Treat Mildew on Plants
Treat Mildew on Plants with Two Great Anti Fungal Rx
Treat Mildew on Plants / PBS-TV’s Garden Rx starring Loren Nancarrow reveals two great homemade recipes for treating mildew on plants.
Powdery mildew tops the list of diseases that can affect plants and is one of the most common causes. Except for hybrids bred specifically to resist mildew, almost no plant species is immune, but some species are more susceptible than others. Lilacs, flowering crab apple trees, tall garden phlox, bee balm, roses, squash, cucumbers, and zinnias are among the plants that are particularly susceptible.
Fungicides like potassium bicarbonate, neem oil, sulfur, or copper can be used to treat powdery mildew early on. Home cures like baking soda and vegetable oil can likewise find success when applied appropriately. Before treating powdery mildew, affected parts of your plant should be removed, and after treatment, the fungus should be prevented from coming back by using specific watering methods and improving air circulation. Watch the video for more information on water use.
Powdery mildew is a fungus that can grow anywhere, but it thrives in temperatures between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit and high relative humidity at night and low relative humidity during the day1.
When there are prolonged periods of warm temperatures paired with dry conditions, the spores germinate on the surfaces of the leaves and are carried by insects like woolly aphids. Spores from the fungus are found in plant buds. Insects, wind, and splashing water can also bring them to your plants, where they can overwinter in plant debris.
Use plant clippers to remove or cut back the parts of your plants that are infected with powdery mildew. This is the first step. Remove the leaves from the plant if you notice it on a few of them and do not compost them because doing so could allow the spores to spread. Use alcohol wipes to clean your clippers and wash your hands to further stop the disease from spreading.
Baking soda can be used to control powdery mildew at the first signs of infection on a plant. Spray any nearby susceptible plants as well.
Combine the following to treat plants for powdery mildew:
2 quarts of water
1 tablespoon of baking soda
1 tablespoon of canola vegetable oil .
Pour the mixture into a sprayer and cover the entire plant, including the underside of the leaves and stems, in an even coat. The mix spreads and adheres to the leaf surface thanks to the waxy oil.
