There is no harm in watering your plants with flavored water provided you keep a close eye on each plant’s reaction and use safe water and flavors. It’s unlikely that mineral water will kill your plants, but it may cause them to grow more slowly or be less healthy than a plant watered with tap water.

According to Lifehacker, the mineral content in club soda is key to helping plants grow faster, stronger, and happier. Phosphate, for example, can enrich the soil. The carbon dioxide that causes the water to be fizzy actually has compounds that could stunt the plant’s growth.

Plants use carbon dioxide (CO2) and convert sunlight into sugars and oxygen. Now, we use CO2, this colorless acidic gas that we all have come to love due to no calories and fizzy effervescence when dissolved into water under pressure. Turns out, plants love it too!

Luckily for home gardeners, apple cider vinegar can also be used as an effective natural bug repellent for plants. When used correctly, vinegar can help give new life to your flowers, fruits, veggies and herbs by eliminating garden pests altogether.

Spread crushed eggshells beneath the targeted plants and creepy-crawlies will move along. Make A Stink: Many aromatic herbs, like yarrow, citronella, mint, fennel, catnip, basil, and lemongrass are natural deterrents for garden pests from aphids to potato beetles.

If those pests just won’t quit, you can use a solution of water and soap in a spray bottle to spray into the top layer of soil (or pour it directly on top). You can also do this with an organic insecticidal soap or Neem oil mixture; these natural pesticides should be effective after a few treatments.

Holes in flower leaves usually indicate insect pests rather than disease, which tends to cause spots on the leaves or dropping leaves. Holes are caused by insects with chewing mouthparts, such as caterpillars and beetles. Those bugs that eat your plants probably feed birds and frogs.

A great recipe for a homemade bug spray for vegetable plants is to use one tablespoon of dish soap, one cup of vegetable oil, one quart of water and one cup of rubbing alcohol.

Insects Bugging Your Plants? Try These 10 Natural Insecticides

1. Soapy water. Mix 5 tablespoons of dish soap with 4 cups of water in a bottle and spray plants with the solution.
2. Neem oil spray.
3. Pyrethrum spray.
4. Beer.
5. Garlic.
6. Pepper spray.
7. Herbal water spray.
8. Alcohol spray.

10 Natural Ways to Eliminate Garden Insect Pests

1. Start with “Clean” Soil. Good soil can actually deter garden insect pests.
2. Buy Disease and Pest-Resistant Seeds.
3. Selectively and Aggressively Thin Out Plants.
4. Water Plants in the Early Morning.
5. Control Weeds.
6. Keep your Garden Clean.
7. Use Insect Traps.
8. Add Beneficial Insects.