Using Ice Cubes To Water Your Houseplants? Think Again.

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Social media is full of so-called hacks to make your life easier. When it comes to houseplants, there are plenty of experts claiming the best ways to care for them. However, just because someone has thousands of followers doesn't mean the information they are providing is credible. Take, for example, watering your houseplants with ice cubes. This has become a trend and is often recommended to people who may forget to water their plants as an easy and practical solution. Although it may sound like a good idea, in practice this method could be harmful to your indoor plants.

• Autumn Hilliard-Knapp is a horticulturist and the marketing coordinator for My Perfect Plants Nursery in Florida.
• Leslie F. Halleck is a certified professional horticulturist based in Dallas, Texas, and the author ofGardening Under Lights,
• Lisa Mad is the resident plant expert for Rosy soil.

Most houseplants are tropical plants that come from hot and humid climates. In their natural habitat, houseplants would never be exposed to ice or cold temperatures. «The chilling effect of ice can certainly disrupt the roots, causing them to enter a state of shock,» Autumn Hilliard-Knapp, horticulturist and marketing coordinator for My Perfect Plants Nursery in Florida.

Plants absorb water and nutrients through their roots and watering with ice could lead to insufficient water reaching the roots. «The slow melting of ice cubes may result in uneven watering and inadequate hydration for the entire root