The Non-Toxic Miracle Solution of Hydrogen Peroxide for Plants
Harmful chemicals aren’t necessary to grow healthy plants. Whether your plants suffer from root rod, fungal infections, or you need a good disinfectant, hydrogen peroxide may do the trick.
Hydrogen Peroxide 3% works well as a seed sanitiser, root enhancer, and it helps fight plant diseases. If you’ve ever noticed how much more rainwater helps your plants than regular tap water, you’ve seen the benefits of hydrogen peroxide. H2O2 is actually in rain, so using it as a part of your gardening process mimics what Mother Nature does for it too.
How can you use hydrogen peroxide on your plants? Here’s a list of our favourite ways.
Cure Root Rot
Do you have plants with yellow leaves? They may have root rot. This happens when your soil doesn’t leave enough room for oxygenation. As it progresses, it causes decay on the roots and eventually works its way up to the leaves.
If you’re easily able to pull up roots, they aren’t firmly planted in the ground, likely due to root rot. Hydrogen Peroxide can help this with these simple steps:
- Mix one part hydrogen peroxide with two parts water
- Pour the mixture around the roots of the plants, making sure it doesn’t touch the leaves
This should help the soil aerate, giving the roots more room to breathe. You should have healthy roots with plenty of room and no tangles.
Pest and Insect Repellant
Are you tired of pesky insects and pests taking over your plants? Hydrogen Peroxide helps chase them away. While soaking the roots helps protect the heart of your plant, sometimes insects feast on the leaves. Mix equal parts hydrogen peroxide and water in a spray bottle and lightly spray the leaves to chase away unwanted pests.
Sanitise your Seeds
Do you plant a seed garden first? You likely soak them in water before planting them to enhance germination right? If you soaked them in hydrogen peroxide, they may grow even faster. That’s because hydrogen peroxide naturally kills off any germs, including bacteria that reside on the seeds. This helps your seeds grow faster and healthier.
All you need is your hydrogen peroxide and a watertight container. Pour enough into a bottle to cover the seeds. Let them sit for four hours and then rinse them off. The seeds will be healthy and ready for you to plant in pots or your garden.
Grow Healthy Roots
Roots need oxygen to grow properly. Hydrogen peroxide can provide that boost while also enhancing growth. Once you plant your seeds or plants, you can spray hydrogen peroxide directly into the soil at the roots, this helps bring your plant more oxygen. When roots have oxygen, they have more room to breathe and are better able to absorb water, both of which they need to grow.
Mix two teaspoons of hydrogen peroxide with one gallon of water and spray it on your garden a couple of times a week.
Eliminate Fungal Infections
Have you noticed signs of fungal infections on your plants? A few signs include ‘rust’ on the leaves or stem, white mold, or brown spots on the leaves.
Mix ¼ cup hydrogen peroxide with one quart of water. Heavily water the plant with the mixture, making sure to get all sides of the roots. You almost want to ‘flush’ the roots of the fungus. You may feel like you’re overwatering the plants, but you’re actually flushing out the fungal infection.
Help Root Growth
Some people think of hydrogen peroxide has fertilizer. While that’s not the case, it does encourage root growth. It gives your plants’ roots a boost of oxygen, which it needs to get the necessary nutrients. When the roots absorb more nutrients, they grow faster, giving you a healthier and faster-growing plant.
Enhance your Hydroponics Garden
Do you prefer hydroponics versus a traditional garden? It’s a great way to see how your plants grow and what problems they have that you wouldn’t be able to see underneath the soil.
Many gardeners have the same issues with a hydroponics garden as they have with a soil garden – fungus and lack of oxygen, both of which hydrogen peroxide helps. If you’re growing a hydroponic garden, have plenty of hydrogen peroxide on hand.
Soak your plants with the same amounts of hydrogen peroxide you would in a soil garden – mixing ¼ cup hydrogen peroxide with one-quart water. Soak the plant’s roots to enhance oxygenation, fight fungus, and keep the plants healthy.
Disinfect Tools, Pots, and Greenhouses
Are you worried about bacteria in your pots? If you had plants with a disease or root rot in it already, the pot likely has disease too, which can spread to your plants. Mix one part ¼ cup peroxide to one quart water directly in the pot. Thoroughly wipe the sides of the pot, getting every area, but make sure you wear gloves while doing this. Dump the peroxide mix out and thoroughly rinse the pot, completely drying it when complete.
If you want to avoid chemicals on your plants, try hydrogen peroxide. It’s a great disinfectant, seed sanitizer, and root booster that keeps your garden free from pests, fungus, and disease. When you use hydrogen peroxide, you have more time to enjoy your plants, their beauty, and their vegetation rather than putting all of your sweat and effort into problem-solving and saving your plants.