Can You Water Succulents With Ice Cubes? (An Easy Guide)

By | Updated October 31, 2023

Watering succulents is a delicate process that can be easily messed up if done incorrectly.

One of the most common mistakes people make is watering succulents with ice cubes.

A lot of people like to water their succulents with ice cubes. They think it is a fun and easy way to keep their plants hydrated.

However, the ice cube method can do more harm than good.

This easy guide will teach you everything you need to know about watering succulents with ice cubes.

Can You Water Succulents With Ice Cubes?

Some people think you can use ice cubes to water succulents.

They think that watering with ice cubes can help keep the plant hydrated for a more extended period and prevent overwatering.

However, this is not the case. Watering with ice cubes can actually damage your succulents.

When you water succulents with ice cubes, the cold temperature can damage the roots.

This can cause the succulent to become stressed and can even kill the plant.

It is important to remember that succulents are desert plants. They are used to hot and dry conditions.

If you want to water your succulents, providing them with conditions that resemble their natural environment is best.

In their natural environment, succulents are used to have long periods of drought followed by short periods of heavy rainfall.

This means that they are used to infrequent but thorough watering.

When you water your succulents, it is best to give them a good soaking. This means that you should water the plant until the water runs out of the bottom of the pot.

You should then allow the plant to dry out completely before watering again. This can take anywhere from a few days to a week.

This watering method ensures that the plant gets enough water to hydrate the roots without overwatering.

On the other hand, watering succulents with ice cubes can cause problems.

5 Problems With Watering Succulents With Ice Cubes

There are some problems with watering succulents with ice cubes.

The following are some of the reasons why succulents should not be watered with ice cubes:

1. Ice Cubes Can Cause the Soil To Become Wet for Long Periods

Succulents need well-draining soil to prevent their roots from rotting.

They need to be watered thoroughly, but they should not be watered so often that the soil becomes wet for long periods.

They need the soil to dry out completely in between waterings.

When the soil is wet for long periods, it can cause the roots to rot.

2. Ice Cubes Can Damage the Roots of Succulents

The cold temperature from ice cubes can damage the roots of succulents.

Succulents can survive water temperatures as low as 10-15 degrees Celsius, but anything less will harm them.

When the succulent roots are exposed to cold water, they can’t absorb water and nutrients efficiently.

This can cause the plant to become stressed and can even kill the plant.

3. Ice Cubes Can Lower the Temperature of the Soil

The soil temperature can drop significantly when watering with ice cubes.

This can be harmful to succulents because they need warmth to grow.

The ideal temperature for succulents is between 20-25 degrees Celsius.

Lowering the soil temperature can stress the plant and can even kill the plant.

Succulents store water in their leaves so that they can survive for long periods without water.

When their temperature drops, they can’t photosynthesize, and they can’t produce food.

This can cause the plant to become starved and can even kill the plant.

4. Succulents May Not Get Enough Water if They Are Only Watered With Ice Cubes

Watering succulent plants with ice cubes can be ineffective because the ice cube can melt quickly, and the plant may not get enough water.

Succulents need to be watered thoroughly, but they should not be watered so often that the soil becomes wet for long periods.

They need the potting soil to dry out completely in between waterings.

If succulents are only watered with ice cubes, they may not get enough water to hydrate their roots properly.

5. Succulents Can Start To Show Signs of Distress if They Are Not Watered Correctly

If succulents are not watered correctly, they can start to show signs of distress.

Some common signs of distress include wilting leaves, drooping leaves, and brown or dry leaves.

If you see any of these signs, it is essential to give the plant a good soaking and then allow the plant to dry out completely before watering again.

How To Water Succulents With Ice Cubes

Watering succulents with ice cubes can cause some of these problems, so it is best to avoid watering with ice cubes.

It is best to water succulents with room temperature water and water them thoroughly, but not too often, to prevent these problems.

If you absolutely must water your succulents with ice cubes, then there are some things that you can do to minimize the damage:

  • Use only a few ice cubes, and make sure that they are small in size.
  • Do not water your succulents with ice cubes if the temperature is below 20 degrees Celsius.
  • Make sure that the soil is dry before watering with ice cubes.
  • Water your succulents with ice cubes early in the morning so that the ice can melt and the plant can absorb water throughout the day.
  • Do not water your succulents with ice cubes if they show signs of distress.
  • Monitor your succulents closely after watering with ice cubes, and give them a good soaking if they start to show signs of distress.

Watering succulents with ice cubes can cause some problems, but you can minimize the damage if you follow these tips.

How Often To Water Succulents With Ice Cubes

You should only water your succulents with ice cubes once a week and only if the temperature is above 20 degrees Celsius.

Also, only water your succulents with ice cubes if the soil is dry.

If you water your succulents with ice cubes more often than this, you can damage the plant’s roots.

What Is the Best Way To Water Succulents?

The best way to water succulents is with room temperature water that is poured directly onto the soil.

Make sure to pour enough water to penetrate the entire soil, and then allow the potting mix to dry out completely before watering again.

Succulents should not be watered so often that the soil becomes wet for long periods.

For this reason, it is essential to use a pot with drainage holes to prevent the roots from sitting in water.

Watering succulents is one of the most important aspects of caring for these plants, and it is crucial to get it right.

Watering your succulents too much can cause them to decay and eventually die.

On the other hand, if you don’t water them enough, they will become dehydrated and eventually die.

The best way to avoid these problems is to understand how often your particular succulent needs to be watered.

This can vary depending on the type of plant, the size of the pot, the temperature, and the amount of light it is receiving.

In general, most succulents need to be watered every one to two weeks.

However, some can go longer without water, such as cacti.

If you are unsure about how often to water your succulent plant, it is best to err on the side of caution and water it less frequently.

Over time, you will get a feel for how often your plant needs to be watered, and you can adjust accordingly.

Final Thoughts

While ice cubes can technically water your succulents, it is not the best method.

This is because the ice cubes can damage the roots of the succulents and can also cause the soil to become wet for too long.

It can also be difficult to control how much water your plant is getting with ice cubes.

If you want to water your succulents, it is best to use room temperature water that is poured directly onto the soil.

Make sure to pour enough water to penetrate the entire soil, and then allow the soil to dry out completely before watering again.