How Does Soda Affect a Plant's Process of Growing?
- Plain carbonated water is actually beneficial for plants. Essential minerals dissolved in soda water provide health benefits for growing plants. Among these minerals and nutrients are oxygen, potassium, hydrogen and phosphorous, the latter of which is a frequent additive to commercial fertilizers. It is worth noting, however, that plants that grow well in alkaline soil are the plants that will benefit most from plain soda water. Alternating plain tap water with plain soda water will provide the best balance between added nutrients and increased soil pH.
- Cut flowers are removed from the root system of the plant, and therefore they will not continue growing (though unopened buds on the cut flowers may bloom after a few days). According to Susan Han, a professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, citrus soda can be used on cut flowers to lengthen their lives and increase the odds of closed buds opening up. Han recommends that you fill a vase with a 3-to-1 ratio of water to citrus soda, adding a few drops of bleach to discourage bacterial growth. This solution will keep the plants looking fresh and hydrated for longer than tap water alone.
- Too much sugar in the soil can wreak havoc with a plant's growth and health, meaning that regular watering with sugary sodas is not a good idea. Sugar dehydrates the root system of plants, which causes the plant to lose its ability to absorb water and nutrients from the soil. This can cause the plant to wilt and die. In addition, the sugars in soda can attract insects that may feed on the plant. Sugar can also increase the number of bacteria or mold spores in the soil.
- Diet sodas do not have the same hypertonic state as sugar-containing sodas, meaning that diet sodas will not have the same negative effects on plant growth as sugary sodas. This is because diet sodas are formulated with artificial sweeteners that contain no calories. In an experiment where plants were watered with water, Diet Sierra Mist or orange juice, the plants watered with diet soda grew the tallest.