A common plant trick shared on social media is sugar water. The theory is that sugar water can help plants recover from stressors and improve their photosynthesis. Is water with sugar a harmless urban legend or does it actually have a benefit for plants? And how can you use sugar water for orchids?
In addition to the glucose that plants produce themselves, water containing sugar can affect the plants' ability to absorb water. Find out what happens to your orchids when exposed to sugar water.
Why is my orchid drooping its leaves?
If your beloved orchid's leaves are falling off, you should find out why as soon as possible. It can be difficult to determine how often and how much to water an orchid. While most people overwater their orchids, others accidentally underwater them, which can result in drooping leaves.
If you're struggling with drooping orchid leaves, the problem is often related to how you water them. Whether you watered your orchid too often or too little depends entirely on you. If the soil around your orchid is moist or there is water in the tray under the pot, you should wait until the soil at the top is dry before watering. Water the orchid thoroughly when the soil is really dry.
Many people kill their orchids gently by watering them too little and too often. Normally orchids need some warm water, but some people have tried watering them with ice cubes, which is not the best method. To prevent your orchid's leaves from becoming droopy, water like this: Allow the top layer of potting soil to dry by about 1 cm between waterings, which should occur about two to three times a week, and then water the plant with warm, stale water . Be sure to water the entire substrate thoroughly.
Sugar water for orchids: what is it?
To nourish plants, you can mix regular tap water with sugar to make sugar water. To make the sugar dissolve easily, it is usually added to hot or boiling water. Different recipes call for different amounts of sugar in the water.
How can sugar help your orchids?
Plants convert light energy into sugars and starches through photosynthesis, for which they also need water and carbon dioxide. The idea behind giving sugar water is to allow the roots of the plant to absorb more carbohydrates from the sugar. The sugar is believed to promote plant development.
Also interesting:Garlic for orchids: Benefits and tips for using the home remedy correctly for the popular houseplants
Save limp leaves
If the orchid's leaves are limp and mushy and the aerial roots are dry and ashen, the orchid may have been watered excessively or not enough. The new orchid could desperately need a dip because itdries up quicklyis. When the flowers stop blooming and the aerial roots are gray and shriveled, it's time for the sugar water!
To temporarily increase the plant's naturally occurring sugar content, diluted sugar can be applied to plants that are about to die. When an orchid is about to die, adding sugar to the soil stimulates microbes that revive the plant more quickly. With this homemade remedy you can maintain the beauty of your orchid plants. A teaspoon of sugar in a liter of water is enough to revive wilting orchids. Make sure you water them regularly and gently.
Follow these steps if you want to try a plunge bath:
- Bring water and sugar to a room temperature solution. Add 1 – 2 teaspoons of sugar per liter of water.
- Remove your orchid from the pot and squirt the sugar water solution only into the roots: leave the stems and leaves untouched. Separate the plants and place them in separate pots if there are multiple plants.
- Soak the plants in the sugar water solution for at least 20 minutes.
- Remove the plant from the water and rinse its roots with more water (without sugar). Gently pat the area dry with a paper towel.
- Place the plants in the potting soil or growing medium of your choice. Before planting, it is recommended to increase the humidity by surrounding the roots with moss. Fertilization is not necessary in the following two weeks.
After a week, you can immerse the orchid in the special water again.
Also interesting:Using Beer in the Garden: How to Use Beer to Fertilize and Water Plants, Control Pests, etc!
