Use this homemade natural plant fungicide to treat powdery mildew and other fungal problems around the garden.
A simple DIY plant natural fungicide
If you grow any gourds this year, this simple homemade fungicide recipe might come in handy.As we all know, cucurbitaceous plants such as cucumbers, pumpkins, pumpkins and watermelons are prone to fungal diseases, which are called powdery mildew.
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As you will see below, this simple plant fungicide can also be used to treat other fungal problems around the garden. It is also widely used by rose lovers to help control black spot fungus, which is a common problem with rose bushes.
Will powdery mildew eat your cucumber?
Powdery mildew is easily recognized in other healthy gardens. If the fungus is not controlled, it usually looks like someone used a flour sieve to spread a thin layer of flour on the leaves of the affected plant.
Powdery mildew may also appear on other garden plants. Some other plants that are particularly susceptible to this fungus problem include phlox, beeswax, roses, apples, and grapes.
Homemade plant fungicide
This basic recipe originally came from Nature gardener In Austin.
raw material
Level 4 teaspoons. Or 1-1/3 tablespoon.of baking soda
1 teaspoon mild soap (for example, dawn or ivory— Should be biodegradable and phosphate-free)
1 gallon of water
route
Mix all ingredients thoroughly and keep stirring. Then spray the plants. Spray all the leaves thoroughly until the solution starts to drain. Spray the top and bottom of the affected leaves and all new small leaves, even if they don’t seem to have fungus yet.
Peer review and scientist approval
Gardeners may be notorious for spreading myths and legends, but this DIY natural fungicide has a pretty good education. Dr. R. Kenneth Horst of Cornell University led a series of studies to prove the effectiveness of baking soda as a fungicide.
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His research found that 0.5% baking soda solution can best control powdery mildew of cucurbitaceous plants. He found that the use of surfactants (such as soap or Gardening oil) Is a necessary condition for the solution to be effective. You can find a lot of information about Dr. Horst’s work and other related research in this document from the National Center for Applicable Technology:
View or download this resource here: “Use baking soda as a fungicide”
The first step to control fungal problems
Picture from 1239652 From Know almost
Before you start using natural fungicides, consider whether you can control this problem through other “natural” measures.
Watch your water
For example, did you know that you can fight fungi just by adjusting the watering schedule? Powdery mildew can appear under unusually dry conditions, especially when you are hot and dry during the day and cool at night. If the plants you grow are susceptible to drought stress, make sure to water them regularly during the hot summer weather.
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Spread the news
Air circulation is one of the biggest contributors to many fungal infections, and you can control powdery mildew and other fungal problems by spacing plants farther apart and selectively trimming to increase airflow through the affected area.
Join the resistance movement
If you have encountered powdery mildew problems in the past, one of the best things you can do is to make sure that you choose plants that are resistant to powdery mildew in the future. Some varieties are less sensitive to fungi, and they are advertised as resistant in seed catalogs and garden centers.
What do you think?
Do you have a favorite plant fungicide? Do you have your own recipe for homemade fungicides? Please let us know in the comments below!
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This article was originally published on May 17, 2016. The author may not be able to respond to comments at this time; however, we encourage our community members to join in, share their experiences and answer questions!
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