Plant rescuer Sarah Gerrard-Jones shares tips caring for orchids
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Orchids are popular indoor plants known for their delicate, pretty flowers, glossy, green leaves and exotic colours. The most popular orchid variety is the moth orchid, also known as the phalaenopsis orchid.
The plant is native to India, Taiwan, China, Southeast Asia, New Guinea and Australia with the majority being found in Indonesia and the Philippines.
Orchids can be difficult to care for which is why many people refer to the ice cube hack when watering their orchids.
The popular method involves putting one ice cube a week on top of the potting medium underneath the leaves, allowing time for the plant to slowly absorb water as it melts.
However, some experts have debunked the myth claiming it could do more harm than good.
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The Oregon Orchid Society said putting ice on orchids is “very counterintuitive”. They said: “After all, phalaenopsis orchids, the main orchid being promoted to enjoy ice-water culture, are from Southeast Asia – an area that has probably not seen ice since the last Ice Age.”
Samantha Jones, gardening expert at MyJobQuote.co.uk, previously told Express.co.uk that although watering an orchid with an ice cube shouldn’t harm your plant, it can “damage the stem and leaves”.
She added: “So, this is not fool-proof watering. Watering an orchid is actually simple when you see the roots. That’s why orchids are supplied in clear pots. If the roots look silvery, you can water it.”
Orchid owners who have previously used the technique said some of their plants “didn’t do well” when they used the hack with another claiming they had plants “die”.
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One Facebook user, who posted in a group called Orchids Tips and Tricks, said they had been growing orchids for 10 years using the ice cubes method, however, they found that some of the plants “didn’t do well”.
They said: “I have been growing orchids for 10 years using the ice cubes method.
“I have 25 to 30 orchids as I love these plants. Many of mine have re-bloomed so I thought I was doing it right. Some didn’t do well.
“I joined this group and have learned so much about orchids. I’m now watering them with tepid water when I see the grey roots.
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“I have repotted them into clear pots with drainage and the grey roots tell me when they need water. I can’t believe the results.
“The ones that weren’t doing anything are producing new roots and leaves and my blooming ones are lasting longer.”
The post was inundated with comments from Facebook users who also stopped using ice cubes and were impressed with the results.
Marsha Bennett replied: “Glad you stopped the ice. Some people just won’t listen. Beautiful results.”
Trina Jeff replied: “Same here, I was using ice for over 10 years and suddenly three died within a couple of months. I am watering them now and see a significant improvement.”
She added: “Using water now, so far I see bigger leaves, longer roots, and my blooms are lasting much longer.”
Other Facebook users complimented the Facebook user about their “beautiful” orchids.
Paige Shovlin said: “Great job, they are beautiful.” Jean Chivers agreed and wrote: “That’s great, getting good results.”
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