If you wish to see your Orchids blooming heavily, they need a little more than normal care–this onion hack does exactly that!
Gardeners use many out-of-the-box tricks to improve plant health and get more blooms. Some use lemon or aloe, and some use onions. Here’s everything about how this works and what it does for orchids.
Why Use Onions for Orchid Blooming?
Onion water is a popular home remedy for many plant enthusiasts, and it can work for orchids as well. It is effective because onions are rich in sulfur compounds (like diallyl disulfide, around 0.1-0.3%) and flavonoids (like quercetin, around 7-10% in onions).
These compounds act as natural growth stimulants and enhance the production of phytohormones like auxins; Quercetin helps in reducing stress, which contributes to improving the overall health of the plant.
In addition, the trace minerals in onions support enzymatic functions in orchids, improving their ability to absorb nutrients efficiently from the growing medium. Pretty sweet, right? So, how can you put onions to good use and get year-round orchid blooms?
How To Prepare Onion Water For Orchids?
This is a basic process–chop a good-quality medium-sized onion into small pieces. Soak these pieces in approximately 4 cups (1 liter) of water for 24 hours to extract their nutrients. Once soaking is done, strain the combination to remove solid pieces, resulting in clean, nutrient-rich water.
It is better to dilute the strained onion water further by mixing it with an equal amount of plain water to prevent overconcentration, which could harm the orchids’ delicate roots.
You can also mix a tablespoon of aloe vera gel for added hydration and its growth hormone benefits or a pinch of cinnamon powder to increase its antifungal properties.
Pro Tip: Always prepare fresh onion water for each use, as it can spoil quickly.
How To Use Onion For Year Round Orchid Blooms
1. Wiping Orchid Leaves with Onion Water
Dip a soft cloth or cotton pad into the onion water solution and soak it well. Then, gently wipe the leaves of the orchid plant; this will help in the direct absorption of our elixir through the stomata and serve another purpose.
Cleaning the leaves will help remove dust, debris, and pests like spider mites or aphids that hinder photosynthesis and nutrient uptake. This process will help keep the plant tidy and ensure the best blooms.
Clean leaves also absorb light more efficiently and promote better energy production for good blooms. It’s a great hack for long-lasting orchid blooms.
2. Watering The Orchid With Onion Water
You can also use the strained onion water to water your orchid plant once a month. Avoid doing it too frequently overwatering and ensure the potting medium drains well.
A well-thought-out watering schedule with onion water strengthens the plant’s immunity against pathogens, reducing the likelihood of root rot. Plus, the potassium in onions supports root development, ensuring the plant absorbs nutrients effectively.
3. Spraying Orchid with Onion Water
Onion solution can be used in various ways, one of the best being to pour it into a spray bottle and lightly mist the leaves and aerial roots. For best results, do this occasionally in the morning.
Orchids can absorb nutrients through their leaves, and spraying will also ensure the direct delivery of the beneficial compounds.
