Hydrogen peroxide

[Rhonda Svoboda]

Okay- what is the scoop on using & not using it on orchid roots? I never have because I avoid using anything on roots.
From what I've seen on youtube and the internet its mainly European's who do this so perhaps its formulated differently?
I am suprised that orchid growers haven't comentated on these youtube channels. So what's the bottom line? Don't put anything on your orchid's roots unless its specifically made for it.

[Roberta]

Hydrogen peroxide is a disinfectant - a fairly strong oxidizer (that extra oxygen molecule) When you put it on a wound, the ragged edges foam as it attacks the thin damaged tissue. Now, think of a root...it's active, growing tips have microscopic hairs - the most active part of the root. Lots of surface area. Guess what the peroxide does to them... the same thing that it does to the high surface area ragged edge of a wound. You DON'T want to do that to a fresh, growing root!!!

Some people seem to focus on the disinfectant properties of peroxide without thinking of the mechanism. And once things get onto the Internet they don't go away, no matter how false they are or no matter how hard rational, knowledgeable folks try to refute. How is this different from any other misinformation on the 'net??

[Ray]

There is, however, a horticultural hydrogen peroxide product that has shown no phytotoxicity - Biosafe Disease Control.

The way they can have the best of both worlds is by 1) lowering the hydrogen peroxide concentration to a fraction of that in the drugstore stuff, but 2) stabilizing it with peroxyacetic acid.

Drugstore stuff is weakly stabilized with stannous chloride, keeping it chemically stable in the bottle, but it decomposes rapidly, as Roberta described, causing damage to sensitive tissues and then ending up as a puddle of water soon thereafter.

The Biosafe Systems stuff, on the other hand, stays chemically active - at a reduced degree - until it has dried.

It's sort-of like polishing brass with 100 grit sandpaper or a Blitz Cloth.

[SouthPark]

I once did try on many orchids --- following the youtube bandwagon and internet bandwagon ----- popping 3% hydrogen peroxide onto roots (spraying) --- and noticed a pattern. The orchids would do pretty much nothing for quite a long time - eg. couple of months or more. All of them. It didn't appear to destroy the roots - but noticed to put them out of action for a long time.

When I don't put that substance on the root - the orchids grow just fine. I didn't put the hydrogen peroxide on the roots for treating disease. It was for treating plants that arrived in shipping packages, having been stuck in a humid box during shipping.

So, instead - I just spray mancozeb. I haven't seen mancozeb cause problems for my orchids before.

I really am not surprised that hydrogen peroxide can/will destroy orchid roots, orchid hairs etc. I don't keep hydrogen peroxide anymore ----- as I did read that the regular stuff does break down into water after a while, once the bottle is opened up.

[Rhonda Svoboda]

OMG you two know everything!! Thanks for always educating me and everyone on this site. Are either of you Master Gardners or chemists? I get the feeling there's extensive education and experience in you backgrounds.

[Roberta]

I did used to be a chemist.. a long time ago, when there were only 4 elements (earth, air, fire, water)
But they haven't repealed any of the laws of chemistry. And orchid growing is an adventure... nobody is born knowing everything, or anything for that matter. Some research, and a lot of observation, go a long way.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by Roberta

I did used to be a chemist.. a long time ago, when there were only 4 elements (earth, air, fire, water)

They were the first 'chemists' ..... the alchemists hahahahaha

Still chemists none-the-less (or more) hehehehe

[Rhonda Svoboda]

hahaha...I needed that laugh. thanks

---------- Post added at 05:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:20 PM ----------

Ray,
Thanks for that info. I really appreciate it!!
I'll spread the news that 1)Never use hydro peroxide and 2)Biosafe