Watering orchids with ice cubes may seem counterintuitive, as tropical plants generally do not thrive in freezing temperatures. However, the Just Add Ice Orchids brand found that using ice cubes to water orchids causes no harm and makes caring for them easier. The best way to water orchids with ice cubes is to place one or two ice cubes near the roots of the orchid once a week. The slow melting of the ice cubes provides the orchid with a gentle and consistent amount of water.
Orchid roots can handle temperatures as low as -7°C, and when in direct contact with an ice, the water will gradually seep into the soil. The orchids were evaluated for four to six months, and the outcome showed that the orchids watered with ice cubes had the same flower longevity as those watered with room temperature water. It was also concluded that watering orchids with ice cubes was just as effective as traditional watering methods.
The ice cube “trick” allows the plant to live long enough to finish blooming, at which point most people either toss the plant or when it eventually dies. Watering orchids with ice cubes is safe and convenient, as it allows for control over the amount of water the orchid needs. The benefits of watering orchids with ice include less likely to rot the roots, as the ice cubes provide gradual watering without drowning the roots.
In summary, watering orchids with ice cubes is a viable practice that can help prevent overwatering, root rot, and provide a gentle and consistent watering solution for the plant.
📹 Q&A – Is it ok to water orchids with ice cubes?
Today’s question is: Why is my orchid sick? I have been properly taking care of it, adding ice cubes each week. What am I doing …
📹 Phalaenopsis Orchid Care: Should you water orchids with ice cubes
Send Treasure to: Po Box 21064, Duncan, BC, Canada V9L 0C2 ( let me know it is coming so I don’t miss it) …
fwiw, my first phal out of CVS, I simply followed the directions. 2 ice cubes once per week. It was counterintuitive but I did it, for about 2 months. No problem! It finished blooming and dropped. That spike has bloomed 2 more times for me and the plant is a year old now. As I said, it worked as advertised. I went with 1/4 cup of fish tank water per week after that. 17 phals, 3 paphs and counting now. Nothing but saved water from the aquarium maint. Not a casualty yet.
I add ice to my orchid and there just fine. Three months and growing beautifully. I live in Texas, there outdoor and pot has lots of ventilation. I have Also lived in tropical place the ground is cool. You just have to know what is right for them. I also Had 14 orchids at one time move to a smaller place and gave them away wish I had kept them now that I have a bigger place, and I had them for five years. Keep caring and enjoying your orchid it is a good learning process.
I have a mini phal that was given to me 10 years ago. It was the first orchid that lived for me (and is still living). I thought it was doing well because I was watering it with one ice cube a week as suggested by hearsay. I knew logically it made no sense, for all the reasons you mentioned in your article. But it continued to live! Last year it spiked and had several pretty lavender and green blossoms. In fact, that plant gave me the motivation to try some other orchids especially since I had discovered all the YouTube tutorials. It puzzles me why the ice cube regimen was successful? Could it be that the ice cubes lie on top of the medium and do not touch the roots directly? There’s not enough ice to give the plant a chill as it melts at room temperature and does a slow trickle down. I have given up the ice cube method as I’m a rational person, but I just can’t forget the success I had with my first orchid and ice cubes. Mimi
The first time I ever heard of watering plants with ice was, I believe, back in the eighties. Thalassa Cruso was appearing on Merv Griffin advertising her book on house plants. He showed her a hanging basket (that did not contain any kind of orchid) and She dumped a few ice cubes on it. He said, “Aren’t you supposed to use warm water?” and she answered, “plants want moisture, not therapy.”) Apparently, some greenhouse saw her and grabbed it as an advertising tactic.
I cringe when anyone tells me they use ice on their orchids!! I NEVER want to shock them. I use tepid water on all of mine. I have 55 orchids in all including 2 vanilla orchids which I’m still waiting to flower. I agree with you that the only reason they say to use ice is because it’s a measured amount. I tell friends to just let the ice melt them water but I like your idea better. Thanks for your articles.
Loved the intro, and ice cubes on orchids🤬absolutely agree !……….Now Water culture……..Ummm different subject entirely. I tried growing orchids on and of in moss, bark, etc and everyone of them died, so I gave up but continued to grow other plants, loved gardening etc and family and friends said I had green fingers, but I didn’t when it came to orchids, till now. A lot of people internationally throughout the world, grow in orchids in water culture some of us in full water culture.and others in semi water culture. I have been doing it for nearly a year now and have over 70 orchids, various types, including Phalaenopsis, thriving and blooming. Your trial with say 5 Phalaenopsis over a period of a year is one thing, but one phal in FWC, with a follow up article, well personally I don’t think there is much validity this kind of experiment whether you find for or against water culture. I think it would be better if you directed (in another article) anyone interested in growing orchids in water culture to the websites that specialise in growing orchids this way on uTube, Orchid Whisperer, OME, Samantha, etc.