SUSAN!!! What a plesant surprise to see your post! Good info as always!!!
Mel

Hey Mel! Good to see ya again, too! I haven't been seeing so many of you hoya experts over here. Tell Lesli I still miss her posts!

Susan

Lesli and I were just talking about you this week and saying how we missed hearing from you! She will be happy to know you are posting here!! We all started our Hoya addiction right here on the GW! It is always great to run into old friends.

Hey Mel,

I've been wondering where Lesli's vanished to. If my home 'puter were working, I'd be Emailing her privately to ask where she's gone. Miss her great presence a lot!

Hey SC it IS good to see you posting. You're right about the hydrogen peroxide. I've been using it for about 2+ years now.

Same to you AC! I've been reading some of your posts over in that other life. My hoyas suffered from neglect this past year. I remember someone's post that she lets her hoyas go dry before watering again and I will have to say maybe that's why I had so much of a mealy problem because I really watered too much; even at once a week. Some of my hoyas were not watered for months and they are still hanging in. Oh, well.. I'm going to try and keep these few going and not worry about having every single one.:-)

Karen,
Lesli has been staying off the computer in favor of some major landscape projects in her yard and running the kid to baseball practice. She is good...just away from the cyber world for a bit.

Susan,
I am with you on growing and enjoying the Hoyas I have. I have only a couple on my "must have" list and after that, plan to sit back and enjoy my collection.

Hey Girls!
How sweet to be missed! I really miss all of you too!

Mel is right, I've been working hard to make this chunk of woods look nice! It has been overrun with scrub brush for years that just won't die! I've been pulling it up by the roots and burning it up! LOL! AND planting kewl stuff of course!
I get addicted to the forums and get NOTHING done.... any more I read a post or see a picture of a certain Hoya, log off and go water mine or mist!

Back to the topic. I think I'll try the hydrogen peroxide on ailing plants. I did use it a time or two last spring on a few things I'd underwatered (I have a certain room
I ALWAYS forget to water). I can't remember miracle like results, but I also only used it a couple of times!
Thanks for the reminder Susan!

Susan, can you give an estimate of "a tadbit to each watering pitcher"? Like a tablespoon to a gallon? a teaspoon to a quart? Does that sound like a 'tadbit', lol!

Hi guys--
I'll jump in here, I found some info back in the list when I first found y'all and went thru and read every single old post. I printed it off cause it was a very detailed post, do a search here for hydrogen peroxide and it should pop up. I've been using it at 1 tbsp per gallon. Can't say about miracle results at this time, cause everything is in full growth phase right now anyway. But I am seeing peduncles where there hasn't been any for 2 years! Hope you find it!

JoAnne

JoAnne, thanks for sharing the formula/amount you've been using. I did do a search and found the thread on hydrogen peroxide. Lots of great information (but some detailed enough to put me into overload, lol!). I'm going to start adding it to the water for my hoyas and other plants.

I used it once or twice on some I thought I had overwatered and it seems it did do good, but haven't used it on any regular basis.
I am already using Eleanors, ST, and occationally other fertilizers. I hate to add more to the water for fear of overdoing it and killing them with good intentions.
Awanda...When you use the HP, do you use the other stuff at the same time, or do you alternate? How often do you use it?
Marcy -- (overloaded too)

Here is some info on hydrogen peroxide I posted a while back. Marcy I use it everytime I water. I don't measure, I just kinda know how much to use. It's probably about 2 tablespoons per gallon of water.

Hydrogen Peroxide and Horticulture

Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) is a clear sharp smelling substance very similar in appearance to water (H2O). Like water it is made up of Hydrogen and Oxygen, however H2O2 has an extra Oxygen atom in an unstable arrangement. It is this extra atom that gives H2O2 its useful properties. H2O2 has been used for many purposes including cleaning, bleaching, sterilizing, rocket fuel, animal feed treatment and in addition many miraculous claims about its health benefits have been made. This article isn't about any of these; instead it will concentrate on horticultural applications. H2O2 is of great use for both hydroponics and dirt/soilless gardening.
1. What Does Hydrogen Peroxide do?
H2O2 is an unstable molecule, when it breaks down a single oxygen atom and a molecule of water is released. This oxygen atom is extremely reactive and will attach itself to either another O- atom forming a stable Oxygen molecule or attack a nearby organic molecule. Both the stable and O- forms will increase the level of dissolved oxygen. This is the method by which H2O2 is beneficial. Pretreating the water supply with H2O2 will drive out the Chlorine many cities use to sterilize it. This will also degrade any pesticides or herbicides that might be present as well as any other organic matter. Well water can be high in methane and organic sulfates, both of which H2O2 will remove. Many disease causing organisms and spores are killed by Oxygen, the free Oxygen H2O2 releases is extremely effective at this. H2O2 will help eliminate existing infections and will help prevent future ones. It is also useful for suppressing algae growth. The free Oxygen atom will destroy dead organic material (i.e, leaves roots) in the system preventing them from rotting and spreading diseases.
2.Over Watering
Roots require Oxygen to breathe and low levels are the main cause of almost all root diseases. Both soil and hydroponic plants often fall prey to the same syndrome although it is rarely recognized as what it really is. Hydroponic crops often fail due to "root rot" and soil crops succumb to "over watering." The real cause of both these problems is a shortage of Oxygen at the root zone. In a soil system the soil consists of particles, a film of water on the particles and air spaces between the particles. When too much water is put into the soil the air spaces fill with liquid. The roots will quickly use up what Oxygen is dissolved in the water, if they haven't drunk enough of the liquid to allow air back in to the soil spaces they will stop working. In this situation roots will start dying within twenty-four hours. As the roots die the plants ability to drink water and nutrients will decrease, this will cause symptoms of nutrient deficiencies (mostly pale, slow, weak growth), and strangely they will start to wilt like they don't have enough water. It is easy to make a fatal mistake at this point and add more water.
In a Hydroponic system the cause is a more direct simple lack of oxygen in the solution, this may be from inadequate circulation and/or aeration. High reservoir temperatures also interfere with Oxygen's ability to dissolve in the water. Temperatures above 70F (20C) will eventually cause problems, 62F-65F (16C-18C) is recommended. The same symptoms will appear as with soil plants but you can also check the roots. Healthy roots should be mostly white with maybe a slight yellowish tan tinge. If they are a brownish colour with dead tips or they easily pull away there is at least the beginnings of a serious problem. An organic dirtlike rotting smell means there is already a very good chance it is too late. As roots die and rot they eat Oxygen out of the water, as Oxygen levels are even further depleted more roots die, a viscius circle may be well under way. Reduced Oxygen levels and high temperatures both encourage anaerobic bacteria and fungi. The plants may still be saved but you will have to work fast.
3. How Hydrogen Peroxide prevents root rot/overwatering.
When plants are watered with H2O2 it will break down and release Oxygen into the area around the roots. This helps stop the Oxygen from being depleted in the water filled air spaces until air can get back into them. High Oxygen levels at the roots will encourage rapid healthy root growth. In a Hydroponic system H2O2 will disperse through out the system and raise Oxygen levels as it breaks down. Strong white healthy roots with lots of fuzzy new growth will be visible. This fuzzy growth has massive surface area allowing for rapid absorption of the huge amounts of water and nutrients needed for rapid top growth. A healthy plant starts with a healthy root system.
4. How to use it.
H2O2 comes in several different strengths 3%, 5%, 8% and 35%, also sold as food grade Hydrogen Peroxide. The most economical is 35% which we recommend be diluted to three percent before using, as at this high concentration it can cause damage to skin and clothing. When working with food grade H2O2 it is very important that you clean up any spills or splashes immediately, it will damage almost anything very quickly. This is extra important with skin and clothing. Skin will be temporarily bleached pure white if not washed cleaned. Gloves are strongly recommended when working with any strong chemical.
Food grade H2O2 can be diluted to three percent by mixing it one part to eleven parts water (preferably distilled). The storage container should be opaque to prevent light from getting in and it must be able to hold some pressure. If three-liter pop bottles are available in your area they are ideal for mixing and storing H2O2. There are twelve quarter liters (250ml) in three liters, if you put in one quarter liter H2O2 and eleven quarter liters (250ml) water in the bottle it will full of three percent H2O2 and the bottle can hold the pressure that the H2O2 will generate. Three percent Hydrogen Peroxide may be added at up to three ml's per liter (2 1\2 tsp. Per gallon), but it is recommended that you start at a lower concentration and increase to full strength over a few weeks. Use every watering even on fresh cuttings. For hydroponics use every reservoir change and replace twenty-five percent (one quarter) every day. Example: In a 100L reservoir you would add three hundred ml's (3%) H2O2 when changing the nutrient. You would then add seventy-five ml's more every day.
5. Where to get it.
35% food grade: called food grade because it has no toxic impurities
Of course your local hydroponics retailer, whom you can locate over the web at www.hydromall.com. Direct order off the web (there may be shipping restrictions on high strength peroxides). H2O2 is used to bleach hair so the local hairdresser may have a source. The local feed supplier may have it in small towns. Prices range from fifteen dollars per quarter liter to eighty dollars a gallon. One gallon will treat up to fifty thousand liters of water.
3%5%, 8%
Can be found at most drugstores or pharmacies, prices start at a less than a dollar for a one hundred-ml bottle that will treat one hundred liters.
6. What to do if you already have root rot.
In Dirt:
Use peroxided water with anti-fungicide (benomyl) and a high Phosphate fertilizer (9-45-15, 10-52-10, 0-60-0) for root growth. Root booster (5-15-5) or any other product with rooting hormone dissolved in it is helpful in regrowing roots and is strongly recommended. If a plant is wilty adding Nutri-Boost may save it. Water heavily until liquid pours out the bottom of the pot. This sound like bad idea, but it flushes out stagnant dead water and replaces it with fresh highly oxygenated water. Don't let plants sit in trays full of water, the soil will absorb this water and stay too wet. Don't water again until the pot feels light and the top inch or two of the soil are dry.
In Hydro:
Change your nutrients. Add H2O2 to the system. This will add oxygen and chemically eat dead roots. If roots are badly rotted and can be pulled away by hand you should pull them off. They are already dead and will only rot, causing further problems. Add a fungicide to kill any fungus that is probably present in the rotted tissue to prevent it from spreading. Root booster will speed recovery. If plants are wilty Nutri-Boost may help save them. Increase aeration of the water, get an airpump and air stones, or more of them, for the reservoir. An air stone under every plant is usually very effective, but will require a larger air pump. Models that will do from forty to four hundred stones are available. Decrease the reservoir temperature, oxygen dissolves better in cold water and disease causing organisms reproduce slower as well. A good temperate range is 62F to 65F; anything above 70F will eventually cause a problem. It is also a good idea to remove any wilty plants from the system and put them on a separate reservoir so they don't infect plants that are still healthy.
Summary
The key to big productive plants is a big healthy root system and Hydrogen Peroxide is a great way to keep your roots healthy. It is a must to ensure the biggest best crops possible and to increase the chances of your plants thriving to harvest. Peroxide users will rarely lose plants or crops to root disease and will harvest larger and more consistent crops.

I don't measure, just dump in-probably close to 2 tblspns or a little more. I use a large bottle in a couple of weeks.

Susan, I also swear by peroxide but still use SuperThrive too.

First heard about the value of H2O2 from Awanda-thank you so much--what you say makes so much sense. How do you rotate using all these things?

Should fertilizer be used at the same time with this?