People Are Using Ice Cubes as a Low-Effort Poinsettia Watering Hack – But There’s 1 Warning to Know Before Trying It

I have a love-hate relationship with poinsettias. They are undeniably beautiful and instantly infuse a festive feel in the home, but they are equally fussy, dramatic, and I always struggle to keep them alive beyond a few weeks. That's why a new hack on the scene has captured my attention: watering a poinsettia with ice cubes.

You see, the most common place people go wrong with poinsettia care is watering. These houseplants demand consistent moisture, with the slightest period of drought or soggy conditions both causing them to wilt, drop leaves, and rot away. But, watering your poinsettia with ice cubes removes the guesswork, gradually releasing moisture as the ice melts.

However, there's one thing I feel a bit dubious about with this hack: Is ice far too cold for poinsettias? Just like incorrect watering, not keeping your poinsettia sufficiently warm is also a poinsettia mistake, and can cause the plant to quickly decline. So, if you're also wondering whether watering a poinsettia with ice cubes is a good idea, read on – I'm diving deeper into whether this hack really works.

Why Water a Poinsettia with Ice Cubes?

If you struggle to water your poinsettia correctly, then the ice cube hack offers a low-effort, guesswork-free solution.

You simply place some ice cubes (ones made with an ice cube tray of this size from Walmart will work fine) on the surface of your poinsettia soil.

You want to place around four to eight, depending on the size of your poinsettia pot. Place them equidistant around the base of the plant.

And that's it. As the ice melts, it release moisture to your poinsettia gradually. It means the roots stay consistently moist and don't dry out, nor do they receive an excess of water which can cause houseplant root rot.

It's extremely low-maintenance, only requiring an occasional replacement of ice cubes.

But, does the freezing temperature of the ice cause any shock to poinsettias?

Will Ice Cubes Shock Poinsettias?

It's a known fact that poinsettias are sensitive when it comes to temperature. You need to ideally keep them at a room temperature between 65-75°F, otherwise you may notice them drop their leaves and fade away.

This reflects their native habitat in humid and tropical forests in Mexico and Central America.

That's why the thought of watering a poinsettia with ice cubes can be a little concerning.

As the ice cubes melt, the cold water temperatures can shock poinsettia roots, potentially stressing the plant and causing a reaction like stunted growth and wilting.

Not only this, but you may find ice cubes provide uneven watering, depending on how warm your home is and how often they're melting.

So, despite many people wearing by ice cubes to water a poinsettia correctly, the risk of cold shock and unreliable watering might not be worth it.

It's a more reliable option to water your poinsettia with room temperature water, only topping it up when your soil moisture meter (like this one from Amazon) indicates the top two inches are dry.

Combine this with warmer room temperatures and keeping your poinsettia out of paths of draft to keep your poinsettia alive for next Christmas.

FAQs

Can You Revive a Cold-Shocked Poinsettia?

Although challenging, you can revive a cold-shocked poinsettia. The first thing to do is provide a warmer environment, ideally between 65-75°F with bright light. You should also trim dead leaves and stems to encourage healthy new growth. Make sure to also keep your poinsettia's roots consistently moist but not soggy to keep the plant hydrated.

Because poinsettias are sensitive to cold, it's only really possible to grow poinsettias outdoors in US hardiness zone 9 and above. You certainly can't grow poinsettias outside in winter, as frost and snow will kill these plants off.

If you don't want to take on the challenge of poinsettias, consider easier poinsettia alternatives instead.

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