It doesn't sound like a joke. Summer residents who water their seedlings with soda claim that the result is surprising.
Let's look at another popular life hack and tell you what science says about it.
Mineral water and sweet soda
Mineral water contains magnesium, calcium and microelements that strengthen the cell walls of plants.
An experiment by the Michurin All-Russian Research Institute of Horticulture (2023) showed that tomatoes watered with mineral water once a week had stems 15% thicker than the control group. However, excess salts (more than 500 mg/l) lead to soil salinization.
Summer residents claim that watering with sweet soda stimulates growth.
But sugar blocks the absorption of water by the roots, and dyes attract midges. In 80% of cases, such watering causes mold.
Tea brewing
Tannins in tea slow down the development of fungi, but increase the acidity of the soil (pH decreases to 5.0). For neutral crops (cucumbers, cabbage) this is dangerous.
Moreover, used tea leaves, when used as fertilizer, attract fruit flies and encourage algae growth on the soil surface.
Conclusion
Watering with mineral water is allowed once a week. It strengthens the stems and increases the resistance of seedlings to wind.
But remember the risk of soil salinization and use water with mineralization up to 300 mg/l (for example, “Essentuki No. 4” without gas).
Another myth is the use of eggshells, the calcium from which is not absorbed without dissolving in vinegar.
The use of sweet soda leads to the death of 70% of seedlings.
The cause is mold and water imbalance.
Frequent watering with tea causes soil acidification and inhibits plant roots.
