hydrogen peroxide as fertilizer?

[soprillo]

I was wondering if anyone here has experience with using hydrogen peroxide as a nutritional supplement for their orchids. It seems to be working for hydroponics farmers at 500-1000 ppm. For anyone that's curious about the chemistry, H2O2 decomposes spontaneously into water and oxygen gas. The oxygen kills anaerobic mold and fungi and also oxygenates the plant. Now this is the part that surprises me, since I was led to believe that oxygen was a waste product in photosynthesis.
However, this is something I pulled form Wikipedia:
"Some horticulturalists and users of hydroponics advocate the use of weak hydrogen peroxide solution ("Spanish water") in watering solutions. Its spontaneous decomposition releases oxygen that enhances a plant's root development and helps to treat root rot (cellular root death due to lack of oxygen) and a variety of other pests.[20][21] There is some peer-reviewed academic research to back up some of the claims.[22]"

I dipped the roots of my Aerangis Fastuosa in a 1.5% solution and it seems to have perked it up a bit. So if anyone else feels adventurous, I hope it works out for you. I'd just like to add that one should avoid anything with additives, be very sure to check the ingredients.

[slipperfreak]

Alan Koch recently talked about this when he came to Edmonton. He recommends using it whenever you repot a plant. I seem to remember him saying that it is great to add when you water every once in a while too, for the reasons you mentioned. I have only used it on a couple plants so far so I can't say much, but I'm sure it will end up being something I do all the time.

[Ray]

H2O2 is NOT a fertilizer. It IS a transient oxygenator and disinfectant, but unless your plants are suffering from a lack of air flow to the root system, it is really unnecessary.

[trdyl]

Amen Ray.

[slipperfreak]

Indeed; I should have mentioned in my reply that Alan said nothing about using it as a nutritional supplement. It just helps get oxygen around the roots.

[isurus79]

I'm not sure that hydroponics techniques are necessarily transferable to orchids. Hydro has plant roots that are constantly immersed in a wet, jell like media or even just in water, but orchid roots are exposed to plenty of moving air. Trying get more oxygen around orchid roots should be as easy as clean media and a nice breeze. I doubt that adding hydrogen peroxide will increase oxygen levels around the roots at all. Just my

[orchids3]

Some people "Aerate" their fertilizer solution and water(me). CO2 is added to the water as well as Oxygen. My fertilizer is mixed to the proportion I want in a 55 gal barrel and pumped on to the plants
directly. The water is pumped out of the tank and back in thru a common water breaker before it is used. It mixes the solution as well as adding air. When I water I use a water breaker -that aerates the water enought in my opinion. It sure doesnt hurt anything and it looks to me like it helps a little. No scientific reason - but it seems to help.

[Undergrounder]

Originally Posted by isurus79

I'm not sure that hydroponics techniques are necessarily transferable to orchids. Hydro has plant roots that are constantly immersed in a wet, jell like media or even just in water

and that's exactly how orchids grow in flask!

I use 50% H202 at 2ml - 4ml per 10L of nutrient solution in my hydroponic orchid setup to buffer against pathogens spreading in the water. I just started using it as of a month ago, and we'll see if it makes a difference. I have many plants growing in a shared reservoir so pathogen spread is something i've been wary about... i haven't had any problems in over a year, but better safe than sorry, and a few free oxygen particles hunting down organic cells in the water might be a bit of insurance.

Not sure if it helps the oxygen content of the water, but i never had a problem with insufficient oxygen in the water in the first place. I'm more interested in it for its bug killing properties.

[Intruder]

Yesterday evening I read a discussion on this topic on a german forum. The question concerned the sterilization of rainwater used for orchids watering. It was recommended to use 1 ml hydrogen peroxide at 30% per 1 liter of water.
Reference Here.

[Arenalbotanicalgarden]

Originally Posted by Undergrounder

and that's exactly how orchids grow in flask!

I use 50% H202 at 2ml - 4ml per 10L of nutrient solution in my hydroponic orchid setup to buffer against pathogens spreading in the water. I just started using it as of a month ago, and we'll see if it makes a difference. I have many plants growing in a shared reservoir so pathogen spread is something i've been wary about... i haven't had any problems in over a year, but better safe than sorry, and a few free oxygen particles hunting down organic cells in the water might be a bit of insurance.

Not sure if it helps the oxygen content of the water, but i never had a problem with insufficient oxygen in the water in the first place. I'm more interested in it for its bug killing properties.

Wouldn't KMN04 at about 2.5 ppm be a better and cheaper choice ?