Do your plants have white spots on the leaves and stems? It is a somewhat common disease that is caused by various fungi. Powdery mildew is also called white powdery mildew or ash because of its appearance, as they are white powdery spots. This disease weakens the plant little by little, it can even kill it, since if we let the problem pass and it progresses, in the end it feeds on the whole plant and spreads to others. There are products on the market that can help you treat this problem, but some can be toxic to us and our pets, they can end up damaging the plant and not only the condition it has and polluting the environment. Luckily, there are also natural and ecological remedies.
In this article we bring you the best tips on how to combat powdery mildew with home remedies .
What is powdery mildew in plants and its causes
As we have pointed out before, powdery mildew in plants is a disease produced by fungi that leaves the leaves with the appearance that we can see in the main image of this article and in the one below, that is, as with a white powder, which are fungi, and that is weakening the plant.
The main causes of powdery mildew in plants are due to a combination of factors that promote the appearance of fungi. Specifically, powdery mildew appears in gardens and orchards where there is too much humidity, little ventilation and little natural light and, in addition, the genetics of the plant can also influence, as we will see later, its state of health prior to the infection of these fungi , that is, if it was already weak, and to the fertilizers with too much nitrogen, which is good for the soil and plants but not in excess.
This problem, if it is allowed to pass, can end up destroying an entire garden or orchard, so you have to know how to identify and treat it, as well as prevent it. Pay attention to the following tips for prevention and fungicidal remedies for powdery mildew .
What are the plants most affected by powdery mildew
Although it can appear on any type of plant as long as the right conditions exist, powdery mildew affects certain species more. These are the plants most vulnerable to powdery mildew :
- Tomatoes
- Strawberries
- Grapes or vine
- Melons
- Cucumbers
- Pumpkins
- Cherry trees
- Peach trees
- Plums
- Apple trees
- Laurel
- Rose bushes
- Dahlias
- Cayenas
- Orchids
- Carnations
- Begonias
If some of your plants have this problem, either in the garden or in the orchard, take note because below we give you the keys on how to combat powdery mildew with home and ecological remedies .
Home remedies for plant powdery mildew – effective fungicides
In this section we will tell you how to eliminate powdery mildew from plants naturally with the best home remedies based on fungicides for the ear that are natural. Learn which ones are the most suitable, how to prepare them and how to apply them.
Sulfur and copper for powdery mildew
Both sulfur and copper sulfate are very effective fungicides, but care must be taken in handling them and not exceeding the dose, as in this case they can be harmful to plants and soil. Acquire powdered or liquid sulfur or copper sulfate but do not use them together, and add the powder to the leaves and soil in the amounts indicated on the container or those indicated by the specialist at the gardening store. If you use the liquid, you can apply it with a spray. Try to use gloves, glasses and a mask, especially if you are going to use a lot of it because you have to treat an entire garden or orchard.
Manure or horsetail decoction
Another option that we advise you if you were wondering how to combat powdery mildew with home remedies is horsetail. It is a plant used for many remedies and among its properties we find antifungal or fungicides, so it is good to end this problem of fungi in plants. You can buy the concentrated extract of this plant and dilute it in water to spray it on the plants to be treated, but you can also prepare an infusion, decoction or slurry of this to spray it as well.
The infusion or decoction is less loaded and is used at the time of making it, on the other hand, the slurry takes days to prepare but is more concentrated and powerful than the infusion. It may be that to start treating you should make the decoction or infusion, but it is recommended to prepare slurry, with a maceration process, to treat severe cases of this infestation or even to use later as a method of prevention of many pests and diseases. You can start by making a liter of infusion, letting the horsetail boil for 10 minutes and rest for another 10, and spray it on the affected leaves.
Other plants that are just as effective against powdery mildew and other pests, both fungi and insects, are sage, tomato leaves and nettles , and to use them you have to follow the same procedure.
Garlic infusion for powdery mildew
Garlic is undoubtedly one of the foods most used as a home remedy for countless problems, and in fact it is widely used as a home fungicide. It has antimicrobial, antiseptic, antifungal, antibacterial properties, etc., which is why it offers a very complete treatment for both cure and prevention.
To use it against this fungal disease in plants you have to make an infusion of garlic, in the amount necessary according to the size of the garden or orchard or if you only have to treat one plant. We tell you how to prepare it to obtain a liter, which will give you to treat various plants.
Boil a little more than a liter of water, when it starts to boil add the garlic cloves previously a little crushed. Add 10-30 garlic cloves for a potent remedy. Let it boil for 5 minutes or a little more, without reaching 10 minutes, and let the infusion rest covered and off the heat for 10 minutes. Strain the infusion to remove the pieces and pour the liquid into a large sprayer. You can now use it to spray the plants damaged by the fungi once a day, until you see that these disappear.
Baking soda against powdery mildew
Sodium or sodium bicarbonate is one of the best homemade and natural fungicides , since this mineral has great antifungal, antibacterial, antiseptic properties and many more.
To use it in the case of wanting to combat powdery mildew it is necessary that you mix this product with a vegetable oil, such as olive oil, and water. In a large sprayer add 1 liter of water, 2 or 3 tablespoons of bicarbonate, depending on whether you put them full or level, and 2 tablespoons of oil. After mixing well before using, spray all the affected plants, focusing on the parts that you see more powdery mildew. If you only need to treat a small plant, reduce the amounts in this same proportion.
Tips to prevent powdery mildew on plants
Finally, we want to give you some tips to avoid powdery mildew in plants, thinking about the factors that cause it:
- Make sure you use good soil for growing vegetables in the garden and good soil for potted or garden plants. It has to be the right soil for the type of plants you are going to have, a specialist in the gardening and agriculture store will help you decide which is the best for you.
- Remember that the soil must have good drainage to avoid water puddling and excess moisture. This is especially important in pots because waterlogging is easier. You can consult this other article on Drainage in pots .
- Place the plants in a ventilated area with sun and shade . The plants must be in the sun but not fully all the strong hours, as they can burn, and they must have shade to regulate the temperature, but it cannot be a dark area. In addition, it is vital that there is good air circulation because this makes it more difficult for moisture and fungus to accumulate.
- Pay attention to the appearance and health of your plants and crops and, if you suspect that they are not well, consult a specialist in the store to tell you what they have and what is the best treatment. They may lack minerals, water, sun, vitamins, etc. If they are generally healthy, it will be more difficult for them to be affected by parasites and pests.
