Andre CampbellIt may start as a few leaves on your plant covered in gray to white powdery patches or spots. Left unchecked, powdery mildew spores can spread to other plants [1].
As it spreads, the infection will weaken the plant. The leaves may also curl up, twist, or dry out.
This fungal disease can affect fruit trees, vegetable crops, and other plants in your garden.
Here’s how to get rid of powdery mildew naturally:
1. Vinegar
Organic gardeners often use vinegar mixed with water as an antifungal treatment for plants.
Vinegar’s acetic acid makes it effective at controlling powdery mildew. However, the solution must be mild to prevent plant burn.
Apple cider vinegar is the preferred choice. To use it for powdery mildew, mix three tablespoons of vinegar with a gallon of water.
Use it to spray the plants every three days.
2. Neem Oil
Gardeners have used neem oil for generations as a natural pesticide and fungicide. Therefore, you can use it to make a homemade fungicide for powdery mildew.
To use neem oil against powdery mildew, combine three tablespoons of the oil, one teaspoon of liquid soap, and a gallon of water. Next, add the mixture to a spray container and spray the leaves.
Alternatively, you can purchase a ready-to-use neem oil concentrate. To avoid leaf burn, use the solution early in the morning or evening.
3. Baking Soda
You can also make a DIY powdery mildew spray using baking soda. Combine one tablespoon of baking soda, half a teaspoon of liquid soap, and a gallon of water.
Shake well and spray the plant’s leaves. You can also apply it to the soil surface around the plants’ bases.
Use this solution as a preventive measure. If the plant is already infected, remove the infected leaves and spray the rest. Reapply after a shower of rain.
4. Improve Air Circulation
To reduce the spread of the disease, give your plants more room to breathe.
Pruning and thinning plants can help prevent overcrowding. This method also improves air circulation.
5. Avoid Overhead Watering
Overhead watering or wetting leaves can encourage powdery mildew. These processes increase the dampness and humidity risk, encouraging mildew growth [2].
6. Insecticidal Soap
Using a soapy water solution to rid the garden of pests and diseases is nothing new. Plain soap and water can be used to make insecticidal soap.
You can also buy insecticidal soap as a ready-to-use spray. Brands such as Bonide carry insecticidal soaps. These contain active ingredients that work against certain plant diseases, including powdery mildew.
Spray it onto the problem areas of the plant.
7. Cueva
This commercial product contains copper, another remedy used to control fungal diseases organically.
Cueva is a liquid copper fungicide. It helps control powdery mildew, bacterial cankers, anthracnose, brown rot, and more.
The product penetrates the cells of the disease, causing fatal cell leakage. Moreover, Cueva is OMRI-listed for safe use on organic crops.
8. Bonide Liquid Copper Fungicide
This product is another powdery mildew fungicide containing copper. It is also effective in treating plant rust and downy mildew.
Moreover, the product is safe to use in your organic garden. This ready-to-use spray can benefit ornamental crops, vegetable crops, and fruit trees.
9. Banish
Banish is a popular and powerful all-natural organic fungicide. It contains geraniol, a geranium oil plant extract.
The product stops mildew by disrupting spore germination and mycelium growth. This process destroys the pathogen cells.
However, it is very potent, so use it according to the instructions that come with your purchase.
10. Milk
Milk spray is a preventive measure for controlling powdery mildew on specific plants.
To get rid of powdery mildew with milk, make a solution of milk and water (40:60 ratio). Remove all affected leaves before applying the spray.
Afterward, use it as a foliar spray for your plants. Repeat after 10 to 14 days and after a heavy rain shower.
This milk treatment is effective for pumpkin plants, cucumbers, grapes, apples, and other crops susceptible to powdery mildew.
11. Garlic
Garlic is another popular natural remedy for powdery mildew. It is rich in sulfur, making it an effective treatment.
Just blend two bulbs of garlic in two cups of water. Next, strain the mixture and add one teaspoon of liquid soap.
Afterward, dilute a quarter cup of the garlic mixture in a gallon of water. Finally, use it as a foliar spray.
A far easier option is to purchase a product containing garlic that fights against fungal diseases in plants.
12. Compost Tea
Some gardeners have gotten results using compost tea for powdery mildew, so it’s worth trying.
To make compost tea for your plants, add a shovelful of finished compost to a 5-gallon bucket of water.
Please leave it steep for a week, then use the solution to water plants. However, dilute it with water (1:1) before using it.
This home remedy will help strengthen plants against pests and diseases.
13. Pruning
Cutting back parts of a plant to let in more air can also help control mildew.
Therefore, prune small trees and shrubs. Remove dead or unwanted plant parts to improve air circulation.
Also, remove diseased plant parts. Doing so will help maintain disease-free plants.
14. MilStop SP Foliar Fungicide
MilStop is one of the best fungicides for white mold in soybeans. This potassium bicarbonate-based fungicide kills mildew spores on contact.
It provides an organic solution that is both a curative and preventive treatment.
Takeaway
Sometimes, powdery mildew shows up in even the best-kept gardens. Fortunately, plenty of home remedies and natural solutions exist to stop or prevent the problem.
Sasha Campbell
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