1 week Ago By Katherine McPhillips
Hydrangeas are one of the most popular plants to grow in British gardens due to how low maintenance they are, but you can give them a boost by feeding them one kitchen scrap. Crys Stewart, an organic horticulture specialist and founder of Ministry of the Fence , has urged gardeners to sprinkle orange peels on top of their flowerbeds. She said: “Whether you’ve got an over-ripe orange or not, either way you’re probably not going to eat the rind.
But orange peel is surprisingly beneficial to acid-soil-loving plants. To make it easily consumable to them, though, you’ll have to put in a little effort, although it won’t take nearly as much time as waiting for the peels to break down in your composting bin.” Hydrangeas need slightly acidic soil to grow strong and healthy, which is why they will benefit from orange peels.
If the soil is too alkaline, then hydrangeas can struggle to absorb the nutrients they like, which can lead to stunted growth, smaller flowers and yellow leaves. Orange peels not only help the soil but also contain small amounts of potassium, magnesium, and calcium, which are essential nutrients for flower production. They help the plant store more energy to grow better-quality blooms.
You can also feed orange peels to other acidic-loving garden flowers, such as camellias or rhododendrons, which can help you create a healthier and more beautiful garden this spring. You need to make sure orange peels are fully dried out before adding them to garden soil as otherwise, they could attract any fruit-loving pests. All you need to do is place the orange peels on a baking tray.
Next, you can either let them dry out in the sun or cook them slowly in the oven. Once the orange peels are completely dehydrated, grind them up into a fine powder using a coffee grinder or blender. Alternatively, you can chop the orange peels into small pieces, but try to cut them as finely as you can.
The smaller the orange peels are, the easier it is for them to be absorbed by the soil. Then, sprinkle the prepared orange peel powder or pieces onto the soil. Mix them with fertiliser or compost if you wish, as this will help speed up decomposition and improve the soil's health.
Give your hydrangeas a good watering, and they should have more robust flowers this spring. You only need to feed hydrangeas orange peel once a month to get the benefits, but be careful not to feed them more than that; otherwise, you can risk overfertilising the plant..
