Stolen Idea!

Yes, that's what I thought I remembered, volume is different than percentage. So, 6% peroxide equals 20 volume. This is the strength used to color hair, much stronger than the 3% used for cuts and so on.

Okay, hair peroxide also comes in 40 volume...maybe for those stubborn seeds?

I am going to try some morning glories in the 3% from the bathroom. Will let you know how they do!

Thanks sue for the info.

Well learn something new.....thanks for the correction on my info.

Hey friends. I have yet another awesome H202 success story.
I don't know if I told you all how I'd use this solution for water logged plants or plants suffering from root rot...Well the weather here has been cold and rainy w/ no sun for almost a full week. Today I found my P. Edulis all droopy and limp from no sun and way too much water. Well I pulled the saucer out from underneath the pot and took a glass of water w/ about 2 tsp.'s of 3.5% H202 and poured the mix through the pot and allowed it to drain. I came back out maybe 15 minutes later to find the same plant standing at attention as if it hadn't had any problems at all. My wife still is in aww.LOL I knew it was a lack of oxygen due to it sitting in a saucer full of water and the soil was dripping wet. BAM! Yet another use for H202. I knew it work but I had no idea it would work so fast;)

rikerbear, don't feel bad, I should have picked that up right away, and there is a lot you can teach me!

I am really excited about the possibilites of H202 for seed starting and also JLD's method of saving plants- wish I had known that earlier, but it will come in handy for sure.

Does anyone know what the 97% or so inactive ingredients are in H2O2? Just curious. Is it distilled water???

I've been reading this thread and have tried it on seed starting.

BTW, does anyone know how long it should take for lima bean seed to germinate in the H2O2 solution? Mine are sorta just sitting there getting bloated. I'm also trying okra seed.

The above are in a glass. Am I supposed to be covering them with plastic wrap or something, or just leaving them open?

I also am trying someone's idea of soaking the paper towels in the solution, squeezing them out until just damp, and placing seeds, folding in half, and putting all flat into a plastic ziplock bag. These are zinnias and blue flax, and are starting to germinate.

Hi Judith - I start my seeds in paper towels soaked in the solution. But, I don't squeeze them out, I add a little more solution once folded, hold it up to let some of the solution drip off and then put the soppy towel into a plastic bag. Let us know how they do with less moisture.

I've also been wondering about the inactive ingredients in the 3% H2O2 purchased from the local store, have been told it may contain additives or preservatives that aren't good for the seeds, and that I should be use a 'food' quality solution. Has anyone found a pure and more concentrated H2O2? Do you get it off the internet?

Pardancanda - that's what I used and most have sprouted.

Judith, if your bean seed is bloated, I love that term, they are ready to plant. I generally just soak mine for a couple of hours and then plant. Within about 10 days or less, especially with green beans, they are up.

Thanks, Brugie! "Bloated" is my DH's description of them. He's laughing all the way through my seed starting experiment.

The paper towel seeds are starting to sprout.

I wondered if the other 97% of the solution was just mostly distilled water, so we are actually further diluting the 3% H2O2. If so, it doesn't matter much what percentage the H2O2 is in the bottle, unless is was, say, 30-50%????

This whole thread has helped me a lot, being accustomed as I am to a germination rate for me of ~0-3%. LOL Never was very successful in getting seeds started! I actually have plants growing!!!!! WOW!!!

JudithI, I had good luck sprouting Vermont Cranberry beans in this solution so I think it should also work with limas.

I also tried it with marigold seeds (no germination after 7 days) and with cucumber seeds (no germination after 7 days), just got 'bloated' as you said. The marigold seeds didn't seem to absorb any of the solution, just floated on the top.

Judith, I think the dilution is important, even if the H202 is 97% water (as I believe it is), a 1 : 10 solution would reduce the solution from 3% to only .3% (if math is correct). Or, 6% would be reduced to .6%.

LOL Pardancanda, I realize that technically there is a difference.

My point was, since I'm not all that exact in my measurements (OK, that's about a teaspoonful in the glass, now add "some" water, hmmm).

I know most people are more particular about measurements, but I measure like I do when cooking, dash of this, smattering of that. Just learned about what a teaspoon, or whatever, looks like in a straight glass over the years.

It sounds like numerous solution strengths have been used in our experiments. I know it's not the scientific method, I was just wondering about the significance of the difference when 94% or 97% is already water. Just kidding a bit! : )

It is a great idea!

(edited to correct my math, for obvious reasons!)

This message was edited Apr 27, 2004 10:35 PM

Good point, Judith... I am a bit obsessive compulsive with measurements myself. Thinking about the math involved would give me a headache. Will be trying this soon as I have a moment to set up the experiment, and organize all my measuring devices according to size... ;-) John

Touche'!

Had to bring this thread back to life and report my success. Wish I could post pics- but I'm still learning how. I did the water/H2O2 mix with my sunflower seeds and the germination was so fun to watch. I got really excited about seeing them all sprout in the wide mouth jar I had them in. Since I did so many seeds, (started with 500) I did change the water out every few days and put in fresh. I could always see the air bubbles attached to the little seeds and it was fun. This was my first attmept at growing from seed, so I can't compare it to any previous experience. I now have 50+ sunflowers growing in a single bed !! The remaining 450 didn't make it due to lack of small pots to put them in! Still waiting for the blooms, since I started a little late. I'm thinking they will be great fall cutting flowers since that's about the time they will bloom. I'll know to start earlier next year. Just wanted to share- oh and my marigold seeds all rotted, so this methed is not for all types of seeds. :)

Susan McCoy

I am not sure that I would blame the water and h2o for the marigold seeds? Were they purchased seeds, I am very curious about this?

I am not familiar with what marigold seeds look like? Are they large, small, papery, if you can remember I would really like to know for future reference.

I am so glad that you had such great success!

Marigolds are papery and I think the soaking is for hard type seeds :) I purchased them from a seed seller on EBAY.

Speaking of Marigold's - Johnny's Seed catalog has huge beatiful marigolds in this years catalog- the ones on the cover- I see those in my future. :)

Susan

This message was edited Aug 16, 2004 1:49 PM

Marigold seeds............................

Which sunflower did you use and did you use any peroxide in the water? Did you use tap water or distilled water? Very curious about this.

I'm sorry but I don't know the type- I bought the seed on Ebay because I liked the picture of the flower. I used plain old tap water. with peroxide. At first I was pretty meticulus about the ratios, and then after a few days, I started to just guestimate the approximate amounts and still came out fine. I have a friend who can teach me how to load pics online and will post when them bloom. They are rigth under 3 feet right now and still no blooms in sight.

Susan McCoy

I couldn't see the H202 having anything to do with the marigold seeds since 1 of my main reasons for using H202 is that it can prevent any and all rotting when mixed properly. I would think you needed a tad more peroxide if it was rot that took your seeds. Rot is almost always due to a lack of oxygen. When oxygen levels get low, your good bacteria(aerobic bacteria) die off and then the stinky anerobic bacteria take over fast and that is the odor you find in anything that has gone stagnant. If your willing to try it again, I'd use more peroxide since the whole reason for using it is to "infuse" your water or other solutions with much higher levels of saturated O2. That's the only reason I began using H202, to kill off rootrot. Maybe try to not soak softer seeds nearly as long as hard seeds too imo. That's probably my 1st reason for soaking any seeds even before using peroxide, to soften up the seed case and infuse the seed shell with extra hormornes, vitamins and trace elements. It increases my germination rate several fold and speeds up the time it takes for seeds to germinate. Good luck!

ahhhhhhhhhhh! Hey there again! Well, I must admit I used lots of seeds in that jar- Also, I think it was pointless to put a lid on the jar... I mean if I wanted to keep "things" out, I could of just lightly placed the lid on the jar. So, that could have contributed to it going anerobic as well. I'm going to be starting lots of seed this upcoming growing season,. so I look forward to doing this again. My sunflowers are just about to bloom and have loads of buds on them :)

Susan McCoy

~ Bump! ~

~* Robin

Thanks, Robin. Great info in this thread to!
:) Donna

Oh yes, my pics... Well, the sunflowers grew tall and then we had a huge storm come and pummel them to the ground and they were growing sideways. Not exactly picture worthy, so I didn't, but the seeds still came out right... but not he marigolds. I think this works for certain seeds better than others. Also, another thought I had recently, was if you are growing your seeds in a germinating tray, why not use this mixture to spray your seeds? I haven't tried it yet, but thought it may a good idea- to blend tried and true with new. ??

Susan McCoy

I went to an Orchid farm not far from my work. The owner there was very nice enough to let me watch him propagate his orchid from seeds. After goingt through to sort out the moldy black specks from oridinary paper sheet, into an envelope. Then, he soak all his orchid seeds in Hydrogen Perixide for 15 minutes before pouring them into the nutrient agar. He didn't mixed them in water or distilled water, he just pour the hydrogen perioxide into a small clear plastic container (camera film or prescription medicine containers).

He said it kills any fungus/bacteria in the "good" seeds before pouring them into the nutrient agar.

Thought you like to know.

:)

Now did he let you watch him making the agar? And what measurements/proportions did he use for that may I ask.

~* Robin

No, I didn't see him prep the agar. He had a bunch ready to go when he show me the steps, however, I did know where he buys his chemicals. He uses 4 or 5 different kinds of chemicals and their strengths. He purchased his chemicals from PhytoTechnology Laboratories, LLC, PO Box 13481, Shawnee Mission, KS, 66282. www.phytotechlab.com

Looking thru his book from the above company, I found the seed sowing kit order number, I'm sure he just buys the chemicals after he knew what he was doing.

Orchid Seed Sowing Kit (price subject to change)
0788-Terrestrial Orchids-$59.50
0789-Ephytic Orchids-$65.50

0755-Orchid Stem Propagation Kit-$63.95

The book he recommend if you're serious into Orchid Progation is:

Home Orchid Growing by Rebecca Tyson Northern
ISBN: 0-671-60891-6

Linda

Thank you for the info and links, Linda; and welcome to DG.


~* Robin

Thank you, Robin. Love this place.

Just found this thread, I can not believe what we can do with peroxide, Superthrive,Maxicrop! Talk about Mad Sience, I am going to try my Mountain Laurels seeds, they are very hard. Been trying to get them to sprout for over a year. I will let you know! Since it is DEC. do i have to wait til spring? Thanks, Krispi

Start them now, Krispi! Then they'll be big enough to be able to get used to the weather in the spring & summer.

~* Robin

One of the first days I was on this site, I too read notmartha's post about how to start daylily seeds. Being a seed snatcher, I tried this with some misc. daylily seeds I had.. It's been about 2 weeks and I see the first root!!! Needless to say, all the cabinets are now full of jars hiding in the dark. :)

I also tried the mix by soaking a paper towel in a ziplock baggie.. I put it in the middle of the stove by the pilot light, (since I don't have a warming mat yet) I have seeds (Mimosa pudica) in pots that were there 2 weeks before I tried the ones in paper towels on the stove with no sign of life, after 10 days in the papertowel on the stove, I have roots!!

Thank you for all this info.. it is awesome!

NatureWalker sent me over here - this thread is a huge help - thank you - we have about 4 sq. ft. on a table in the kitchen to dine upon - guess what's taking up the rest of the space over, around and beneath that table? And it's only 12/7/05 - LOL. Thanks to you folks, am feeling quite empowered now to deal with fungus and space issues when starting new seedlings -

NatureWalker, by mentioning the use of gibberellic acid as a germinating aid, I did not mean to suggest it as a substitute for any method that already works fine. But, if there are any seeds that don't respond to the above techniques, then this might be a possibility.

So, if anyone has hit that wall, Norman C. Deno has written the book Seed Germination Theory and Practice that incorporates a lot of research and explicit directions for using gibberellic acid (and other techniques) on thousands of different kinds of seeds. A source of supplies is: http://www.jlhudsonseeds.net/GibberellicAcid.htm

As of 1994, Prof. Deno could be contacted at:
139 Lenor Drive, State College PA 16801, USA

His book might still be obtainable from the University State Pennsylvania

I haven't tried the gibberellic acid yet, but am certainly going to add everything in this thread to my germinating arsenal first.

Is there any problems in using plastic containers for this 'project'? Like, say an empty peanut butter jar?

This is very informative. Keep it alive for newbies. Not only for Daylillies.

Jeanette

I buy 35% H202 from our local health food store for $21.99 a pint. They also have the medicine bottle w/dropper to dispense it. For internal comsumption, it should only be mixed with distilled water. If you go to google, type in 'food grade hydrogen peroxide', about 250,000 sites come up. There is a lot of information about it's many uses and sources for purchase.

Louise

Yes Louise, I know, but I didn't think it was a good idea for inexperienced people to start out with that.

Have a nice one. :) Jeanettte

Jeanettte-
Yes, it is dangerous if not handled carefully. It will turn the fingers white where it touches and will sting or burn. I am using 7 drops in a glass of drinking water every week or so and also use an equivalent to 3% dilution in my CPAP hydrator. There is a doctor here who gives the H202 IV treatments but I've never decided to do that.
We've had a taste of your northern cold weather down here in Texas for the last two weeks!!!! Down to freezing each night.
Merry Christmas
Louise

TexasLou
LOLOL with the taste of our cool weather. I don't think we've even had a daytime hi temp above freezing for the last week or so. Its in or below the teens every night now and we hate it. The darn snow won't even begin to melt.
I sure miss living in the Red River Valley and all the mild weather that comes with winter there. I don't think it really matters where one lives as there is always some kind of weather problem that occurs now and then.
Happy Holidays;)
JD