This Core Dilemma
Countless potted plant perishes to excessive attention; hydrating your plants each time you pass by proves fatal. This method for watering promises more measured and better-regulated hydration. Yet, is it actually work?
The Suggested Method
Place a couple of ice cubes on the soil. The theory posits when the ice dissolves, it steadily releases water, providing the roots time to drink in it and avoiding waterlogged soil.
The Detailed Method
This approach is most effective for compact containers and varieties sensitive to overwatering, like moth orchids. But, the majority of tropical-loving houseplants dislike cold temperatures. A plant's roots evolved for heat, and freezing water can damage or harm them. Room climate has a major part in this method's success: in a warm room, the ice will dissolve rapidly, offering little value, but in a colder room it may linger excessively, cooling the roots and reducing absorption. Always confirm ice cubes are made from fresh, filtered water and do not place them in contact with the base or the root crown.
Putting it to Test
I tested on a Phalaenopsis. Two cubes each week resulted in the roots evenly moist and avoided waterlogging. However, trying the same technique on a prayer plant caused discoloration at the foliage margins, a definite indication of cold stress.
The Final Conclusion
The ice cube technique may be effective for Phalaenopsis, however it is not suited for many tropical-origin indoor plants and hinges heavily on ambient conditions. Thus, this method is not endorsed; tepid water poured gradually is still the most reliable method to effectively hydrate your green companions.
