Code FAM25 for 20% off all orders

Using Hydrogen Peroxide with Succulents

5 min read

Using Hydrogen Peroxide with Succulents

0 Comments

Hydrogen peroxide is best known for its use in the medical field: disinfecting wounds, and cleaning medical tools. But did you know that hydrogen peroxide is great for plants too? Check out these interesting ways you can improve your succulent garden with hydrogen peroxide:

What is Hydrogen Peroxide?

Hydrogen peroxide, designated H2O2, is a chemical compound just one oxygen particle away from water. Typically, you’ll find hydrogen peroxide in your medicine cabinet or at the doctors’ office as an antiseptic– used primarily in cleaning shallow wounds; the chemical is often diluted in stores. In its purest form, hydrogen peroxide is a powerful oxidizing agent that should not be ingested.

Hydrogen peroxide on succulents
Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a chemical compound just one oxygen particle away from water

Hydrogen Peroxide and Plants

Hydrogen peroxide’s oxidizing qualities are great for more than just skin– with plants, you can similarly use hydrogen peroxide to how we use it: for dealing with infections. When hydrogen peroxide comes in contact with bacteria on the skin or another surface, it releases radicals that weaken or destroy the cell’s proteins and protective membrane

For plants, hydrogen peroxide can treat several infections that, while not always dangerous to humans, still have weaker cell membranes like human viruses and bacteria do. Like with humans and animals, you must dilute your hydrogen peroxide formula before using it.

Can you Use Hydrogen Peroxide on Succulents?

Succulents, like other plants, will benefit from a hydrogen peroxide cleanse if necessary. However, since succulents’ roots and leaves are so sensitive, you’ll need to further dilute the solution you’re using.

Hydrogen peroxide on succulents
Succulents will benefit from a hydrogen peroxide cleanse if necessary.

Risks of Using Hydrogen Peroxide on Succulents

For any living thing, you’ll have to dilute a pure hydrogen peroxide mixture before using it. When we buy hydrogen peroxide for our homes, it’s often diluted to concentrations between 3% and 9% hydrogen peroxide in water. You’ll need to dilute this mixture further in a 50/50 mixture of at-home hydrogen peroxide and water for plants. For succulents, it’s best only to use a few drops of hydrogen peroxide per cup of water.

Hydrogen Peroxide on succulents
For succulents, you’ll have to dilute a pure hydrogen peroxide mixture before using it

Without diluting your hydrogen peroxide mixture, the chemical will oxidize more than just pathogen proteins and membranes. A 100% hydrogen peroxide solution will cause serious burns in humans, and in plants, it will cause chemical burns that kill the plant’s cells. For sensitive succulents, burn damage from hydrogen peroxide is even more common, and thus the mixture must be diluted further.

Benefits of Hydrogen Peroxide

Outside of its germicidal properties, hydrogen peroxide also appears in some fertilizers to stimulate plant growth. While a growth-boosting disinfectant sounds a bit wild, remember that hydrogen peroxide contains two oxygen molecules, making it closely related to water (water’s scientific name is dihydrogen monoxide).

Hydrogen peroxide on succulents
Hydrogen peroxide also appears in some fertilizers to stimulate plant growth

The extra oxygen molecule is what benefits plants. Plants need oxygen to absorb nutrients through their roots, and the extra oxygen molecule in hydrogen peroxide is by no means wasted. The extra oxygen goes directly towards boosting plant growth by allowing plants to absorb more nutrients through their roots at a much faster rate.


Uses with Succulents

Like many plants, succulents will benefit from hydrogen peroxide in quite a few ways, but mainly when dealing with tricky pests:

Treating For Gnats

One of the best treatments for fungal gnats is hydrogen peroxide since the peroxide itself is an excellent treatment for fungus as a whole. Hydrogen peroxide is toxic to fungal gnats, as it can destroy their eggs’ protective protein membrane, killing gnat eggs and larvae on contact.

  • How to Use

Mix your drugstore hydrogen peroxide with water, using one teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide to one teaspoon of water. When dealing with gnats, it’s often best to repot your succulent with fresh soil and then spray your 50/50 mixture over the new soil to prevent further gnat development.

Hydrogen peroxide on succulents
Hydrogen peroxide is toxic to fungal gnats

Fungal Infection Treatments

Hydrogen peroxide is also a fantastic treatment for fungal infections like mold, mildew, and leaf spots. Just like with gnat larvae, hydrogen peroxide oxidizes and destroys proteins that protect mold and fungi while they grow. Using hydrogen peroxide in small amounts can also prevent mold growth in your succulents– just be sure to keep the leaves as dry as possible!

  • How to Use

With fungal infections, take a few drops of hydrogen peroxide and mix with a cup of distilled water to spray lightly over your succulent. When you spritz, be very careful to make sure your succulent is completely dry afterward. If your succulent struggles with fungal infections, consider repotting your succulent in a pot with better drainage and then spraying your hydrogen peroxide mixture.

Treating Root Rot

Root rot is caused by bacteria eating away at a plant’s roots and is a direct result of poor drainage and aeration in your succulent’s soil. When treating your succulents for early-stage root rot, hydrogen peroxide works just like it does on humans. By pouring a diluted solution over your succulent’s dry roots, it will kill the bacteria causing the root rot. After a thorough rinse and some more time to dry, you’ll be able to trim your succulent’s roots to remove any rotted parts. 

  • How to Use

Root rot can be difficult to treat since succulents with late-stage root rot are often unsalvageable without beheading the plant. For early-stage root rot, remove your succulent from its pot and let the roots dry completely. Then, trim away the rotted parts of the roots to prevent further spread. After pruning and letting the trimmed areas callous over, spray your water/hydrogen peroxide mixture on the roots to prevent further spread of the rot and kill off any potential bacteria.

Disinfecting your Tools

Even in the garden, hydrogen peroxide is still a great antiseptic. If you’re transplanting, repotting, or working with sick succulents, consider washing your tools with diluted hydrogen peroxide to kill off any fungi or bacteria that may stick to your pots and tools. Of course, always rinse your tools and pots completely before replanting!

  • How to Use

Using hydrogen peroxide as a disinfectant is a relatively simple task. Using a bottle of hydrogen peroxide you’d get at the drugstore, spray the solution liberally over your tools and pots. Then, wait five minutes and rinse off the hydrogen peroxide with soap and water.

SEE MORE ABOUT HOW TO GROW AND CARE FOR STRING OF BANANAS

HOW TO CARE FOR STRING OF BANANAS

For Types of Succulents Careguide. Read more information here.

And get a free plant when your friends make an order. Sign up here!

Learn more about how to nurture and enjoy many gorgeous succulents and clever decoration tips with our newsletter. Sign up now!




Related articles

How to care for Dracaena Warneckii
How to care for Dracaena Warneckii

8 min read

Dracaena Warneckii, a striking houseplant native to tropical Africa, is known for its elegant, variegated leaves and low-maintenance nature. Best grown indoors, it thrives in bright, indirect light and prefers well-draining, slightly acidic soil. The plant's adaptability to lower light conditions, moderate watering, and sensitivity to leaf damage from tap water chemicals make it a popular choice for homes and offices. With proper care regarding light, watering, soil, and humidity levels, this plant can flourish and add a touch of tropical beauty to indoor spaces.

Why are Spider Plant leaves turning translucent?
Why are Spider Plant leaves turning translucent?

8 min read

Spider Plants are usually tough and easy to care for, but if their leaves start turning translucent: pale, soft, and almost see-through. Common causes include overwatering, underwatering, poor lighting, nutrient deficiencies, water quality issues, or pests. While severely damaged leaves may not recover, fixing the root cause can help your plant bounce back with fresh, healthy growth. In this blog, we’ll guide you through identifying the problem, making the right adjustments, and keeping your Spider Plant thriving.

How to Care for a Syngonium White Butterfly
How to Care for a Syngonium White Butterfly

4 min read

The Syngonium White Butterfly is a beautiful, low-maintenance houseplant known for its delicate, arrow-shaped leaves. Our care guide covers everything you need to keep it thriving, from ideal lighting and watering tips to humidity, fertilization, and pruning. Learn how to repot, propagate, and prevent common issues while ensuring your plant stays healthy and vibrant. Plus, important safety tips for pet owners.

Our care guides and planting tips are crafted by seasoned gardeners and plant enthusiasts who bring a wealth of hands-on experience to every piece of content. We take pride in offering meticulously researched and human-written advice to ensure the highest quality information for our fellow plant lovers. Each article is written with care and expertise, not auto-generated by AI, to help you keep your plants healthy and happy.
Back to Top

Kazino və bukmeker şirkəti pin up həmişə sizə ən yaxşı oyun təcrübəsini təmin etmək üçün çalışır.

Glory Casino ile kumar deneyiminizi yepyeni bir seviyeye taşıyın. Bu site, olağanüstü bir oyun çeşitliliği sunmakla kalmıyor, aynı zamanda size en yüksek kalitede hizmet sunmak için burada. Her zaman heyecan verici ve kazançlı bir gün için Glory Casino'ya katılın. Çünkü Glory Casino, en iyi online casino deneyimini yaşamanız için burada.

Kent Casino регулярно обновляет свою библиотеку игр, добавляя новинки от известных провайдеров.

আপনার প্রিয় খেলায় সর্বোত্তম বাজির সুযোগ পান Mostbet এ।

Игроки могут оценить качество графики и звукового оформления в играх 1Win на высоком уровне.