Did you know that if you water house plants with ice that it works really well?

That's right. Give a house plant a couple of cups of ice once or twice a week because if you just pour water on them it goes straight through the soil and out the bottom. Ice takes a while to melt, so the water trickles through the soil and has a lot of time to soak in and you don't have that annoying fermenting pool of water in the tray under your plant.

Did you know that if you water house plants with ice that it works really well?
Controlled release watering. sounds ideal, right? For some plants it will work fine, for others that are more temperature sensitive, it can be detrimental. The melted ice actually retards root growth because of the cold temperature.. think about it.. tropical plants?? When is the last time they saw ice in the real world? Further, be sure the ice doesn't lay against the plant stems or leaves.



Most quality potting soils are made to hold moisture, but also to drain excess water. If you are getting a pool of water in the bottom of your houseplants (that stays there and ferments), you're likely overwatering.
Reply:Ice is a good idea in thought in terms of controlled release, but not for houseplants. Most houseplants are tropical in nature. Most houseplant care guides will tell you to water with luke warm water because many are temperature sensitive, especially palms.



If you're looking for a better controlled release idea, take tupperware container that you don't use any more and poke a few small holes in it. Fill that with water and set it in your pot. You get the controlled release without the cold temperatures.
Reply:What about Tropicals?