Hydrogen Dioxide vs. Hydrogen Peroxide

19 years ago

Here's an article that I found on Hallson's website;

If a plant becomes infected and it can be easily replaced you might want to destroy the entire plant. Spraying with Diazanon or hydrogen peroxide (1/2 cup of 3% H202 per gallon used as a foliar drench) can be effective at killing some nematodes but will not kill them all and should be repeated 2 or 3 times every 10 to 14 days. Orthene may reduce the active nematode population by about 60%, but none of these chemical treatments kill the eggs. The best way to destroy nematodes and the eggs in an infected hosta is to soak the entire plant in a warm water bath. Soak for 10 minutes in a 120F warm water bath or 5 minutes in a 130F bath. After soaking, immediately rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process.

Here's a question for a chemist or someone alot smarter than I am.....

I've been using ZeroTol, which is Hydrogen Dioxide..and pretty expensive.

This article says use 3% Hydrogen Peroxide, which is what we all have in our medicine cabinets.

Is there a difference in the two, other than the price?

I think I can get 3% Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) at the dollar store for 2/$1 (1 pt bottles)

Now...if my math is correct it would cost less than $.13 a gal diluted.

I haven't figured out what the ZeroTol is costing me, but

alot more than that....I'm using it at a 2% rate now.

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Comments (11)

digs57
19 years ago
They're the same thing. The systematic name for hydrogen peroxide is actually dihydrogen dioxide (two hydrogen atoms plus two oxygen atoms). There's no element composed of just one hydrogen atom plus two oxygen atoms. Your drugstore hydrogen peroxide, if the same strength as ZeroTol, should be just as effective.

You may also wish to check out the foliar nematode thread which offers apparently very effective alternate treatments for nematodes.

Digs.

Here is a link that might be useful: Nematodes, insecticidal soap, and other solutions
sheltieche
19 years ago
I have been pouring hydrogen peroxide over my seeds, soiless mix and small seedlings when growing from seeds indoor to avoid damping off problem. I am yet to see harm from it.
I do not dilute it.
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dbowemd
19 years ago
Standard hydrogen peroxide comes in 3% when you buy it. I wasn't sure if you thought you needed to dilute it.
I know nothing of Hydrogen Dioxide. Maybe the concentration if different.
Dave
sassy7142
Original Author
19 years ago
Dave, According to the article that I posted above...yes, Hydrogen Peroxide is supposed to be diluted at a 1/2 cup per gal of water. That seems like a very weak solution to me.
dbowemd
19 years ago
oops I was rushing and didn't re-read til now.
It sure seems weak to me too.
I've been looking at my foliar nematodes under the microscope at work lately, too many times I'm afraid.
I'm planning on having a nematode cookout this weekend, I mut have 40 plants in pots that need treatment, and my old disyston didn't cure the plant I tried last month. The leaves still have live ones in them. I don't know if it only works at the root/crown level, but it's not good enough for me at this point.
Dave
sassy7142
Original Author
19 years ago
Nematode cookout....oh, now that sounds like fun! LOL

At least they're in pots and you don't have to haul boiling water out to the gardens. That's the hard part. IMHO.

I just did a check and only saw one plant (1 leaf) with nematode damage today. The last time I sprayed with the Zerotol was last Saturday. It's looking better. Finally!!!
dbowemd
19 years ago
I will have to dig one up, but I only planted it about a week ago and it's small.
If I find them in a really big one, I will dig up, probably divide and cook the smaller pieces. Maybe I'll find a new supply of disyston, as it seemed to work on a few last year.
I'll be using a tall kitchen garbage can, and turn up the water heater, have some boiled water handy to make minor adjustments to the water temp.
Dave
egs08
19 years ago
two links of interest...same compound

more than you'll ever want to know:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_dioxide

http://educate-yourself.org/cancer/benefitsofhydrogenperozide17jul03.shtml
yardmom
19 years ago
Dave, since you have the ability to check for nemotodes with a microscope, how about conduct an experiment. Mix up a batch of Hydrogen peroxide in water (maybe stronger than they suggest)and soak a hosta with nemotodes for a specific length of time. Let us know if the nemotodes were killed. If it works, it would be less invasive to the plant than heat, and possiblly an answer for dealing with the holes as well.
dbowemd
19 years ago
Well, too late for this year, but I could do it next year if I feel motivated.
I spent all afternoon Saturday doing my heat treatment to about 40 potted hostas. Sunday I planted them all in the same bed, which will be scrutinized for the next couple of years.
I will pour very hot water in the hole where I dug one up, maybe plant a coral bell there for this year.
I'm sure there will be some that were missed, and now the season is turning, and harder to tell if the browning of leaves are just from the seasonal decline. I checked a couple of plants that looked bad (browning in general, not the typical nematode pattern) and found no nematodes in them.
Dave
sassy7142
Original Author
19 years ago
I did the heat treatment on some last year and 2 plants show damage this year.
One August Moon and 1 Gold Edger.
About the Gold Edger...they are the ones that I dug up from my camper and put in a black plastic bag to take home and heat treat, but I forgot all about the bag being in my black car for over 2 weeks in the hot August sun.
I did not heat treat them, I just planted them as an experiment.
Out of those 5 Gold Edgers, 1 leaf shows damage this yr.
The August moon that shows 1 leaf affected was treated last year in 130 degrees for longer than the recommended time.
All the rest of the plants look good.
BTW, Nearly every treated plant survived the heat treatment from last fall.