Would baking soda and soda pop kill grass? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Cyborg Ninja · 12-17-2007, 03:01 AM

I'd like to show my little cousins what happens when you mix Mentos and soda. I figured the baking soda would decrease the stickiness of spilled soda in my grandma's lawn, plus I'll wash it away with a hose.

The_Jazz · 12-17-2007, 05:53 AM

Depending on the amount of baking soda used, it might cause long-term problems in the soil by lowering the ph levels if you spill it directly on the ground. It's an alkaline, and some sorts of grass can be sensitive to those. If there's enough of it, it could shock the plants pretty badly and maybe even kill them. It might also poison the soil.

It could also cause it to grow better, to, with the right species. The soda really shouldn't do anything since it's basically sugar and water, and the mixture of the soda and baking soda shouldn't cause any longterm effects.

Plan9 · 12-17-2007, 08:02 AM

Do it in the street instead.

clavus · 12-17-2007, 11:45 AM

I did this on my grass.

Everything was OK.

Dog shit and cat pee is a much bigger problem than a little Baking soda and cola

Plan9 · 12-17-2007, 01:25 PM

Me? I like it when Jazz talks all scientific about what essentially is a managed weed on our pretentious suburban front lawns.

The_Jazz · 12-17-2007, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crompsin

Me? I like it when Jazz talks all scientific about what essentially is a managed weed on our pretentious suburban front lawns.

I used to manage the really tall weeds for a living, and I had to know something about the shit growing underneath them.

Thankfully for everyone, I'm too lazy to actually work hard, although I do have a good story about a guy dropping a eucalyptus biscuit (a horizontal cut of wood about 3' in diameter and a few feet thick) out of a crane harness and through a house hard enough to crack the foundation. 3 levels of cratery goodness.

Just in case you were wondering...

Plan9 · 12-17-2007, 01:44 PM

HAHAHA! Touche!

Trees aren't weeds! They're beautiful. I wanna touch 'em all.

The_Jazz · 12-17-2007, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crompsin

HAHAHA! Touche!

Trees aren't weeds! They're beautiful. I wanna touch 'em all.

Clearly you're not familiar with Mexican Fan Palms. The fucking things are the weeds of trees and will grow just about anywhere with a very minimal amount of care. Their fronds also fold down onto the trunk when they die, creating a nice dense "beard" that's great for rats to live in, especially when the palm is between the 91 and a Mexican restaurant in San Bernardino. You can only cut those from below, so all that nasty shit falls in your face, which allows momma rat to emerge from a cloud of dust 30' up trying to decide if it's better to take you on or just run down the other side. Any plant that harbors that sort of nightmare is a weed, and deserves to be punished accordingly.

I've got stories, man. They don't compare to yours humping a pack and gun, but they entertain.

Did we retire your "chickenfucker" nickname? If we did, now would be the perfect time to start calling you "treefucker".

Plan9 · 12-17-2007, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Jazz

Clearly you're not familiar with Mexican Fan Palms. The fucking things are the weeds of trees and will grow just about anywhere with a very minimal amount of care. Their fronds also fold down onto the trunk when they die, creating a nice dense "beard" that's great for rats to live in, especially when the palm is between the 91 and a Mexican restaurant in San Bernardino. You can only cut those from below, so all that nasty shit falls in your face, which allows momma rat to emerge from a cloud of dust 30' up trying to decide if it's better to take you on or just run down the other side. Any plant that harbors that sort of nightmare is a weed, and deserves to be punished accordingly.

Awesome. Better than any deployment story. More wholesome. Less political.

No, I think all nicknames still apply.

Redlemon · 12-17-2007, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyborg Ninja

I figured the baking soda would decrease the stickiness of spilled soda

The Eepybirds recommend using diet soda because it is less sticky and makes for easier cleanup. We did ours on the pavement, near a catch basin, for even easier cleanup.

Quote:

Originally Posted by EepyBird.com: About Us

Why do you use diet soda?
Diet tends to go a bit higher than regular soda, because it often has more carbonation and artificial sweeteners can help make the reaction a little bigger. Most importantly, diet soda isn’t sugary and sticky. Every time we set off a big geyser display, we get soaked to the skin, so it’s nice not to get covered in sugary goo.

ottopilot · 12-18-2007, 08:22 PM

In the movie "Idiocracy", in the really stupid future, they replaced the water supply with a sport drink. All the crops eventually died.

Funny movie, same guy as in "Office Space".

noodle · 12-19-2007, 04:00 AM

I seem to not remember Luke Wilson in Office Space, but I could be wrong. Uh-oh... I just admitted I'd seen Idiocracy, didn't I? Crap.

Carry on.

ottopilot · 12-19-2007, 05:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fredweena

I seem to not remember Luke Wilson in Office Space, but I could be wrong. Uh-oh... I just admitted I'd seen Idiocracy, didn't I? Crap.

Carry on.

DOH! ...You are correct! Idiocracy was such a "memorable" film anyway (insomnia, HBO on demand).

The tie in to Office Space was director/writer Mike Judge (who also acted in Office Space)

Cynthetiq · 12-19-2007, 08:46 AM

http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/experiment/00000109

Steve Spangler suggests using Diet since it isn't sticky like regular soda.

The_Jazz · 12-19-2007, 08:49 AM

"Stickyness" won't effect the grass negatively since that's just the presence of sugars. Assuming all the acids are neutralized by the baking soda, they might help, although "fixed" nitrogren would do a much better job of fertilizing.

12-17-2007, 03:01 AM	#1 (permalink)
Cyborg Ninja Crazy	Would baking soda and soda pop kill grass? I'd like to show my little cousins what happens when you mix Mentos and soda. I figured the baking soda would decrease the stickiness of spilled soda in my grandma's lawn, plus I'll wash it away with a hose. __________________ Become an organ donor

12-17-2007, 05:53 AM	#2 (permalink)
The_Jazz Asshole Administrator Location: Chicago	Depending on the amount of baking soda used, it might cause long-term problems in the soil by lowering the ph levels if you spill it directly on the ground. It's an alkaline, and some sorts of grass can be sensitive to those. If there's enough of it, it could shock the plants pretty badly and maybe even kill them. It might also poison the soil. It could also cause it to grow better, to, with the right species. The soda really shouldn't do anything since it's basically sugar and water, and the mixture of the soda and baking soda shouldn't cause any longterm effects. __________________ "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - B. Franklin "There ought to be limits to freedom." - George W. Bush "We have met the enemy and he is us." - Pogo

12-17-2007, 08:02 AM	#3 (permalink)
Plan9 I Confess a Shiver	Do it in the street instead. __________________ *Whatever you can carry.* "You should not drink... and bake."

12-17-2007, 11:45 AM	#4 (permalink)
clavus pow! Location: NorCal	I did this on my grass. Everything was OK. Dog shit and cat pee is a much bigger problem than a little Baking soda and cola __________________ Ass, gas or grass. Nobody rides for free.

12-17-2007, 01:25 PM	#5 (permalink)
Plan9 I Confess a Shiver	Me? I like it when Jazz talks all scientific about what essentially is a managed weed on our pretentious suburban front lawns. __________________ *Whatever you can carry.* "You should not drink... and bake."

12-17-2007, 01:44 PM	#7 (permalink)
Plan9 I Confess a Shiver	HAHAHA! Touche! Trees aren't weeds! They're beautiful. I wanna touch 'em all. __________________ *Whatever you can carry.* "You should not drink... and bake."

12-18-2007, 08:22 PM	#11 (permalink)
ottopilot let me be clear Location: Waddy Peytona	In the movie "Idiocracy", in the really stupid future, they replaced the water supply with a sport drink. All the crops eventually died. Funny movie, same guy as in "Office Space". __________________ "It rubs the lotion on Buffy, Jodi and Mr. French's skin" - Uncle Bill from Buffalo

12-19-2007, 08:46 AM	#14 (permalink)
Cynthetiq Tilted Cat Head Administrator Location: Manhattan, NY	http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/experiment/00000109 Steve Spangler suggests using Diet since it isn't sticky like regular soda. __________________ I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not. What's the best nation in the world? DO-NATION!

12-19-2007, 08:49 AM	#15 (permalink)
The_Jazz Asshole Administrator Location: Chicago	"Stickyness" won't effect the grass negatively since that's just the presence of sugars. Assuming all the acids are neutralized by the baking soda, they might help, although "fixed" nitrogren would do a much better job of fertilizing. __________________ "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - B. Franklin "There ought to be limits to freedom." - George W. Bush "We have met the enemy and he is us." - Pogo