I may have just blew it...

Watch Reply
More
Mark unread Print Skip to new
jmc1987 Cascade, VA(Zone 7a) Mar 14, 2014

Well i may have just sabotaged my entire seed tray just now. I noticed one tomato seedling that had the typical "pinched stem" symptom of damping off, so here i go on emergency mode, pull out the affected seedling, then i read about using hydrogen peroxide to fend off the infection in the soil. so here i go mixing some ( 3% strength ) in with some water, thinking i nipped this thing in the bud (or i was hoping). Then i come back to the desk only to start finding articles on down past the ones that said it was helpful--now starting to say that it kills ALL life in the soil, both fungal, bacterial and PLANT. so now i have a knot in my stomach and this sinking feeling that i may have just wiped out my entire tray of seedlings....perhaps i am over reacting?

Post #9789618
Quote
Gymgirl SE Houston (Hobby), TX(Zone 9a) Mar 16, 2014

I SWEAR by hydrogen peroxide for my tomato seedlings.

I use a capful to a gallon of water. Before the first true leaves, I use a turkey Baster to squirt some on top of the soil. Moderation is key. Just lightly moisten and make sure there is good drainage.

After the true leaves come on, I bottom water in the tray. Let them take up what they want, then drain the rest.

Never leave them sitting in a tray of water for an extended period.

Moist--not wet...

Post #9790635
Quote
jmc1987 Cascade, VA(Zone 7a) Mar 16, 2014

yeah that is a big relief seeing them the next day still standing, lol, it can be so hard to tell what is authentic info and what is just opinion / agenda on the big ol' web these days.

I confess i had been top watering (not on the leaves themselves, but just the top of the soil), and a little bit more than what i would have liked flowed over to where the seedling that got affected is.

the hydrogen does seem to have sent my pepper seeds into hyper speed as far as the germination process goes, lol. the places where i had planted the pepper seed that the peroxide soaked down into is where the first pepper seedlings are popping up, still waiting in the areas where no peroxide went down.

I kind of have my tray set up in a layered style, the one underneath is lined with marbles to keep the main seed tray held above the drainage, lol.

Post #9790787
Quote
Gymgirl SE Houston (Hobby), TX(Zone 9a) Mar 17, 2014

I use H2O2 to send my big seeds into hyper-germination. I've soaked okra seeds in the evening in a cup of water with 1 cap of H2O2, and they had little white tails on them by the next morning.

They're great for hard shelled seeds, too.

Post #9791551
Quote

Post a Reply to this Thread

Please or sign up to post.
Back to Forum Homepage

More Beginner Gardening Threads

Go to all Beginner Gardening threads
BACK TO TOP