vorus
Well-Known Member
I have been looking into this method and talked to some members in this forum as well... it is generally claimed by the users of h2o2 that their seeds definitely have a higher percentage of germination rate when soaked in this diluted water for 12-18-24 hours period of time.
It is believed that especially the older seeds with a lower chance of sprouting will do better using this method and the concentration ranges from 5ml to 30ml of 3% hydrogen peroxide per 500ml of distilled water. So it is between 0.03% - 0.18% range suggested by the users for the above mentioned time frames.
Some say it is good for killing pathogens on the seeds that have been touched by so many people, some say it clears the wax and softens the shell for an easier sprout, some say it helps the seed use oxygen better...
While further looking into it, I came across the attached pdf of a study that has been made on zinnia seeds, using 3% to 12% hydrogen peroxide solutions, so I decided to share in case someone stumbles upon this post while looking into this method like I have been and make their life easier. There are differences of course, firstly the study was not conducted on cannabis seeds, and the concentration of h2o2 was far more stronger than what weed growers suggest but the seeds were also soaked for far less time, ranging between 10 to 60 minutes.
You can check the study and read every outcome for yourself but in summary, only a 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide is suggested to be used and the soaking should be 10 to 20 minutes long at most. Other than that, plain water outperforms on all timeframes and concentrations...
So you might even lower your chances of a sprout if you use h2o2. But then again, I doubt using 0.03% of peroxide for 12 hours of soaking would actually damage your seed, it MIGHT even be doing some good, yet there is no science behind that.
I personally will soak my seeds in 3% hydrogen peroxide for 15 minutes, rinse, and soak them in 5.5 ph balanced plain RO water for the next 18 hours before planting them in soaked rockwool. In case any of them do not sprout, I might try my chances with longer times of h2o2 moistened towels before throwing them off...
I hope this helps someone
It is believed that especially the older seeds with a lower chance of sprouting will do better using this method and the concentration ranges from 5ml to 30ml of 3% hydrogen peroxide per 500ml of distilled water. So it is between 0.03% - 0.18% range suggested by the users for the above mentioned time frames.
Some say it is good for killing pathogens on the seeds that have been touched by so many people, some say it clears the wax and softens the shell for an easier sprout, some say it helps the seed use oxygen better...
While further looking into it, I came across the attached pdf of a study that has been made on zinnia seeds, using 3% to 12% hydrogen peroxide solutions, so I decided to share in case someone stumbles upon this post while looking into this method like I have been and make their life easier. There are differences of course, firstly the study was not conducted on cannabis seeds, and the concentration of h2o2 was far more stronger than what weed growers suggest but the seeds were also soaked for far less time, ranging between 10 to 60 minutes.
You can check the study and read every outcome for yourself but in summary, only a 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide is suggested to be used and the soaking should be 10 to 20 minutes long at most. Other than that, plain water outperforms on all timeframes and concentrations...
So you might even lower your chances of a sprout if you use h2o2. But then again, I doubt using 0.03% of peroxide for 12 hours of soaking would actually damage your seed, it MIGHT even be doing some good, yet there is no science behind that.
I personally will soak my seeds in 3% hydrogen peroxide for 15 minutes, rinse, and soak them in 5.5 ph balanced plain RO water for the next 18 hours before planting them in soaked rockwool. In case any of them do not sprout, I might try my chances with longer times of h2o2 moistened towels before throwing them off...
I hope this helps someone