Sasha CampbellHave you ever noticed black, sooty mold growing on your plants? It’s unsightly, and if you ignore it, it can cause damage to your plants.
Fortunately, there are a few natural ways to get rid of it. This post will share some home remedies and environmentally friendly methods to help control sooty mold.
What is Sooty Mold?
You’ve probably seen black patches on the leaves of your plants, and if you’re like most gardeners, you’re not sure what they are. Well, that’s likely sooty mold, which can be a real problem.
It erupts because of a fungus that grows when there is a buildup of honeydew on the leaves and stems of plants [1].
The sticky residue is produced by insects such as aphids, mealybugs, and whiteflies. As the insects feed, they leave honeydew on the plants, encouraging mold growth.
The mold doesn’t usually kill the plants but can make them unattractive. It can also block sunlight from reaching the leaves, stunting their growth [2].
Plants affected by sooty mold include rhododendrons, magnolia trees, gardenias, holly, crepe myrtles, and citrus trees.
How to Get Rid of Sooty Mold Naturally
If you have an infestation of aphids, you’ll likely have sooty mold.
The good news is that there are natural ways to remedy the issue. Below, we’ll look at how to treat sooty mold organically.
1. Crop Rotation
One thing you can do to avoid sooty mold is to rotate your crops. Crop rotation is an effective means of managing certain plant diseases.
2. Repellent Plants
You can also try repellent plants. These plants work at repelling the insects that produce the honeydew sooty mold needs to thrive.
Some good options include marigold, lavender, nasturtium, mint, basil, and thyme. Plant them around plants that are prone to getting affected by sooty mold.
3. Destroy Problem Pests
The most obvious solution for this black fungus on plants is eliminating the insects causing it.
Aphids, whiteflies, scales, and leafhoppers are some of the most common pests that lead to sooty mold. If you can identify the culprit, you can take steps to eliminate it.
4. Horticultural Oil
Another sooty mold treatment is horticultural oil. This oil can be used to control soft-bodied insects and some plant diseases, and it’s safe to use on edibles.
Horticultural oils work by trapping the fungal spores and controlling the vector insects. It’s an excellent choice for organic gardeners.
5. Hose the Plants
One simple home remedy to help get rid of black mold on plants is to hose the plants down.
Do this a day or two after you’ve applied the treatment. The water will help wash away any remaining mold left on the leaves.
6. Neem Oil
Neem oil is an excellent choice for getting rid of sooty mold organically. It works great to eradicate the fungus and the pests that cause it.
To use neem oil for sooty mold, mix two tablespoons of the oil with a tablespoon of liquid soap in a gallon of water. Next, add it to a spray bottle and spray it on the affected plants.
Ensure to get to all affected areas and repeat the process every 7 to 14 days until the sooty mold disappears.
7. Trim Affected Foliage
The next thing you should do is trim off any damaged foliage. This removes the infected areas, preventing the infection from spreading to other parts of the plant.
Also, be sure to discard any trimmed foliage properly so that the mold doesn’t spread to other parts of your garden.
8. Soap and Water
Mix a little soap with water (1 teaspoon to a gallon).
Next, soak a piece of sponge or soft cloth in the solution. Use it to wipe down and clean sooty mold off leaves and other areas where the mold is.
The soap will loosen the mold, and wiping will clear it away.
9. Vinegar
Vinegar is highly effective in killing mold and controlling fungus.
To make a homemade spray for sooty mould, dilute two tablespoons of white vinegar in a gallon of water and spray it onto the plant leaves.
The vinegar will kill the fungus and help restore the plant’s appearance. Repeat every few days until the mold disappears.
10. Cueva
Cueva is an OMRI-listed broad-spectrum fungicide to control black sooty mold on plants, gray mold, and other fungal diseases.
The great thing about this product is that you can use it on various crops. Mix and apply according to the instructions that come with your purchase.
11. PerCarb
PerCarb is a broad-spectrum fungicide and bactericide with ingredients that oxidize the plant pathogen on contact.
It is effective against a wide range of fungal and bacterial diseases. It’s also safe for edible plants and won’t harm the environment or your pets.
Just follow the directions on the label and test a small area first to ensure no adverse reaction.
12. OxiDate 2.0
OxiDate 2.0 is another broad-spectrum sooty mold fungicide. It’s a contact fungicide, killing the fungus on contact.
And the great thing about OxiDate 2.0 is that it’s environmentally friendly, so you don’t have to worry about harmful chemicals entering your soil or water supply.
Another thing you’ll love about this product is that you can also use it on various crops. Plus, it fights against many other plant problems, such as anthracnose, powdery mildew, and bacterial spots.
Just mix it with water according to the directions that come with your order, and then spray it on your plants.
Takeaway
If you have many plants infected with sooty mold, consider spraying your entire garden with a natural insecticide. Doing so will kill all the insects behind the problem and do away with this fungal disease for good.
Otherwise, use one of the home remedies or natural treatments above for minor problems.
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