Phals and ice cubes

[gngrhill]

Just a note of interest .......... I, myself do not do this, but for some people I guess it works. I met A friend I hadn't seen in a while recently, and in the conversation it got mentioned that I have orchids. She told me she inherited her mother's orchids when she passed. She told me she keeps them on a window sill and the grandchildren do the ice cube thing every time they come over. She told me they bloom almost constantly. It has been several years now and they have never been repotted and get watered with ice cubes.........go figure

[estación seca]

I guess it's better than letting kids run with scissors. Only the orchids can be harmed.

[Leafmite]

Every year, people come to our society's show and tell me that they use the ice cube method and that it works very well for them. They are convinced and I find that it is not worth trying to change their minds. And, if they are having fun growing their orchid this way, why not? These are mass-produced Phals.

I would never do it to my orchids, though. Why stress them needlessly? I have had some plants die when watered just once with cold water, proving to me that it does stress a plant. Most plants, though, can take a little stress and some, like the Justaddice orchids, are pretty tough and can take more stress than most.

[AnonYMouse]

I buy that it works. Here's my theory on how.

Standard ice cubes (a la tray) is one ounce. Three cubes melts into 3 ounces in a few minutes to maybe an hour. The sphag insulates the roots from the cold. It is a very controlled way of watering.

The silicone gel things work the same way only taking longer.

Of course, it won't work on all orchids.

[Leslie]

If the ice is placed away from the roots in the side of the pots and not in direct contact with live tissue, it should melt and provide just enough water to sustain the orchid at survival rate. Not a thing I would recommend but if it works for that person, let them Iive in oblivious joy!


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[charlesf6]

I am so glad that I am reading this post now because I am redirecting what I might have done wrong in my brief encounter with my Phal

[PaphMadMan]

The dangers of this practice are sometimes overstated. It is a reasonably good way to keep a newbie from drastically overwatering an orchid in a warm dry indoor environment and killing it quickly. It works best in media that will wick the moisture evenly - sphagnum, not bark.

Long term it is easy to underwater, it doesn't provide the benefits of a drench-dry-occasional flush cycle, and never supplies nutrients on its own.

Can it work for quite a while through either dumb luck or very careful management? Sure.

Is it really a good idea? Only for the seller that wants you to enjoy your orchid just long enough and then replace it.

[rbarata]

Here in Portugal we don't see or ear about ice cube orchids.
Although strange, I think it could be a good way to manage the watering, as long it does not contact the roots or living tissue.
By other hand, it eliminates the joy to water your plants and inspect them in the process...

See it this way... when preparing a drink, one pours a few ice cubes into a glass and then throw it away without drinking it.
What kind of people does that?

[silken]

It just makes no sense. Why start with frozen water on a tropical plant in the first place. I wouldn't even do it on hardy perennials.

I have never owned a Phal. that doesn't have some roots on top of the media. So if the ice or even the melting cold water is on them, it could damage root tissue.

I really think the Just Add Ice company is aiming that advice at the people who buy an orchid to enjoy the current blooms and then toss the plant when they are done. It is certainly no proper way for an orchid lover to grow and re-bloom them. As mentioned above, no nutrients or flushes of the pot and some roots may never see water, further in the pot.

[dounoharm]

I am beginning to develop a taste for the just add ice company...after the grocery store supply is a month or so old, they look pretty ragged, the blooms fade, they look 'dead' to most folks....I wait till the bitter end, and make an offer on whats left....and the lady at the store generally takes it, like $2 each...I get them home, take them out of those pots, and trim them up. they usually start to bloom again in about 3 months, depending on the season, either on a new spike or off the old one...some have 3 spikes on them! so, I also have taken that moss off and put them in bark... I put a few corks in the bottom of the original cache pot, and I give them as gifts wherever I go, doctors, friends, whoever! I instruct folks on how to take care of the orchid, and bring a few folks into the fold of orchid loving! using this method enables me to drink more wine to collect the corks!