I cannot think of any textbook reason for using alcohol.

I'd guess it's the sugar that really does the trick;
just for fun, you might try using vodka on one & plain sugar on another.

I'd hate to waste expensive vodka when sugar would do the job!

Vodka has been studied as a growth retardant and may prove to be valuable for flowering plants. It apparently produces stockier stems (and sturdier) without affecting the size and quality of the bloom.

Well, my hubby is around and the elephants on the wall are blowing bubbles.

{{gwi:68416}}

I found if you keep drinking the vodka, it SEEMS like the plants root faster. All those lost days.....:)

I've heard of using dilute alcohol (ethanol) solutions to stunt plant growth. I've done this with paper whites--it shortens the topgrowth but doesn't interfere with root development. Keeps the darned things from getting a yard tall and flopping over! I don't have the recipe handy, but I'm sure you can find it by doing a web search. It was a Cornell professor who was doing the research.

Ethanol is pretty much toxic to most living things at some level. I'd say this would be a waste of alcohol! Drink it instead, and save your sugar for tea. I'd think you'd get some unwanted microorganisms in your water if you add sugar to the solution. Stick with water and/or rooting hormone!