Using peroxide when repotting?
 

Hi, I thought I read on here a few months ago about soaking roots in peroxide when repotting newly aquired orchids to help kill any fungus or disease. Do you dilute the peroxide or use it straight. Also I just aquired a vanda and since I live in the midwest, where it is less humid, I was wondering if I could put spagum moss around the roots to keep them hydrated a little more.

Hydrogen peroxide is an antiseptic at 3-10%. It does not need to be diluted.
I can't help with the vanda question as I don't grow them and haven't heard of anyone using moss on them.
Joann

Vandas are best grown without moss.

I think what you may have read was spraying with listerine (the regular kind). I've read that often here.

ive heard this too, but i wouldn't. H2O2 is inimical to cells, which is essentially why its such a good antiseptic. if the plant is small or weak, it might have a tough time dealing with it.
essentially though, the concentration (you can buy it as either 3% or 6% usually) is so low that it isn't really too much of a big deal, it shouldn't be too bad, unless you are a laboratory technician, and have access to 30-90% H2O2, which would kill the plant :P
also, make sure you say hydrogen peroxide, because here are literally thousands of peroxides, most of which are highly dangerous.

Thank you, I will remember to use hydrogen peroxide next time. :D And thank you all for responding.

Like Camille says, I use Listerine.

All the 'chids I have done this too are doing well. But would they have done without it... I'm not sure but I'm going to stick with it just to make sure.

I use Listerine to clean up the chids. If there's ever any sign of crown rot, that's when I use the hydrogen peroxide. A few drops in the crown, let it sit for a minute then spill or wipe it out.

I suggest that you all focus more on keeping the plants healthy, rather than worrying about stuff at transplantation time.

If your plants are strong, you need not do any treatment at repotting, and the plants will be just fine.

I hadn't considered this before, but might not such "preventive" treatments, like those done with insecticides, end up breeding strains that are unaffected by the treatments?

Back to Karen's vanda question: many folks use coarse charcoal as a medium for vandas in baskets. It holds moisture a bit longer than nothing at all, but dries quickly enough to avoid issues. I have also use PrimeAgra that way.

I think this is the best advice given on this topic. I have seen and heard all kinds of recommendations, a lot of which are good psychological aids at best and detrimental at the worst.