Spring is already here: You should start planning this year's garden planting now and find out about possible plant diseases. Many plants can be affected by powdery mildew, a fungal disease. Fortunately, there are a variety of options for treating this disease: How can you combat powdery mildew or downy mildew with home remedies?
Although the disease is not always fatal, you should still protect your plants from it. Read on and discover helpful gardening tips on what you can do about mildew.
One of the most common plant diseases is powdery mildew. It usually occurs in spring and summer and is most dangerous for newly sprouted leaves. The fungal disease initially appears as gray spots on the bottom and top of leaves and stems or as rings of white powder on the plants. In extreme circumstances, this disease can spread to fruit, flower buds and buds. Powdery mildew can affect any plant, although it is more common on young plants and certain types of plants such as cucumbers, begonias, zucchini, dahlias, zinnias, potatoes, roses, pumpkins, tomatoes, peppers, parsley, asters, carrots, gooseberries, among others.
If the disease is not treated, the white coating severely affects the appearance of the plant, although it is not fatal. But as it grows, it puts stress on the plant, weakening it and making photosynthesis more difficult. If left uncontrolled, powdery mildew can deprive plants of nutrients, cause yellowing, drying and wilting of leaves, and ultimately expose fruits to sunburn. This disease can also affect the flowers of the plants and change the taste of the fruits. Preventing the spread of powdery mildew is paramount because it can quickly infect neighboring plants.
Combat powdery mildew with home remedies – tips
Once mildew has appeared, you need to act quickly. After removing the affected leaves, spray the remaining parts of the plant. In addition to the sensitive plants, spray neighboring areas as well. If you notice mildew, these are the methods that work best.
Use baking powder
The following ingredients in a spray bottle combat mildew on plants: 4 liters of water, half a teaspoon of liquid soap and a tablespoon of baking soda. Be sure to spray the undersides of the affected plant's leaves and stems evenly. If you use too much of this recipe it will burn the leaves, so you should be careful. Give plants plenty of water for at least two days before spraying. Avoid use in direct sunlight. Test a small area to see how the plant responds. Reapply after each rainfall and spray once a week.
Neem oil
Applying neem oil, an organic fungicide, helps prevent further spores from germinating, but does not solve the problem itself. It also prevents the spores from penetrating the plant's leaf tissue.
Mouthwash
The same mouthwash you use daily to eliminate oral bacteria can also eliminate mildew spores. The powdery mildew spores are very sensitive due to their antimicrobial propertiestowards this remedy. The recommended ratio is three parts water to one part mouthwash.
Milk helps against the disease
Using milk to combat powdery mildew is becoming increasingly popular. The exact mechanisms by which milk's components boost the plant's defenses are still a mystery, but preliminary research suggests they may have antibacterial and antifungal properties. Milk and water in a ratio of about 1:2 is optimal for mixing and using.
What is downy mildew?
In vines, lettuce, cucumbers, onions, lamb's lettuce, spinach, radishes, etc., a group of fungi can cause stunted growth. Fallen leaves or even the death of plants are possible consequences. This fungal disease affects both sides of the leaf - a white coating covers the underside of the leaf and yellowish spots can be seen on the upper side. Rapid transmission to closely related plants is possible, but unrelated plants are unlikely to be affected.
Some types of powdery mildew can kill seedlings and other young plants even if there are no external symptoms of the disease. Because of its susceptibility to wind and moisture, downy mildew thrives in moist, cool climates.
Also read:Downy mildew on cucumbers: measures to prevent it and home remedies to combat the fungal infection
What helps against downy mildew?
If downy mildew has attacked a plant, act quickly to prevent further damage to your garden.
Neem oil
Protect yourself from harm by using neem oil. If applied early enough, it can stop the spread of downy mildew. However, this does not eradicate the disease that has already established itself in the stems of the plant.
Vegetable broths
Natural remedies obtained from plant broths can fight the fungus itself. For example, the use of field horsetail broth has proven to be effective. The preparation is simple: the infected plant is regularly sprayed with a diluted version. Another option is to make a decoction of tansy or garlic. In the second variant, 4 - 5 cloves of garlic are chopped and soaked in a liter of boiling water.
Also interesting:White leaves on roses? These 4 home remedies help immediately against mildew
