Content
Soaking pepper seeds in hydrogen peroxide before planting serves as an effective pre-sowing preparation. This treatment provides a comprehensive effect. Hydrogen peroxide is an inexpensive and accessible product; you can buy it at any pharmacy.
Is it possible to treat pepper seeds with hydrogen peroxide?
Peroxide is recommended for treating difficult-to-germinate planting material. This category includes pepper seeds, which have a fairly hard shell. Because of this, crop germination and the rate of germination of planting material suffer.
For pre-sowing treatment of crops, hydrogen peroxide 3% is used. More concentrated solutions should be diluted with water. They are used with precautions, since there is a risk of burns to the skin, mucous membranes, and respiratory tract.
Benefits of hydrogen peroxide for pepper seeds
Peroxide is an antiseptic and has an oxidizing effect.Using it for pre-sowing soaking brings complex benefits:
- disinfection – pathogenic microorganisms are often found on the shell;
- increasing the immunity of seedlings;
- reducing the risk of fungal diseases;
- increasing germination;
- softening of the hard shell;
- acceleration of germination;
- activation of biochemical processes;
- improved resistance to temperature changes;
- stimulation of regeneration in case of damage.
Before disinfection with peroxide, it is recommended to soak the planting material in plain water for half an hour - this softens the shell
Pros and cons of use
Treating pepper seeds with hydrogen peroxide before sowing attracts gardeners for many reasons. The product has many advantages;
- affordable price;
- the ability to purchase at any pharmacy without a prescription;
- efficiency;
- safety;
- no odor;
- harmful effect on bacteria and microorganisms;
- acceleration of crop germination.
Peroxide has few disadvantages:
- the possibility of a chemical reaction with other substances;
- risk of embryo death.
The disadvantages of the product appear if you violate the rules for its use. If they are followed, there are no disadvantages.
How to treat pepper seeds with hydrogen peroxide before planting
There are several options for using hydrogen peroxide to germinate pepper seeds. In any case, it is recommended to pre-calibrate the blanks, remove empty and damaged specimens, and check the rest for germination. To do this, they are soaked in a salt solution (1 teaspoon per liter of water). All floating specimens are not suitable for planting.
1 way
For quick treatment in hydrogen peroxide before planting peppers, use a pure 3% solution. The algorithm is simple:
- Place the planting material in a container with a small diameter. A simple plastic cup will do.
- Pour undiluted peroxide into the container so that it sufficiently covers the seed.
- Soak the workpiece for 10-20 minutes, periodically shaking the contents for uniform processing.
The main purpose of this method is to disinfect seed material. This method is convenient when you want to do everything faster. During soaking, it is quite possible to prepare containers for seedlings and fill them with soil.
When the seed is soaked in an undiluted preparation, it acts quite quickly, so even in a short period of time it manages to soften the shell. Some sources recommend washing the pepper seeds after this treatment. Practice shows that this stage is optional.
Planting material can be distributed on one cotton pad, covered with another, placed in some container and poured generously with peroxide.
Method 2
Another option for treating with peroxide involves soaking in it for a longer time. In this case, the concentrate is not used in its pure form, but is diluted with water. For 0.5 liters of liquid take 1 tbsp. l. hydrogen peroxide (3%). It is recommended to use melt, rain or spring water.
To soak pepper seeds in peroxide, you can simply pour them into a suitable container or place them in a linen bag or wrap them in gauze. In this case, it is convenient to press down the fabric with a teaspoon so that the seed is completely immersed in the liquid.Another option is to wrap it in a cloth, napkin or toilet paper, generously soaked in peroxide diluted in water. Cotton pads are used in the same way.
Soaking in peroxide diluted with water is designed for a day. Some sources recommend extending the processing to two days. During this time, the container with planting material should be kept at room temperature. It is optimal to change the working solution every five hours.
After soaking pepper seeds in hydrogen peroxide, it is recommended to rinse them and dry them. This step is optional. After processing, you can immediately begin germination.
Soaking seed in hydrogen peroxide for a long time is appropriate when you want not only to disinfect it, but to stimulate germination and strengthen the immune system.
If you use several products for pre-sowing treatment, be sure to rinse it with clean water after each procedure.
Common Mistakes
Soaking pepper seeds in peroxide is easy. It is important to avoid common mistakes:
- Use of non-germinating elements. No amount of soaking will help in this case, it’s a waste of time.
- Treatment of pepper seeds with damaged shells with peroxide. This is detrimental to the embryos.
- Mixing peroxide with other components and soaking the seed in such solutions. This can only be done if you clearly know that the ingredients are compatible. There is a risk of a violent chemical reaction, neutralization of the effect, and damage to the embryo.
- Soak the seed in the form of encrusted dragees. Hydrogen peroxide dissolves the shell, which contains valuable elements. There is a risk of a chemical reaction of the substances.
- Long soaking without changing the working solution.The drug gradually wears off, losing its effectiveness. Seeds left for a long time without changing water do not receive enough oxygen, therefore there is a risk of embryo death.
- Failure to comply with the recommended soaking duration and concentration of the working solution. Such violations are fraught with the death of embryos.
Conclusion
Soaking pepper seeds in hydrogen peroxide before planting ensures their disinfection and softening of the hard shell. As a result, germination improves, sprouts hatch faster, and the crop's immunity increases. Hydrogen peroxide is used in its pure form for express soaking or added to water and the processing time is increased to 1-2 days.
