BellaOnline Forums Home and Garden Orchids Using an ice cube?

I received my first orchid for Mother's Day and was told that placing an icecube in the pot when it got dry would provide just enough water. Does that work? Thanks for any input on this.

Yeah, my parents do this a lot. My dad loves to buy orchids for my mom and they do the ice cube trick for watering the plants. it seems to work okay.

Just be sure that the ice cube will not slide and touch any part of the orchid itself!

Orchids do not like cold water,cold water make a shock for orchids roots. I would say that it is pretty bad advice. It might work okay with regular houseplants, but not orchids.One thing I can agree, that water from ice cubes is much better than regular one. So for this reason you may water your orchids with ice cubes,but fill 70 % of a tall mug with ice cubes,put it in the microwave till the ice cubes melted. Take it out and fill the mug with the remaining icecubes until the temperature is about 30 / 35 C. And then water your orchid. In this case your orchid will get high quality water!!

Ice cubes slowly melting are not what your orchid needs. Give it a weak (1/4 strength) fertilizer solution poured into the pot until it drains out the bottom holes. Drain the plant well, give it sunlight, circulating air, and of course, love. Do not confuse love with water or fertilizer. Too much will rot your roots. A guide: Phals - don't let them completely dry out. Cattleyas - must dry out completely -pot should feel light- then water. Other genera - check out the American Orchid Society website: Good growing. - cinnabarina

Hi, I am new here and I just had to reply. I agree with the fact that orchids shouldn't be watered with an ice cube. It is too cold and could shock them however: in talking with a renown orchid grower at a South Carolina orchid nursery he gave me this explanation. He told me of two friends that lived near him, one lived up in the mountains and at a lower elevation. They were growing cool growing Cymbidiums. The grower that was higher in the mountains could get them to flower and the one at a lower elevation couldn't. The grower at the lower elevation decided to try something and put his ice cubes from his drink in the pot. The Cymbidium later bloomed... This was for the cool growing Cymbidium. Some of them want the warmer conditions. You have to know what you have and only try this if you can't get them to bloom and have tried everything else.

I am a grower of orchids all types and ways and i agree with the rest of the folks ice is just to cold for a orchid they need room temp. water with fertilizer. i tried the ice watering orchid and it died.