Hey y’all, is the ice cube method for orchids the best way to water them? My boyfriend got me his for Valentine’s Day. I just repotted it because the roots were INSANE and growing out of the pot like crazy. I got a ceramic pot with holes all over the sides and bottom so it can breathe and used orchid bark potting mix. You can still see the wild roots sticking out, they were growing upward so it was hard to get them all in the pot!
No ice cubes! I’m not sure how this started, but just don’t do it. When you’re ready to repot, use a clear, well-aerated pot so you can keep your eyes on the roots, and use orchid bark/orchid mix for the best home you can make for this epiphytic plant. Good luck.
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I’m pretty sure the ice cube thing came from Tik Tok, which would be very on-brand to be fair 😉 but yeah, most house plants are tropical in nature and have not evolved to deal with freezing cold water, so it can do a lot of damage to the plant.
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Ice cubes are not the best method; the cold can shock the plant. The best method I’ve found is wait till the majority of the roots are silver. Then I soak my plant (straight orchid bark & in a ceramic orchid pot) for about 5 minutes in room temp water. Then I make sure to tip out any extra water, let it drain for like 5 minutes and tip the water out again. Your pot has fewer slots than mine so regular pour over watering might work well for you. Just make sure to let it drain and tip the water out. I’ve learned Orchids dislike wet feet. 😅 Also, my orchid also has some crazy roots. I think it’s a good sign, or at the very least gives them a lot of personality!
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I’ve killed mine. Also get it out that pot. Seen folks have great luck with water/leca!
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Just fyi... I have better success growing them in water. One with plastic stick, already flowered for me and looks like she's about to give another. 2nd two's (left and the little one) are now giving me flower stalk. Soon I'll be rewarded 😀. I'm doing 7/7 days, 7 days off water, 7 days with.
