Watering orchids with vodka

[K-Sci]

All y'all know I like to bring up controversial topics. The resulting discussions are often very worthwhile and informative. Forum member TheFish posted the link below, which is very interesting, and not just because it suggests watering high light orchids with vodka.

Sue Bottom of St. Augustine Orchid Society

Here's the essential quote:

"Ethanol.It has been suggested that adding ethyl alcohol to high light growing orchids can enhance the growth rate.Using an 80 proof vodka, the recommended addition rate is 0.6 tsp/gal. I have been using about a third that rate weekly during the growing season and am seeing very vigorous growth.Some growers suggest the alcohol has no impact, others think perhaps the alcohol is easily converted to sugar and absorbed by the plants or that perhaps the alcohol is an alternate carbon source to the carbon dioxide absorbed from the atmosphere. Ray Barkalow of FirstRays speculates it might increase the permeability of the plants' cell walls, therefore allowing a greater throughput of the fluids the plants need to grow. This is an experiment in progress but I think I’ll continue using 0.2 tsp/gal weekly during the spring and summer growing season."

I've never heard of doing this. Anyone here besides Ray (maybe) give booze to their orchids? Ray, can you give us the the scoop on this?



-Keith

[Shadeflower]

My mum told me her secret to keeping her jams from going mouldy is to add a drop of alcohol.

I will try it on my next orchid flask. Bonus if it makes them grow better.

[rbarata]

Vodka? Which brand?

[K-Sci]

Originally Posted by rbarata

Vodka? Which brand?

You'd want really good vodka, right? Try The Eye of the Dragon.

-Keith

[estación seca]

Originally Posted by rbarata

Vodka? Which brand?

He already has the plant. Cheap would be adequate.

[SouthPark]

My 'prediction' of results is ------ droopy or drunken looking flowers, and bulbs. Sort of passed out on the ground.

[SouthPark]

It could possibly be linked to the 'beer' method - along the same lines.

[K-Sci]

Originally Posted by SouthPark

It could possibly be linked to the 'beer' method - along the same lines.

Using beer your home/greenhouse would smell like...
...a brewery.
-Keith

[estación seca]

I don't drink much vodka but I often water them with a glass of wine in my hand. Or coffee & brandy.

[Roberta]

I have seen the advice about using a bit of vodka in the watering mix in enough places that I wonder if there is something to it.. I did see an explanation that this was an extra shot of soluble carbon. I do know that there used to be a "potion" called Jerry's Grow (made by Jerry Rodder) that had a lot of methanol, Rodder used it to get great growth from high-light plants. (He no longer sells it, too much red tape)

I have seen the ethanol advice in enough places to think that maybe there is some validity, can't hurt. I include about 1/2 teaspoon per gallon of the cheapest vodka that I can find, in my fertilizer mix. Haven't done a controlled study, the plants are happy, perhaps they like their little aperitif. When I bought the bottle, the clerk asked "how do I drink it?" I guess the stuff is rather awful. When I told him it wasn't for me it was for my orchids, he laughed. Don't waste your good vodka on the orchids, they won't appreciate it. The cheap stuff does no harm, maybe does some good...