Orchids are certainly a popular houseplant, but they do have a reputation for being rather difficult to care for.

Plant fans have taken to social media asking for tips for caring for their orchids, with one popular location being the Mrs Hinch Gardening Tips Facebook group.

Recently, one user simply asked: “How do you care for an orchid (eg watering best poison)?”

They were quickly met with helpful answers with one person suggesting watering an orchid with an ice cube.

“An ice cube once a week don’t let it sit in water they hate that,” they said. It’s a method that has been echoed by the experts at Just Add Ice Orchids.

Marcel Boonekamp, director of growing for Just Add Ice, said: “Watering with ice is the easiest way to ensure your orchid gets just the right amount of water – not too much or too little.”

While watering a tropical plant with ice may seem rather strange, research from the Ohio State University and the University of Georgia has found that orchids watered with ice had the same flower longevity, display life and root and shoot health as those watered with traditional methods.

Explaining how to best use ice, the experts at Just Add Ice, said: “Place the ice cubes on top of the potting media under the leaves. (Don’t worry, the ice won’t harm the leaves.)

“If you can’t fit all the ice into the pot at once, wait until some of it has melted before adding more. Don’t put any ice on the crown of the plant.”

For those who want to stick to the traditional watering method, they recommend using ¼ of a cup for a full-sized orchid and 1½ tablespoons for a mini orchid.

Other users of the Mrs Hinch Gardening Tips Facebook group had even more orchid care tips to share, with one writing: “I nearly killed mine but then started putting it under the shower briefly in warm water once a week and it’s thriving and full of flower.”

“I’ve had mine for 3 years in the kitchen window and water it when I remember! It flowers every year” added another. While a third penned: “Mine thrives in the bathroom! Loves the steam! Soak in warm water and let drain every week or so.”

And a fourth simply advised: “I dunk mine in warm water for 10 mins every two weeks then let it drain off.”