Just Add Ice

[LadySoren]

I know it's a big no no, but has anyone experimented by "watering" just one of their orchids with ice cubes?

My very first orchid is Mini Phal JAI brand.
I watered with ice for 2-3 months before I became wise. And then I butchered all it's roots in my newbie attempt at repotting. >.<

I didn't notice anything bad from the ice, but I'm sure it wasn't enough water and too cold.
I wonder what long term effects it has?

Anyone have experience?

[NYCorchidman]

I heard some people claim they do fine with watering their phal(s) with ice cubes, and I'm sure they are being honest. but I don't know how long and how healthy the plants lasted.

I personally would never put ice cube on my plants unless they are from Artic zone. lol

I water all the plants with room temperature water. They are living things and it is just not nice to "torture" them with cold stuff. Plants tissues are happiest when there isn't sudden change of temperature.

[flexdc]

It is a scam for people who are too lazy to investigate on how to grow orchids properly.
Since this isn't you and you learnt from the bad experiment, I would spread the word around.
I've seen plenty dead just add ice orchids!
Andrew

[Dendy83]

There's a term I learned from keeping an aquarium. You want to make sure your <insertlivingthinghere> THRIVES not just SURVIVES. So, yes, people who water with ice cubes may have minimal success and the orchid may stay alive...but is it thriving? It's the temperature shock that affects them the most and I wonder if that keeps them in a semi-dormant state.

[NYCorchidman]

They want you to kill the plants so you keep buying and the business stay alive. hahaha

Most people buy these phals for flowers, which normall last forever anyways, then tosss. oh, well..

It only affects serious growers like some of us, but we know better.

[No-Pro-mwa]

I know I tried it once maybe twice, but it simply didn't make sense to me having freezing ice cubes on roots. So no not long term at all.

But like NYC man say's if they are from one that likes it colder, then maybe I would try it.

[Ordphien]

My grandfather waters one lone phal with ice.
He insists his friend waters his that way and it does great.
So I let him have one phal to torture.
It's been watered with three ice cubes twice a week for about 3 years now.
It's alive...
Growth is slow, roots thin, and blooming inconsistent. Overall it's a weaker plant than the ones not watered with ice.


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[NYCorchidman]

See?
There you have good example. lol

[kindrag23]

Originally Posted by Ordphien

My grandfather waters one lone phal with ice.
He insists his friend waters his that way and it does great.
So I let him have one phal to torture.
It's been watered with three ice cubes twice a week for about 3 years now.
It's alive...
Growth is slow, roots thin, and blooming inconsistent. Overall it's a weaker plant than the ones not watered with ice.


Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

Hmm interesting. Very sad though.

---------- Post added at 01:06 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:04 PM ----------

Originally Posted by NYCorchidman

They want you to kill the plants so you keep buying and the business stay alive. hahaha

Most people buy these phals for flowers, which normall last forever anyways, then tosss. oh, well..

It only affects serious growers like some of us, but we know better.

You know I was thinking the same thing on the business portion of it all. Does seem like a good business idea. Kill them off and buy some more.

[Bud]

I agree with NYCorchidman ....the ice cube is a quick fix until the flowers expires....ice slowly waters the roots but it does not nourish the plant unless you freeze fertilizer and use it as ice to water the plant....it will not sustain the orchid plant for years to come. It will die maybe in less than a year if it is in a humid environment....but for a less favorable condition it will die sooner....then you have to buy another ice victim....its a business tactic.