I don't know where it all got started (ice watering orchids) I know all the orchid groups adamantly oppose the idea. I haven't done it b/c it doesn't make sense to me to do that. Orchids are tropical there is no way in nature they would ever be exposed to ice of any kind. If the orchids are planted to the correct depth in the bark media the tops will be exposed to air, and ice that touches the actual plant will damage tissue (root or leaf).