Can You Water Succulents with Ice Cubes?

Can You Water Succulents with Ice Cubes? 2 Important Considerations!

No doubt, watering plants is a big part of their survival needs. However, many assume this isn’t the case for succulents since these plants thrive naturally in dry conditions. Succulent watering is a delicate operation that is be ruined if done improperly.

Well, you should know that your succulents love to have regular drinks, especially when it’s slow and moderate. For this reason, you might want to try the ice cube method. But can you water succulents with ice cubes?

Can You Water Succulents with Ice Cubes

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It’s possible to use ice cubes to water your succulents, especially the ones you grow indoors. Ice cubes will slowly release water into the soil as they melt. And this allows the soil to absorb water gradually so it can properly hydrate the succulent plant.

However, using this is risky when you don’t do it right. It’s not a favorable way to water succulents. I recommend that you stick to the traditional method of watering your succulents with water at room temperature.

There is more to why some gardeners choose to use ice cubes. But the downsides are something you shouldn’t overlook.

For this reason, this article will discuss the advantages as well as the disadvantages of watering succulents with ice cubes.

Let’s get started!

Are There Benefits to Watering Your Succulents with Ice Cubes?

Ice cube watering is a gardening trick to prevent overwatering problems, which is a major plant killer. Due to the slow rate at which ice cubes melt, the soil gradually receives water. Succulents will grow just fine since ice cubes regulate the way plants get water.

Moreover, water doesn’t have to leak through the drainage holes if you use ice cubes. This technique is good for succulents you grow indoors in hanging baskets. 

Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Water Succulents with Ice Cubes

If you’re planning to water your succulents with cold water, you may want to reconsider your decision. Here are reasons you should think twice before taking this step: 

1. Poor Drenching

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Ice cubes tend to keep the soil moist for a long time. This is because they can take time to melt, especially in cooler weather conditions. 

What’s more, this could last for days, and this isn’t good for succulents. Their roots can eventually experience rot due to too much moisture in the soil. 

Moreover, the plant itself will start to wilt when its root system degrades. In addition to this, many pests that love wet conditions are likely to infest your succulent, and this isn’t good for the health of the plant.

2. Plant Shock

Understand that ice cubes melt into cold water. They do not turn to warm water at room temperature immediately. This means your succulents are gradually receiving chilly water. 

Remember that you need to grow houseplants in conditions that are similar to how they grow naturally. And since succulents need warmth to thrive well, they can experience shock when exposed to cold conditions they are not used to.

Cold soil can stress them and equally affect their appearance. Their roots do not withstand cold temperatures, and this can affect every other part of your succulent. 

As a result, their leaves will start to droop and the stems will start to change color. Eventually, your succulent may die. This damage can be slow and you might not notice the major effects immediately. 

However, if you keep on using the ice cube watering technique, the damage will manifest eventually. 

Using Ice Cubes to Water Succulents—How to Do It Right!

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Well, if you decide you still want to water succulents with ice cubes despite the risks, we can help you do it the right way. 

There are a few things to consider when watering your succulents with ice cubes. 

  • Check if your succulent species is the type that’s highly sensitive to cold. If this is the case, avoid adding ice cubes to the water.
  • Use a moderate number of ice cubes. About 2-3 ice cubes are enough. However, there might be a need to add some or reduce some depending on the plant’s current needs. 
  • Do not water succulents with ice cubes when the weather or environment is cold. A temperature below 20°C is not a safe condition for ice cube watering.
  • Similar to normal watering, you need to make sure the soil is dry before watering them with ice cubes.

More on succulents care:

Final Thoughts

Watering succulents with ice cubes isn’t a good idea, not only for succulents but also for any other plants. Many may support this idea, but it doesn’t have any healthy benefit to your plant. 

If the main idea behind it is to control overwatering issues, then that’s no way to benefit your succulent. Instead, you should stick to your traditional watering method and be careful about how much water you give your plant. 

Watering them this way favors them in a lot of ways. These plants will drench well, be free from shock, and grow better with traditional watering.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Often Should I Water Succulents with Ice Cubes?

Watering succulents with ice cubes should not be a normal watering routine. If you plan to do this, it should be more than once a week.

Moreover, only water succulents with ice cubes when the temperature of the day should be warm. This should be from 20°C upward.

In addition to this, the soil has to be in a dry condition before you think of watering your plants with ice cubes.

What is the Best Way to Water Succulents?

Succulents will blossom when they get a series of deep waterings that can soak the soil they sit on. This is the best way to water succulents, unlike restrained watering that doesn’t go deep into the succulent’s soil.

So feel free to drench your succulent’s soil whenever it’s too dry. However, you should allow the soil to dry off thoroughly before you soak it with water again. Just keep doing it this way!

What Plants Like to be Watered with Ice Cubes?

The ice cube watering method is a popular practice for growing orchids. Since these plants prefer a slow, moderate moisturizing of their soil, ice cubes just offer them that.

However, you should know that ice cube watering suits the nature of many other
plants because of how it releases water into the soil. However, it’s not as common as in orchids.

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