Would we be able to "sticky" this for future reference?


http://www.using-hydrogen-pero...

I did open the link then copied and pasted to a word document so that I could save the information in my "Gardening" file. Thanks so much. I just went down to the basement and sprayed everything.

That's great! Here's another great link. Check the top left section and click for tomatoes & peppers, roses, houseplants etc
http://www.epsomsaltcouncil.or...

OK Joanne, I made this thread a sticky.

And just a reminder to everyone, to be able to find any post later you can always use the star feature. That's a feature that I often forget to use. When I do remember, I love the feature!

Karen

Forgot about this!!! Going out to buy some now.

Thanks Karen!

love that the list has both strengths

Yea, Karen! Thanks for making this a sticky. I copied it off into a document, but it will be much easier to find here!

Karen

I have to dig a little deeper to make sure (and HOW) this H2O2 (H. peroxide) helps me in seed germination.
I am not much of a cutting propagator, so... it's all about seeds...

I used to pooh-pooh the idea that a little peroxide could release a useful amount of oxygen, but then I read the same claim from multiple people I respected. I think that is part of it. Sometimes soil is so hypoxic that even a little soluble oxygen, released right where it is needed, helps roots or encourages "good bacteria" or discourages "bad bacteria".

I think there is also a direct disinfecting effect. Hydrogen peroxide does kill some bacteria and fungi. That probably helps deter seed rotting and stem wilt / fungus / damping off.

MAYBE it also deactivates SOME kinds of germination inhibitors (helps break dormancy).

I hope you post info from sources you find! I have a lurking suspicion that gardeners have preserved and passed on wisdom, lore, myths and fallacies going back to Neolithic agriculture. At what point do we wean out the untrue beliefs, if everyone follows them and repeats them?

I've tried using the H2O2 solutions a few times and haven't really noticed any perceptible difference in germination rates. But it's a benign enough and inexpensive enough technique, I'm willing to give it a try for stubborn situations.

Maybe I just killed a few batches of Salvia seeds through clumsiness, then learned the right way at the same time I started pre-soaking in H2O2.

That's quite likely, but when someone advised doing it that way and they started living, I assumed it was because of the peroxide.

"After it, therefor because of it" ... I could keep whatever other changes I've made in my habits, replace the H2O2 soak with a water soak, and see what happens.

But it is also possible that the seeds I killed were all old or very fussy, and the ones that survived were fresher or easier. I know that even with the H2O2, maybe 1/4 of the varioeties and 1/3 - 1/2 of the seeds did not sprout or thrive.

if they germinated in the peroxide.. you can just carefully place them in soil.. they will be fine.. popsicle stick will work

Rick--- Do you cover your salvia seeds? I've found that if you don't cover salvia seeds they germinate better.

>> Do you cover your salvia seeds?

Just a light dusting of vermiculite to help them stay moist. I probably shouldn't even do that. But I keep the tray under my lights even before they sprout.

I have always used 1/2 tsp (3% hydrogen peroxide) mixed with 1 cup of water, in a transparent ziplock bag (to see exactly when the primordial root emerges) to germinate my daylily seeds. As soon as the seed germinates I transfer to pots with seeding mix.

I have used Peroxide on my DL seeds both before planting---and after on those that had mildew starting. I start my seeds in moist kitchen paper, not in soil, with high % of germination. The Peroxide did nothing to those with mildew. They still rotted.

I am now trying a rose fungicide mixed according to directions. So far so good, but not conclusive yet.

How well does this prevent dampening off?

A sprinkling of cinnamon, or a little cooled chamomile tea, always works for me.