There are many benefits to using hydrogen peroxide in the garden. It has many practical uses in all types of gardening, whether your plants are in the garden, hanging baskets or pots (inside and out) you could benefit from its wonderful properties.
Peroxide works by releasing oxygen. It acts as an oxygen supplement for plants. It seems to really support both good health and strong growth for plants. Â It is also useful for treating fungus in soil, as it aerates the soil, it is both anti fungal and anti bacterial.
Hydrogen peroxide in rain
When the garden is watered by rain, there is a small amount of hydrogen peroxide in the water. As rain comes through earth’s ozone layer, some of the molecules of water (H2O) pick up an additional oxygen atom (O), becoming H2O2 – hydrogen peroxide.
Oxygen is two oxygen molecules bonded together (O2), while the ozone is three oxygen molecules bonded together (O3). As ozone has the extra oxygen molecule, it makes it very unstable, so the water has no trouble picking the extra oxygen molecule.
Hydrogen peroxide is also very unstable – oxygen is readily freed up to oxidize various things that it encounters (such as bacteria, viruses, mould, pollution) In the process of oxidation, the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is broken back down into water and oxygen.
2 H2O2 → 2H2O + O2
Hydrogen peroxide will oxidize many kinds of pathogens and pollution, so it helps to clean the air, as the rain falls. Â As levels of pollution rise, more of the hydrogen peroxide is used up in the air, and so for this reason there is a very low concentration of hydrogen peroxide in the rain water by the time it reaches the ground to water our plants.
This is why we should use hydrogen peroxide as a supplement for our plants, it replaces the hydrogen peroxide lost in the air.
Ways to use peroxide in the garden
- General fertilizer, either in plant water or sprayed on foliage.
- For sick plants. Spray on the leaves and add to water.
- Hydroponic gardening. Hydroponic gardeners often use peroxide to feed plants, by adding it to the watering system.
- Spray on tree cuts, to prevent infection.
- As a spray in the greenhouse, to control mould and mildew.
- Sprouting seeds before planting. Added to the water that seeds soak in, the seeds will sprout faster and grow stronger.
- Rooting cuttings. Added to the water, if you’ve put the cuttings directly into water. Or, if you’ve put the cuttings into soil or medium, use peroxide in the water you’re using to water the cuttings with.
- Mould or fungus on plants or in the soil. Hydrogen peroxide will help to control mould on plants or in the soil. If you’ve got mould on the plant, spraying the leaves is probably best.
How to mix hydrogen peroxide for use in the garden
The same mixture of peroxide and water can be used for watering houseplants as well as plants that are in the ground. So, a glass of water may be all you need for an indoor plant, where you’ll need a bucket to mix enough to water a tree or a flower garden. Whatever size container you use, it is simple enough, just mix in peroxide as shown in the chart below
Take care to be sure you are using the right column in the chart depending on whether you are using 3% hydrogen peroxide or 35% hydrogen peroxide!!
Misting your plants with hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide can also be added to the water in a mister (this is a foliar feed, as the plants take it in through their leaves). The same chart also includes the dilution to use for spraying plants. (It is the same dilution as what’s used to water plants.)
Just use whatever plant “mister†(device) you have. Put the water-and-peroxide mixture in, and mist your plants with it.
To water or mist plants or to soak seeds:
| TO THIS AMOUNT OF WATER | ADD THIS AMOUNT OF 3% HYDROGEN PEROXIDE | ADD THIS AMOUNT OF 35% HYDROGEN PEROXIDE |
| 1 cup | 240ml | 1½ teaspoons | 9ml | 7 to 10 drops |
| 1 quart | 1.14 litres | 2 tablespoons | 36ml | ½ teaspoon | 3ml |
| 1 gallon | 4.55litres | ½ cup | 120ml | 2 teaspoons | 12ml |
| 5 gallons | 22.73 litres | 2 ½ cups | 600ml | 3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon | 60ml |
| 10 gallons | 45.46 litres | 5 cups | 1.2 litres | 6 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons | 120ml |
| 20 gallons | 90.92 litres | 10 cups | 2.4 litres | 1 cup | 240ml |
To spray on sick or fungus affected plants:
| TO THIS AMOUNT OF WATER | ADD THIS AMOUNT OF 3% HYDROGEN PEROXIDE | –OR– ADD THIS AMOUNT OF 35% HYDROGEN PEROXIDE |
| 1 cup | 240ml | 1 tablespoon | 18ml | 1/4 teaspoon | 2.25ml | a few drops |
| 1 quart | 1.14 litres | 1/4 cup | 60ml | 1 teaspoon | 6 ml |
| 1 gallon | 4.55litres | 1 cup | 240 ml | 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon | 24ml |
| 5 gallons | 22.73 litres | 5 cups | 1.2 litres | 6 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons | 120ml |
| 10 gallons | 45.46 litres | 10 cups | 2.4 litres | 1 cup | 240ml |
| 20 gallons | 90.92 litres | 20 cups | 4.8 litres | 2 cups | 480ml |
Please be mindful to choose the correct column in the chart depending on whether you are using 3% hydrogen peroxide or 35% hydrogen peroxide!!
As you may notice, the amount of peroxide in the chart for sick and fungus affected plants is twice as much as in the first chart. I have heard of people using stronger solutions, but more is NOT always better. So be careful, and when in doubt, stay safe. You can always apply more another day. If you decide to use a bit more, please make it only a bit more, don’t get carried away. Gardening with hydrogen peroxide is great, but too much can harm your plants. 10% hydrogen peroxide is recommended as a weed killer.
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