Hydrogen Peroxide for Plants

Hydrogen peroxide for plants sounds like pure madness, right? After all, why would you want to feed your garden vegetables with a solution that's most famous for its use of disinfecting wounds? Well, to much surprise this pungent compound is actually the garden's best mate. That's right, your garden can greatly benefit from hydrogen peroxide treatments! It might come at even more of a surprise to hear that hydrogen peroxide is completely compatible with organic gardens! So why is hydrogen peroxide so great? Well, you'll just have to keep reading to find out, but how does natural pesticide, soil aerator and water cleanser sound for a preview?

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Recognized by the United States EPA as an organic treatment for agricultural crops, hydrogen peroxide offers many benefits to gardeners:

• Hydrogen Peroxide Pesticide - When it comes to the cultivation of organic food crops, root worms and other soil pests are difficult to spot and even more difficult to treat for. Fortunately, feeding a diluted hydrogen peroxide solution to the infected plants will rid them of these soil dwelling pests. The small amount of hydrogen peroxide will rapidly degrade external tissues and kill fungus gnat larvae, cutworms, and parasitic nematodes upon contact. A diluted solution of hydrogen peroxide can also be applied as a foliage spray to control the populations of soft bodied pests, such as aphids and spider mites.
• Soil Aeration & Root Rot Treatment - An over watered garden can easily fall victim to root rot. This rapid deterioration of plant roots can establish itself after just 24 hours of moist, oxygen deprived soil conditions. Again, hydrogen peroxide comes to the rescue! Watering thoroughly with a diluted solution, the hydrogen peroxide will break down rapidly in the soil, boosting oxygen levels and expelling any anaerobic conditions.
• Water Treatment - Many gardeners in urban areas with chemically treated municipal tap water choose to treat their water with hydrogen peroxide. Due to it's strong oxidation properties, hydrogen peroxide will remove chlorine, chemical pesticides and any organics that may be present.

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The cleansing, insecticidal and aeration properties of hydrogen peroxide are all made possible by the chemical reaction that takes place when hydrogen peroxide breaks down. Without going deep into chemistry, it should at least be known that under normal conditions hydrogen peroxide will decompose to form water and oxygen. The formula can be observed as such: 2H₂O₂ --> 2H₂O + O₂. In the initial part of the reaction, a single oxygen atom is formed. Unstable, this oxygen molecule will bind quickly. Majority of the time, the oxygen will bind with another oxygen to form a stable O₂ molecule (aeration property), but some of the time, it will react with organic tissue of pests, thus acting as an oxidizer that destroys tissue (pesticide property).

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Soil Pest and Root Rot Treatment -

1. Mix one part of additive-free 35% Hydrogen Peroxide with ten parts water.
2. Water infected plants thoroughly. The soil will bubble as the oxygen is released.

• For Pests - Water with the mixture twice a week, allowing the top 2 inches of soil to dry between watering. Root pests should reside within a week.
• For Root Rot - Water plants very thoroughly, then allow the soil to dry. The top 2-3 inches of soil should be completely dry before returning to a regular water regimen. If the process is done correctly, root rot can easily be treated with only one watering of peroxide.

Foliage Pesticide Spray -

1. Mix equal parts 3% Hydrogen Peroxide and distilled water.
2. Use a spray bottle to thoroughly soak the infected plants. Make sure to get the undersides of the leaves.
3. Spray once a week or after it rains. Hydrogen peroxide both treats and further prevents pest infestation.

• This weaker solution will prevent damage to the leaves but is effective as a general insecticide. I've found that the hydrogen peroxide is effective against a variety of mites and aphids. Because hydrogen peroxide also has fungicidal properties, one may find it as a possible solution to mildew and fungus outbreaks.

Water Treatment -

• For a general water treatment and dechlorinator, mix one tablespoon hydrogen peroxide for every gallon of water used. The hydrogen peroxide acts instantly to drive out chlorine, excess iron and sulfates.

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You'll be pleasantly surprised with the effectiveness of hydrogen peroxide for plants! My one word of caution is to avoid using it in the soil too often. As hydrogen peroxide will easily rid your soil of harmful pests, it can also take it's toll on beneficial soil organisms. So, use wisely and only treat when an infection or rot has been confirmed. Thanks for reading my article on using hydrogen peroxide for plants.Leave me any feedback or questions that you may have!