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?

[SouthPark]

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

[K-Sci]

Originally Posted by rbarata

Vodka? Which brand?

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

-Keith

[SouthPark]

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

[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...

[SouthPark]

Rocket science (physics/chemistry/bio) in orchid growing may well have benefits - for orchids. What we need is a large number of growers confirming results that we want to hear.

Orchids are relatively slow growing, and it certainly does take time to test these suggestions/methods. Longer than usual (when compared with faster growing plants).

Also -- for consideration --- if orchids grown in very satisfactory environments -- are doing excellently for very long periods of time ---- without alcohol, then we got to consider what improvement or other result are we aiming for?

That is - might need to state what sort of conditions the method should be applied for getting nice results. Maybe it does have benefits for certain cases. And also might need to consider if there may be any negative effects for some conditions.

[Fairorchids]

This requires testing. Something on the scale of 100 identical plants divided into 4 groups of 25 each. Situated in a greenhouse under identical conditions for 12 months.

Group 1: Pure water with regular fertilizer
Group 2: Add 0.3 tsp/gallon
Group 3: Add 0.6 tsp/gallon
Group 4: Add 0.9 tsp/gallon

With rigorous measurements before and after.

Let me see, I water with a hose supplying 8 GPM, 3 times a week in summer, and twice a week in winter.
100 plants will need 16 SqFt = 2 min of watering.
That will require 4.614 liter of vodka.

I have a better idea. It involves a dash of Noilly Prat and some ice. Headed down to test that theory now.

---------- Post added at 07:12 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:58 PM ----------

Flash Update: A dry vodka martini straight up is a far better use of the alcohol.