
In principle, beer is perfect as a liquid fertilizer if it weren't for the carbon dioxide it contains. It can damage the plant. Therefore you only use stale beer from the day before.
Make your own natural orchid fertilizer with beer: instructions
Only use light lager that you leave open at room temperature for one or two days. After the carbon dioxide has completely escaped, dissolve the beer with water in a ratio of 1 to 10 (for healthy plants) and 1 to 2 for plants with limp leaves that urgently need nutrients.
You can either water the orchid from above or submerge it in the beer-water mixture and wait about 10 minutes for the roots to soak up. For healthy plants, it is sufficient to add stale beer to the water once a month. If the plants suffer from a lack of nutrients, you can fertilize the orchids with beer 2 to 3 times a month.
Fertilize the orchid with beer in summer, early fall and late spring. In winter the plant does not need fertilizer.
Watering orchids with beer: This is how limp leaves can recover!
Droopy leaves are not uncommon in orchids. Most often they are the result of incorrect watering. You have either watered the plant too much or too little. If the leaves are soft and the aerial roots are dry, you should water the plant well and provide it with nutrients. Beer in the irrigation water can help the leaves recover. Whether you can save the plant depends on how long you haven't watered it and whether the underground roots have dried up. If they are dried out, they will not be able to absorb water and the plant will die. But if they are only partially dried out or there are at least 2-3 roots that are healthy, the orchid can recover.
Wipe orchid leaves with beer to protect them from pests
Stale beer is good for orchids and provides them with useful nutrients. The natural fertilizer can still protect the leaves from pests. They don't like the smell of beer and take a detour around the orchid. Soak a cloth in the beer and water mixture and then use it to wipe the leaves. Nice side effect: Beer gives the dark green orchid leaves more shine.
You might also be interested in:Fertilizing orchids with onions: recipe, instructions & benefits
