Does methanol help plants grow?

Question

I have a forked nightshade in approximately 200mL of tap water. It was wilting, so I added ~10mL of methanol. The plant is doing great now! The turgidity is normal and the plant has started to produce more berries. Why do YOU think its condition has changed (positively) from the addition of methanol? I'm wondering if its more than just a "greater delivery of water" to the rest of the plant.

Let me know if you need more information on how I care for the plant.

Answer 1

everybody likes alcohol even plants apparently

Answer 2

I think it boils down to "greater delivery of water", but the reason for this is that the alcohol lowered the surface tension of the water and made it easier to enter the plant.  Is this a cutting sitting in the water?  If so, the cut end may have dried a bit or air got into the channels the water takes going into the plant.  Alcohol would have helped the water seep past these barriers.  I think you lucked out, not all plants like alcohol, and roots (of some plants at least) can only withstand a few parts per million of alcohol in the water.