watering orchids or using ice cubes?

[Abel-Purete]

I bought an orchid that had a tag about using ice cubes. I personally am against it since I believe the cold ice can damage it. However; someone asked me if its okay and whenever I look up information; people seem to say its good. And triggers the orchid to rebloom.
So I want some thoughts on it. What do you all think? Is it bad or good? Have you used ice to water your orchids or do you just use a spray bottle?

Thanks for all the help.

[Cntry]

Abel I was give a orchid just like the one your talking about Just Add Ice, if you do you will end up killing your orchid just the way I did to. It is a name of the company and basically nothing more.
Yet it tells you to add ice cubes to your pot. Crazy as anything and real quick way of killing it as many here will tell you also.

[Abel-Purete]

Originally Posted by Cntry

Abel I was give a orchid just like the one your talking about Just Add Ice, if you do you will end up killing your orchid just the way I did to. It is a name of the company and basically nothing more.
Yet it tells you to add ice cubes to your pot. Crazy as anything and real quick way of killing it as many here will tell you also.

I would never use ice to water my orchids. I just want more input because a friend of mine wants to know. Though I told her it'll rot the roots and kill the plants. I've also seen articles of ppl using it and how its good. I also heard a women telling an elder women about how her mother does that and how the orchid has been blooming and doing great for the last year. Though I told the older women otherwise. lol

I just can't believe that the ice can do any justice. Orchids don't enjoy the cold.

[bil]

Originally Posted by Abel-Purete

I just can't believe that the ice can do any justice. Orchids don't enjoy the cold.

-and there you have it in a nutshell. Only use ice cubes if you hate your orchids and want to kill them.

[judith_arquette]

They're in business to sell orchids en masse, if the orchid doesn't die it greatly reduces the market/demand. I think it's part of their business plan personally...


Edited to add: It should probably be taken into consideration that I'm admittedly and unashamedly a crazy conspiracy theorist though

[tropterrarium]

unless it is an arctic orchid, it is a VERY bad idea. The temperature shock is severe. Try taking a shower in a waterfall from a glacier, and that's about what it feels to the orchid.

[silken]

I think it is a catchy simple way for non plant growers to care for the orchid while in bloom. They are assuming it will be tossed or killed and the person will buy more. It does prevent over watering for some people because an ice cube a week is never going to cause over watering. But if there are surface roots can you imagine the shock to a tropical plant that grows in a rain forest where it never snows or gets cold. It is for people who are too lazy or don't know better to give proper care to the orchid.

[mtorchid]

Originally Posted by silken

It does prevent over watering for some people because an ice cube a week is never going to cause over watering. It is for people who are too lazy or don't know better to give proper care to the orchid.

That's exactly it. And, I think it's a very smart marketing tool. If the "Just Add Ice" folks wanted the plants to die, they wouldn't give any watering instructions. I know two people who received "Ice orchids" (Phals) for gifts and they're doing fine (reblooming). They want to keep the orchid healthy but don't care or have time to educate themselves beyond that. Nothing wrong with that!

As for imagining what an orchid's roots "feel" about cold water, that's a bit silly, but would make an interesting children's book premise.

[silken]

Originally Posted by mtorchid

That's exactly it. And, I think it's a very smart marketing tool. If the "Just Add Ice" folks wanted the plants to die, they wouldn't give any watering instructions. I know two people who received "Ice orchids" (Phals) for gifts and they're doing fine (reblooming). They want to keep the orchid healthy but don't care or have time to educate themselves beyond that. Nothing wrong with that!

As for imagining what an orchid's roots "feel" about cold water, that's a bit silly, but would make an interesting children's book premise.

Children's book , now that is silly...I don't think the word 'feel' was meant that way, but as to the shock of the ice on its roots, not hurting its feelings or some silly thing.

[mtorchid]

Originally Posted by silken

Children's book , now that is silly...I don't think the word 'feel' was meant that way, but as to the shock of the ice on its roots, not hurting its feelings or some silly thing.

Originally Posted by tropterrarium

unless it is an arctic orchid, it is a VERY bad idea. The temperature shock is severe. Try taking a shower in a waterfall from a glacier, and that's about what it feels to the orchid.

I think "Phyllis, The Phreezing Phalaenopsis" would be a good title! ;-)

Glacier runoff would be approx 66 degrees lower than normal body temp. Ice cube runoff would be approx 38 degrees lower than household orchid root temp. Since orchid roots don't have nerves, I doubt if it senses anything more than- "here comes more water".