Think your plants just need water? Think again. Some gardeners experiment with soda, beer, or even milk—but the results aren’t always what you’d expect.
From root rot to moldy soil (and a few surprising perks), here are 9 things you probably didn’t know about what happens when you ditch the watering can for something fizzy, frothy, or creamy.
1. Flat Cola Works as a Fertilizer Boost
The phosphoric acid in cola can provide nutrients that help roses and other flowering plants bloom more vibrantly. Garden enthusiasts have been using diluted cola (1 part soda to 3 parts water) as an occasional treat for outdoor plants for generations.
The sugar content gives plants a quick energy boost, similar to how it affects humans. However, moderation is key – using cola more than once a month can attract pests and potentially harm your plant’s root system over time.
2. Beer Revives Brown Patches in Lawns
Surprising as it sounds, flat beer contains carbohydrates, potassium, and micronutrients that can nourish struggling grass. The fermented sugars provide food for beneficial soil microbes, while the acidity helps balance alkaline soil conditions.
A spray bottle filled with one part flat beer to four parts water makes a perfect lawn revival spray. Apply it to brown patches once weekly during growing season for noticeable results. Just be sure to use beer that’s completely flat to avoid the alcohol damaging tender roots.
3. Milk Fights Powdery Mildew
Got a fungus problem on your zucchini or cucumber plants? Milk might be the answer! A solution of one part milk to nine parts water, sprayed directly on affected leaves, creates a hostile environment for powdery mildew spores.
The proteins in milk interact with sunlight to create an antiseptic effect. Dairy farmers have used this trick for decades before commercial fungicides became widespread. For best results, apply the milk spray in morning sunlight when UV rays are strong enough to activate milk’s fungus-fighting properties.
4. Club Soda Supercharges Seedlings
Young plants love the minerals found in club soda! The carbonated water contains phosphorus, potassium, carbon, oxygen, and other elements that boost early growth stages in seedlings. Unlike sugary sodas, club soda won’t attract pests or create sticky residue.
Gardening experts recommend using room-temperature club soda once weekly as a replacement for regular watering. The tiny bubbles also help aerate the soil, creating better oxygen flow to developing roots.
5. Milk Makes Tomatoes Calcium-Rich
Blossom end rot ruins many home-grown tomatoes, but milk can help prevent this common problem. The calcium in milk strengthens cell walls in developing fruits, reducing those disappointing black spots on the bottom of your tomatoes.
Mix one cup of milk with one gallon of water and apply directly to the soil around tomato plants once every two weeks. Whole milk works best due to its higher calcium content. Many organic gardeners swear by this method, especially in regions with calcium-poor soil.
6. Root Beer Attracts Beneficial Worms
Earthworms absolutely love the molasses found in root beer! These garden helpers aerate soil and leave behind nutrient-rich castings that improve plant health naturally. A diluted root beer solution (1:10 with water) poured sparingly around garden beds will draw earthworms to the area.
The sugar and yeast compounds create ideal conditions for worm activity. Garden plots treated with occasional root beer applications show improved soil structure within just a few months.
7. Green Tea Boosts Acid-Loving Plants
Azaleas, rhododendrons, and blueberries thrive when watered with cooled green tea! The tannic acid in tea helps create the acidic soil conditions these plants crave, while providing trace minerals that enhance growth. Save used tea bags and steep them in your watering can overnight.
The resulting light brown liquid makes a perfect monthly treatment for acid-loving plants. Gardeners in regions with alkaline water particularly benefit from this technique, as it helps counteract the naturally high pH that can yellow leaves on these specialty plants.
8. Diluted Milk Spray Shines Leaves
Houseplant leaves develop a natural shine when misted with diluted milk! Mix one tablespoon of milk with one cup of water in a spray bottle for an effective leaf cleaner and polish. The proteins in milk create a subtle protective coating that enhances leaf color while deterring dust accumulation.
Unlike commercial leaf shine products, milk spray contains no silicones or chemicals that can clog leaf pores. This natural solution works especially well on broad-leaved plants like peace lilies, philodendrons, and rubber plants.
9. Epsom Salt Beer Mixture Greens Yellowing Plants
Yellow leaves often signal magnesium deficiency in plants. A mixture of flat beer and Epsom salts creates the perfect remedy for this common garden problem! Combine one tablespoon of Epsom salts with one cup of flat beer and a gallon of water.
The magnesium sulfate in Epsom salts provides the missing nutrient, while beer adds beneficial carbohydrates and micronutrients. Apply this solution to the soil around yellowing plants every two weeks until normal green color returns.