Seedlings and Hydrogen Peroxide

13 years ago

or, "Be careful what you wish for!"

I haven't run across any posts about hydrogen peroxide, or "Spanish water", use in germinating seeds so I thought I'd post about my initial experience with it.

During the last week of September I received a large number of seeds and, being a little, um, obsessed, I researched and found this info from Jack Morgan (who seems to have very good science behind his advice) about the benefits of hydrogen peroxide:

"Water or foliar spray early morning. 18 Ã¯Â¿Â½ 24 oz. Of 30% H2O2 - 20 gals water.

Germinating Seeds 1-5oz. 3% H2o2 into 1 pint distilled water soak seed 8 hrs.

Insecticide -16 oz. 3% H2o2 to one gal. water w/ surfactant i.e. Coco Wet. Use fine mist spray.

Watering Plants 6 -16 oz. 3% H2o2 per gal. water. Water container thoroughly.

Note: All foliar spraying add non ionic surfactant i.e. Coco Wet. "

(The link below gives you the entire text on the rot-preventing properties of H2O2.)

Anyway, the germinating bit caught my eye so I tried the paper towel method (with the seeds soaked overnight between two wet sheets) and instead of just soaking with water I used the recommended dilution of H2O2 and, of course, a drop of Superthrive, to wet the paper towels.

I filled a few large clear plastic containers (from pre-washed salad mixes or 2lb. strawberries) with the standard seed-starting bagged mix, soaked the soil thoroughly, then poked the plumeria seeds with the wings sticking up above the soil. Then I watered with the remaining H2O2/Superthrive mix and put all into a very sunny window. I misted a couple times a day as the window is very warm and, if the container came with a lid, closed the lid and let condensation build up.

Well, I'll be darned if I don't now have lots of little green heads popping up! From what I can tell it looks like maybe 100% germination rate (I can see the fattened heads beneath all the papery wings) of 20 seeds from 6 different varieties. (Yikes--gotta go find pots now!)

I don't know if this was due entirely to high-quality seeds (mostly from Brad's Buds and Blooms) or if the extra ingredients are why they seem to be doing well (fingers crossed), but for those thinking of trying out seeds this method certainly hasn't hurt in the initial germination. I'm hoping, too, that an occasional misting/watering with "Spanish water" will keep down any seedling rot (damping off?) that has plagued me before in new seedlings of other types.

Here is a link that might be useful: Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) and Plumeria

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Comments (11)

jandey1
Original Author
13 years ago
Lost one seed, so 95% germination.

This means I may have some Mardi Gras seedlings to give away next summer, if any of you are in the Central Texas area.
PRO
the_first_kms2
13 years ago
I'm in San Antonio area. I have 6 sets of seed pods on a pink and and a few on some yellows.

I might try this technique next year when they open. Never really been a seedling fan so it will be more out of academic interest than anything else.
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Growitnow, being prepared is good ... but try not to overdo the pessimism there! I posted a question myself today about damping-off ... I discovered white fuzz on the surface of the flats just as the first seedlings are beginning to emerge. Like you, I expected the worst, even though I'd read that while there are lots of fungi out there, there are only 4-6 that cause damping off. I've increased soil temp, light and air circulation (removed clear dome covers), made sure there's no standing water in the base trays, misted lightly with chamomile tea, which some say has antimicrobial properties, and am keeping fingers crossed. It's good to know the hydrogen peroxide is an option if it's needed. Best of luck to you! Diane
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I do not know specifically if it kills some bacteria (or other microbes) over others. As a chemist I can tell you that its action is not like antibiotics - it doesn't wiggle its way in and affect some complex biological process. It's more like bleach, a strong oxidizer, a chemical sledgehammer. It oxidizes any organic matter it touches. I suppose some microbes could have more resistant outer membranes. That's the only way it could work. I kinda doubt it. As to the other aspects of the OP that you didn't really ask about...humor me: :-] There is no way it has an ability to 'remove built up salts'. Salts generally can't be oxidized or even solubilized by peroxide. I suppose it COULD help a drowned root system by providing oxygen, which is released as the peroxide reacts with any organic matter it touches, including inanimate organic matter. The anecdote about repotting a plant almost dead from overwatering...well if there was no control plant that was repotted the same with no peroxide added, there's no way to prove the peroxide had any effect whatsoever. That's not even a scientific study with 1 sample, it's nothing.
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About the stabilizer chemicals in the 3% HP. From what I have read, these chemicals accumulate and are toxic to humans. If they are being sprayed on plants would it not have the same effect? Poison? I will not be using 3% anywhere in my home and am looking for a supplier of 35% food grade. I will also use it as an alternative to chlorine in my pool. Here are the differences for your readers. An excerpt from: The Many Benefits of Hydrogen Peroxide By Dr. David G. Williams http://educate-yourself.org/cancer/benefitsofhydrogenperozide17jul03.shtml Posted July 17, 2003 (Original title: Hydrogen Peroxide - Curse or Cure?) Grades of Hydrogen Peroxide Hydrogen peroxide is available in various strengths and grades. A) 3.5% Pharmaceutical Grade: This is the grade sold at your local drugstore or supermarket. This product is not recommended for internal use. It contains an assortment of stabilizers which shouldn't be ingested. Various stabilizers include: acetanilide, phenol, sodium stanate and tertrasodium phosphate. B) 6% Beautician Grade: This is used in beauty shops to color hair and is not recommended for internal use. C) 30% Reagent Grade: This is used for various scientific experimentation and also contains stabilizers. It is also not for internal use. D) 30% to 32% Electronic Grade: This is used to clean electronic parts and not for internal use. E) 35% Technical Grade: This is a more concentrated product than the Reagent Grade and differs slightly in that phosphorus is added to help neutralize any chlorine from the water used to dilute it. F) 35% Food Grade: This is used in the production of foods like cheese, eggs, and whey-containing products. It is also sprayed on the foil lining of aseptic packages containing fruit juices and milk products. THIS IS THE ONLY GRADE RECOMMENDED FOR INTERNAL USE. It is available in pints, quarts, gallons or even drums. Various suppliers are mentioned later in this article. G) 90%: This is used as an oxygen source for rocket fuel. Only 35% Food Grade hydrogen peroxide is recommended for internal use. At this concentration, however, hydrogen peroxide is a very strong oxidizer and if not diluted, it can be extremely dangerous or even fatal. Any concentrations over 10% can cause neurological reactions and damage to the upper gastrointestinal tract. There have been two known fatalities in children who ingested 27% and 40% concentrations of H202. Recently, a 26 month old female swallowed one mouthful of 35% H202. She immediately began vomiting, followed by fainting and respiratory arrest. Fortunately, she was under emergency room care and although she experienced erosion and bleeding of the stomach and esophagus, she survived the incident. When she was re-examined 12 days later, the areas involved had healed (J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 90;28(1):95-100).
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You are talking about the kind you buy in a brown bottle at the drug store? I believe that is a 3% solution in water. They also sell a higher concentration for hair coloring; when I used to buy it many many years ago it was in a gel form. I tried a little H2O2 once when trying to keep a black mold from growing on coffee seeds I was attempting to sprout. It didn't get rid of the mold, but the seeds also seemed to be okay. I'm also not sure if it helped or not. ryan
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jandey1
Original Author
13 years ago
Hi kms,

Do you happen to know of any PSA chapters in San Antonio? I would think there'd be lots of hobbyists there. I haven't heard back about whether there's a chapter here in Austin.

If you've already got seed pods your plants are a lot further along than mine. I'm still waiting for most of mine to bloom for the first time. Haven't a clue as to what most of them are.

My seedlings have been doing great so far, but it might have been dumb luck or very fresh seeds. Still, all the fuss definitely hasn't hurt them!

Jen
karyn1
13 years ago
I've used H2O2 as a presoak for germinating some other seed varieties but don't think it's necessary for plumerias. If you have fresh seed you are almost guaranteed close to 100% germination.
jeff_d_grower
13 years ago
I just stick mine in some moist potting soil. Works pretty good. 80% germinate.
PRO
the_first_kms2
13 years ago
You would think with us being on the northern fringe of a subtropical environment there would be more of us here.

Although it was interesting this year to see both Lowes and Home Depot selling 3 gallon plumerias for $22 and $16 respectively.

From what I know the the closest chapters to our area are in Houston and in Corpus Christi.
jandey1
Original Author
13 years ago
Guess I'll just have to drag myself to Houston next year for the annual PSA sale. I think it's the second weekend in June.

My HD and Lowe's finally brought some plumies in around late August but they were a pretty sad bunch. Looked either unhealthy or like center-cut rejects. None of them with any indication of their color, much less a name.

As for the ongoing seedling experiment, I just checked my second seed batch that was NOT treated with H2O2 and found one rotted away, with a powdery brownish growth on it, and another with the same powder. Don't know if this is a mold that's contaminated them all, but I misted with a H2O2 solution and will hopefully not lose any more.

The mold may be due to the seeds being less than fresh (the two moldy ones came from India, I think, or maybe Thailand); they did look much darker than all the others.

Anyway, from my first batch of three weeks ago (already at 1-3" tall and all developing true leaves), one Chompoo Wang has distinctly red first true leaves coming up while the other two CW seedlings are normal green. Even at only about 1mm long they are really red. Very cool!
ProudMamaSD
12 years ago
I am following your directions with some new seeds. They soaked last night and I planted them this morning. I just want to make sure I am not messing up, I have them now on a heat mat and under a grow light. Is that too much? Thoughts asap would be much appreciated!!

Wendy
jandey1
Original Author
12 years ago
Wendy, you can't hurt them with the grow light and a low setting on the heat mat. You'll know within two weeks how many sprouts you have. I found with my first batches that even strong sprouts sometimes dies later for whatever reason, or looked so weak that I plucked them and threw them away.

Don't get discouraged. Even if you are left with only a dozen seedlings it'll be more than you can handle in a couple of years, lol! I think I still have nearly two dozen (from about five dozen seeds germinated) and don't know what I'll do next winter if they keep growing at this pace.
ProudMamaSD
12 years ago
My first sprout!! Seeds planted 3/23; this photo from today, 3/29. Very excited. :o)
ProudMamaSD
12 years ago
PS- Should have mentioned that it is a Kanoehe Sunburst, I also poked around and have a Siam Ruby breaking through! (both from BBB) They've been on a heat mat in a seed tray with lid on overnight, and outside or in warm window, also with tray lid on, by day. Under grow light if it is gloomy out.

Seedlings and Hydrogen Peroxide

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Seedlings and Hydrogen Peroxide

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