Pat,

If those are anything like the Costa Farms phals I've seen at my local
Lowes, they are packed so tightly into sphagnum in a "breathe-proof"
ceramic pot, they're probably doomed anyway.

I do like the "ice cubes on the roots of a [warmth-loving] tropical
plant" response, though. A follow-up may be to ask if they are planning
on making ice-cube-tray fertilizer popsicles (don't use them in a
cocktail), or just letting the plant starve?

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies, Books, Artwork, & Lots of Free Info!

-----Original Message-----
From: Pat Brennan [mailto Posted At: Thursday, June 04, 2009 7:42 AM
Posted To: rec.gardens.orchids
Conversation: Arrg--ice cubes--arrg
Subject: Arrg--ice cubes--arrg

This year has been something, up and down the east coast Wal*Mart and
Costco
has been selling phals (from Costa I think) that includes a care sheet
telling people to water by placing a couple of ice cubes on top of the
mix
every week. I am so sick of ice cube questions. Here are some my
standard
answers:

I do not think the plants I am selling would thrive on ice cubes, you
need
to talk to the grower you bought the plant from.

Why would anyone tell you to put ice on the roots of a tropical plant?

Those instructions are to keep the plant alive while it is blooming.
They
assume you will throw the plant away when it goes out of bloom.

Ice cubes? What a novel approach.

I am not real happy with any of these answers, anyone have some ideas?

Pat