Rid of Powdery mildew
Powdery mildew is a common fungus that affects a wide variety of plants. It is easily recognizable and light gray or white powdery mildew is commonly found on affected leaves, but also on the underside or on stems, flowers, fruits, or vegetables. The spots spread and eventually cover most of the leaves of the plant, the new plant growth is very easily affected.
Powdery mildew grows in hot, dry climates; however, this requires more moisture - such as hot days and cold nights until late spring to early summer. Adequate sunlight and poor air circulation also contribute to conditions that promote powdery mildew.
Although rarely dangerous, if left unchecked, it can cause serious harm to your plants by robbing them of water and nutrients. Most infections cause minor damage such as yellowing or withering or wilting of the leaves, but the plants become weaker, less blooming, and slower growing.
Powdery mildew Prevention
Here are some things to control before you get powdery mildew:
Thin out existing vulnerable plants to improve ventilation inside the plant.
Maintaining adequate space between plants and keeping them away from walls and fences helps to ensure good air circulation and reduce humidity.
Find the plants in the right sunlight to suit their needs.
Remove dead or diseased leaves and maintain healthy plants.
Disinfect eggplant or eggplant after use on affected plants. (See Tool Maintenance & Maintenance)
As new growth is more likely, be careful not to over-fertilize and rush new leaves.
Be sure to treat with an organic fungicide that contains sulfur as the active ingredient. It can be used as a preventive measure and for the treatment of existing powdery mildew.
When shopping for plants, choose varieties that have increased resistance to powdery mildew.
Powdery mildew treatment
Although most products on the market are aimed at preventing powdery mildew, there are many home remedies to treat existing infections. Spray compounds will only kill what they come in contact with, so be sure to coat all affected areas well. It can take many applications for complete treatment. Apply once a week for three to four weeks, then wait to see results. Reapply as needed.
Baking Soda Solution: Mix 1 tablespoon baking soda and 1 teaspoon liquid soap Castile Soap (not soap) in 1 gallon of water. Spray generously, getting upper and lower leaf surfaces and affected areas. This method may work best as a preventative measure, although it may have some effect on existing powdery mildew.
Potassium Bicarbonate: Mix 1 tablespoon potassium bicarbonate and 1 tablespoon liquid soap (not detergent) in 1 gallon of water. Spray generously on all affected areas. This compound may work better than baking soda as a treatment for pre-existing infections.
Milk: Mix 1 part milk with 2 to 3 parts water and spray generously. Although the science behind this solution is not fully understood, it seems to work well, especially in zucchini, melon, and cucumber. It is believed that the natural compounds in milk not only fight disease but also boost the plant's immunity.
Neem oil: Neem oil has mixed reviews on its effectiveness in treating fungal infections, but it can be added to the above compounds for extra stimulants.
Powdery mildew: Use sulfur-containing organic fungicides to prevent and treat existing infections.
Cut or prune: Remove and discard affected leaves, stems, buds, fruits, or vegetables from the plant. Some perennials can be cut to the ground and new growth emerges. Do not compost damaged or diseased leaves as the spores will spread and persist in the compost material. Disinfect pruners and all tools after using infected plants.
How is Powdery mildew spread?
Fungi are spread by the wind in hot, dry weather, but do not spread well when it is raining and cold. Powdery mildew strains are specific to certain groups of plants and generally do not spread to other plant families. Sperm can survive the winter in leaf piles and plants, so it is important to fertilize them to prevent the spread of fallen plant debris from infected plants or to allow them to reappear next spring.
Successful plants
Basically, there are no plants that are completely immune to certain types of powdery mildew, including vegetables, roses, trees, and shrubs.
There are some plants that are more susceptible to powdery mildew than other plants:
Begonias
Sunflower
Chrysanthemums
Dahlias
Roses
Zinnias
Melon
Zucchini
Squash
Lettuce
Cucumbers
Potatoes
Parsley
Pumpkins
Grapes
Pepper
Tomato
If you have recurring problems with powdery mildew, look for varieties that are said to have improved immunity - this should be mentioned in the plant reference.
How to treat powdery mildew on roses? Remove the affected leaves and fallen leaves from the ground and prevent any remaining plants. If you find powdery mildew on the buds, clip them and discard them. Thoroughly clean and disinfect any cutting tools used in the process. Use one of the above treatments like fungicide, baking soda, potassium bicarbonate, or milk mixture once a week for 3 to 4 weeks and wait to see results. Avoid further bursts with regular use every two weeks or follow the instructions on the product labels. Eventually, the results will be much better if the infection is caught at the first signs and treated quickly.
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