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Experiment: Use of Hydrogen Peroxide to induce root formation in plant cuttings
I decided to try an experiment to see if dilute concentrations of hydrogen peroxide could promote root formation in cuttings. A rack of twenty test tubes was set up in the first distilled water the second a 1/100 solution of 3% h2o2 third 1/50 solution of 3% h2o2 fourth 1/25 solution of 3% h2o2 and fifth 1/12.5 solution of 3%h2o2 We see in this image taken after one week that only the control has started growing roots. Conclusion, H2O2 does not induce rooting of cuttings.
Comments
12 years ago
I've got to ask - what made you think that peroxide would stimulate root-growth?
Reply 12 years ago
Since dissolved oxygen content is important is aeroponics/hydroponics. I thought that the release of oxygen as the H2O2 decomposed would increase total dissolved oxygen. In addition that it might inhibit bacterial growth. And I was bored. ;-)
Reply 9 years ago
Even though you concluded that the H2O2 solutions were not a root stimulant perhaps another interesting test would be to find out whether plants (with roots) grow at a quicker rate
Btw: Asprin DOES stimulate root growth
Reply 12 years ago
Er, plants don't take in oxygen through the roots...
Oh, you're not the only one to try peroxide though (Link)
Reply 12 years ago
Yes, they do. That's why you can "drown" a plant with over watering.
Reply 12 years ago
citation
Reply 12 years ago
Oh! Live and learn, eh?
Reply 12 years ago
Better than the three alternatives. ;-)
Reply 12 years ago
. Due to its' *cidal properties, it might help limit fungal growth during accelerated germination. Once germinated, *cidal properties probably outweigh any extra DO. . Nice experiment. I'd be interested in seeing what even lower concentrations will do. There may be a point where it will be beneficial.
Reply 12 years ago
Thank you, I'll give it a try.
10 years ago
I'm curious about the state of health of the cuttings at the end of the experiment. The rooted cutting looks healthier in the photo... would you agee with that assessment? If other, non-rooted cuttings showed health, I would surmise that they might not be growing roots because they don't need to. The open (cut) stem does accept fluid into the plant in this situation. If the fluid itself contains sufficient oxygen to sustain metabolic processes, the plant might not deem it necessary to waste energy growing roots. Of course, even if this were true, it would still seem counter-productive to add H2O2 (because, without roots, the plants would be completely dependent on it), unless you had an unlimited supply of it and it was dirt cheap... neither of which is very probable. High quality experiment. Thankyou, sir!