If you’re not an experienced plant parent, sometimes just grabbing a bushy or fully-grown plant or flower can be the easy way to get your home and garden looking lush and pristine. Though this is a beautiful way to experience plants without the labor of growing, if you’re looking to learn that skill, it starts with germination. Germination is the process of a seed growing into a seedling. Realistically, the germination process should be easy — in theory.
With proper conditions and a fair amount of oxygen and water, the seed’s embryo gets bigger, ultimately leading to it cracking open with its first root. The shoot that contains the stem and leaves emerges after. But as we all know, sometimes seed germination isn’t that easy. This is exactly why Pinterest recommends the hydrogen peroxide germination hack.
When it comes to seeds, Pinterest user @featherinthewoods recommends soaking them in a mixture of one tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide and one cup of water for 30 minutes before planting. Once the seed is softened, rinse, then plant into your soil mixture. This method also helps sanitize seeds, in case there is any bacteria on the surface that would inhibit growth. Hydrogen peroxide can also be used as a method against mildew, pests and root rot, as well as a fertilizer and rooting agent.
How does hydrogen peroxide help seeds?
You may be wondering how a household item could have so many benefits for your plant babies, and ultimately be the secret ingredient for a happy houseplant. Because of its chemical makeup, hydrogen peroxide is extremely close to water on the periodic table and is one of the safest chemicals to use in your garden. Plants already naturally produce their own levels of peroxide, so adding doesn’t naturally disrupt anything in the plant. But the (H₂O₂) concentration levels do matter. Anything at or over 10% can be dangerous.
Be sure to grab a 3% peroxide (the one with the brown bottle) to ensure you’re using the lowest dosage for your plants. A dosage that’s too high can dry out the surface of the plant or seedling and kill off essential bacteria. According to a study, hydrogen peroxide was initially listed as a toxic chemical, but was found to be effective in the entire plant life process. There are risks, though. Too much of anything can be a bad thing. And too much peroxide during the seeding process can lead to seed aging that could have a negative impact on the seed’s efficiency.
So, be sure to soak the seed for an allotted time once, rather than doing the soaking process in trials for what may be perceived as the ultimate benefit for faster growth. With the right materials, speeding up your seed’s germination process should be easy and smooth. Be sure to research your specific seedling before using this hack.
