Hydrogen Peroxide and Aloe Vera

[Kollba]

Hi all.
This is my second day here and my first posting...
I found this forum while I was searching for the cause of some problems I have with some of my orchids. I have been browsing some postings and found that some people said that Hydrogen Peroxide damages the roots. On YouTube you see people are using it and their orchids doesn't seem to suffer, so... Is it a fact, and are there any evidence that you should not disinfect the roots with it or is it about personal opinions, just like PC/Mac computers ?
And my second question. I have seen (also on YouTube) people using Aloe Vera as both root booster and fertilizer. Does anyone here have any experience from using it and what was the results ?
BTW... I am not only a newbie on this forum but also when it comes to orchids since I started growing them 6 months ago...

[SouthPark]

Welcome to OrchidBoard forum !!

With hydrogen peroxide ----- my personal experience is ----- with the 3% concentration solution, it didn't kill my orchids, but I noticed a pattern ----- my orchids didn't do much at all for relatively long periods of time (eg. months) when I tried it for 'disinfecting' orchids that came through in the post. Not that the orchids showed any signs of disease etc ..... it was only for pre-treatment.

But there-after, I just use mancozeb spray-on (roots, stem, leaves and all) for pre-treatment ----- absolutely no problem with mancozeb.

While it is my own personal opinion ----- and genuine opinion ------ there's no stopping somebody from trying hydrogen peroxide ----- such as that 3% solution that people talk about. But they'll likely see the same consequences or effects.

And - in fact, I do reckon that hydrogen peroxide can/will kill root hairs of orchids.

With regards to aloe vera - I didn't know about that one. And never tried it before. But probably no need to try it, as there are procedures for getting and maintaining very nice healthy roots already. And if aloe vera was that good or effective ----- then people would be spreading the information about that around like wildfire already ------ that's my guess heheh.

I can provide some nice links with information that can be beneficial at some time to anyone getting started with orchid growing.

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[Ray]

I have no personal experience with hydrogen peroxide on roots. Conceptually however, I think it’s a waste of effort, as it does not have any effect on internal infections and decomposes Almost instantly upon application.

Aloe Vera gel simply isn’t a viable fertilizer, as it does not contain nitrogen, which is, by far, the most important nutrient.

[Mr.Fakename]

As far as I'm aware, products made out of Aloe are not considered to be fertilisers; there's intended as a boost for immune system and metabolism.

[Kollba]

I was using Hydrogen Peroxide for disinfecting the roots after I was forced to replant all my orchids due to a very wet and humid rain season and my orchids are kept outdoors under a shade net all year. Mold, mold and more mold plus lots of dead roots... As I wrote, I saw different people on YouTube doing it so I thought it was ok, but maybe I have to find some other way. The problem for me is that here where I live, it is not easy to find good products without order online and have them shipped from the other side of the globe (which most companies doesn't do).
And Aloe Vera... I was thinking that someone might have any experience of the eventual root boosting effects, since root hormones has to be ordered online and are expensive, while I have a lot of Aloe in my backyard. I will try to make some tests and see if it has any effect.
I have other questions about red leaves and different spots on the leaves but I will put them in the diseases forum with some pics.

[estación seca]

Welcome to the Orchid Board!

[Orchidtinkerer]

I think Southpark has given the best answer - I have experienced a little bit of setback after using full strength HP however it is not as black and white as use it or don't use it.
Since people that sow seedlings routinely use hydrogen peroxide to disinfect the seeds, the preparation area and tools.
It is very strong stuff and when you stick seeds in hydrogen peroxide you use a concentration of 0.1%

A full grown orchid can in theory handle more but 3% is a lot more than 0.1%.

I dilute my hp 5:1 to give me a 0.5% solution which I don't feel sets plants back.

The only downside I just recenlty discovered which nobody has mentioned before is that HP corrodes the rubber seals in spray bottles so if you stick the stuff even highly diluted into a spray bottle it will slowly do its damage and the spray bottle will start leaking after that so that is a bit annoying.

Aloe Vera juice is supposed to do the same as keiki paste. It is filled with minerals, vitamins and hormones so should be beneficial like kelp extract but I have never properly tried to use it.

[Kollba]

Originally Posted by Orchidtinkerer

I dilute my hp 5:1 to give me a 0.5% solution which I don't feel sets plants back.

The only downside I just recenlty discovered which nobody has mentioned before is that HP corrodes the rubber seals in spray bottles

Aloe Vera juice is supposed to do the same as keiki paste.

Are you sure that 0.5% is strong enough for disinfecting? You use 3% disinfecting wounds...

I have the same problem with isopropanol 99% that I use for disinfecting pots and tools. The pump stopped working

It is that effect I am looking for because I cannot buy keiki paste here. USA does not export it here and yu cannot buy it in my old homeland (as far as I know).