Question
Recently when I was in the store I saw this Orchid that claims to 搄ust add ice?to water it. I did purchase the orchid (a medium sized Phal), but I am concerned that this method of watering is not safe.  It was a very cheap plant, but it looked generally healthy aside from being a little root bound, the blooms are still not all opened yet and the leafs are a healthy green. I want to know the best way to water this Phal so it stays in good health. This is only my second Orchid in my collection and I am really excited about a new hobby! Thank you in advance.

Answer
Alissa, I have spoken with a number of commercial and amateur growers about thee use of melting ice to water the plants.  To a person, they feel this is not a helpful way to water the plants.  As you suspect, the cold ice might damage the roots.  It also is a problem because melting ice does not provide a thorough, uniform watering of the roots.  Instead, it leads to dry areas in some parts of the potting mix and areas that remain too wet in others.  I recommend that you repot in fresh potting mix after thoroughly soaking it and then thoroughly water it each week.  Any plant to be repotted needs a careful checking of its roots.  Any mushy roots should be removed before repotting as they are dead.