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From: Diane Whitehead <ua024 at VICTORIA.TC.CA>
Subject: soaking seed in peroxide
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I read somewhere that peroxide (H2O2) helps seeds germinate better becaus=e
of the extra oxygen.  I am conducting a test on 8 lots of Iris reticulata
seed I bought. According to Deno, they require a long time of alternating
temperatures to germinate.  The person who sold me the seed says he gets
only about 25% germination.  I decided to see if I could speed things up,
so I divided each packet in half and then soaked each lot of seed for 2
days, either in plain water or in hydrogen peroxide (from the drugstore -
used for first aid for cuts on the skin)

I used a plastic moulded insert from a chocolate box, which worked very
well.  After I removed the seeds to plant, I left the soaking tray becaus=e
I thought I might soak some other seeds.  I didn't, and 5 days later, all
the water-filled cavities were growing a lot of colourful molds, but none
of the peroxide ones had any mold at all. I don't know whether this is
going to be beneficial to the seeds or not.  It's possible they need mold
to help break down their seedcoats.

Diane Whitehead Victoria, British
Columbia, Canada maritime zone
8 cool mediterranean climate (dry summer, rainy winter - 68 cm annually)
sandy soil