With the arrival of summer and sunny days, watering plants is essential. In addition to hydrating and cooling plants, water also helps transport nutrients from the soil to plant cells. To water plants, some people use ice cubes. This simple tip quickly gained popularity. Find out why it is useful to put ice cubes in the pot of your flowering plants.
To water plants, several techniques are possible. You can choose the traditional watering can technique or use ice cubes. Indeed, putting ice cubes in the pot of flowering plants has several advantages.
Why is it important to water flowering plants with ice cubes?
Watering plants with ice cubes helps prevent excess water. Indeed, even if it is hot, it is important to provide the plant with the amount of water it needs, without excess. Excess water can drown the roots of the plant and cause them to rot. That said, by using ice cubes, the water will be released slowly and gradually, and the plant will be able to better absorb the water it receives and will be well irrigated. Ice cubes also allow you to better control the amount of water you give to your flowers, especially since one ice cube corresponds to 30 ml of water. By providing your plants with the amount of water they need, you avoid the formation of stagnant water in the saucer or planter. To overcome this inconvenience, it is also recommended to choose a drained pot to allow the water to drain easily. Make sure it has drainage holes, and place a layer of clay balls at the bottom.
Watering flowering plants with ice cubes is also effective in preventing overflows and water leaks, especially when watering hanging plants. In fact, by putting ice cubes on the soil, the water that flows infiltrates well into the soil and hydrates the roots, without risk of overflowing.
What precautions should be taken when watering flowering plants with ice cubes?
To succeed in this type of watering and benefit from the benefits of this technique, it is important not to put the ice cubes too close to the roots, stem or leaves, so as not to attack them with the cold of the ice cubes.
Also, be sure to choose the right amount of ice cubes to properly hydrate your flowers. If, for example, you only use 2 or 3 ice cubes to hydrate a large container of flowers, this could prove insufficient and therefore not adequately hydrate all of the flowers. Avoid watering your plants with ice cubes during heatwaves, so as not to cause thermal shock, which could damage your plant’s root system. Moreover, note that it is not recommended to use ice cubes to water plants sensitive to cold or temperature variations.
How do you know if a plant needs watering?
Not all plants have the same water needs. Indeed, tropical plants appreciate humidity and therefore need to be watered regularly , unlike succulent plants which can survive in arid and dry climates. These have the capacity to store water, thanks to their thick and fleshy leaves. That said, to know if your plant needs watering, stick a pencil in the soil and then pull it out. If you notice that pieces of soil are stuck to the wood of the pencil, this means that the soil is still damp. On the other hand, if the pencil is clean, it means that the soil is dry and needs to be watered.
Thanks to ice cubes, you will be able to control the watering of your flowering plants, in order to avoid excess. However, it is advisable not to put the ice cubes very close to the plant, and to avoid this watering technique for plants that fear the cold or temperature variations.
