When To Use Fungicide
When using fungicides in your garden, its important to first determine if your plant actually needs a fungicide. Many symptoms can be from other causes, so using garden fungicides may do more harm than good.
The first thing that should be done is to contact an expert, either at a local nursery or agricultural extension office. They can help you determine what is wrong with your plants and can also recommend the proper types of fungicide to use.
Keep in mind that garden fungicides are used to prevent the problems from starting or spreading. They cant cure the problems. Once a determination is made that a fungicide is needed, when to use fungicide on your plants depends on the type of fungus.
Top 10 Fungicides For Hydrangeas To Try In 2022
Let us help you find the right types of fungicides and skip the long hours of searching and wasting your money.
The products listed below are not ranked according to their performance as they are all effective in controlling fungal diseases in hydrangeas.
Here are the 10 best fungicides for hydrangeas:
Can Powdery Mildew Spread To Other Plants
Powdery mildew spores are spread by the wind and can survive the winter in debris piles or on plants. The good news is that just because you find it on one plant, it doesnt mean all others nearby will be contaminated. If you catch powdery mildew on zucchinis, roses or other plants, employ preventative measures, like the ones listed below, to ensure your other plants are not in conditions favorable to its development.
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Significance Of Baking Soda As Natural Fungicide
Use of baking soda as a natural fungicide against indoor and outdoor fungal diseases
In outdoor gardens and crops, commercial fungicides treat plant fungus problems. The popular antifungal agents are copper and sulfur-based, toxic to humans and the environment.
These copper and sulfur-based antifungal agents can be used in indoor spaces, but extra preventative measures are required.
It includes wearing protective clothes while applying and avoiding the entry of kids and pets into fungicide-treated plants. So, it is wiser not to use these commercial fungicides in indoor spaces. Or, if you treat your plants with them, move them to a location where they can not be disturbed.
The best spray against plant diseases involves baking soda to prevent powdery mildew and other fungal problems. In addition, baking soda works as an antifungal agent and can kill persistent forms of fungal pathogens.
Baking soda spray is effective against all kinds of pathogens and can even prevent the anthracnose pathogens infection.
Baking soda spray kills fungus, such as black spots, blights, powdery mildew, and downy mildew.
Know How To Get Rid Of Plant Fungus
Fungi are the grand recyclers of the planet and the vanguard species in habitat restoration.- Paul Stamets
Although we agree with this viewpoint. Nonetheless, as nurturers, we cant see fungus ruining the lives of our healthy lush green plants. Being a nurturer, it becomes your duty to even play another such part that of a protectors. Just showing interest in some plant-related research work or to buy plants online as decor pieces wont do. In order to actually nurture a plant, you need to show some genuine care and love, as if it is not just a plant but rather your own baby.
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How Do I Get Rid Of Soil
This is totally more trouble than its worth. If your flower pots, containers or raised beds have a soil-borne pathogen problem, throw out the plant and the soil and get more.
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Effectiveness Of Baking Soda
Outdoors, gardeners can use a variety of antifungal agents to control fungal problems on plants. Popular antifungal agents contain copper and sulfur, which are both toxic materials. These chemicals can be used indoors, however safety instructions must be followed very carefully. Avoid ingesting them and wear protective clothing when applying them to your plants. If any pets or children will be interacting with the treated plants, it may be best to avoid using these chemicals or move the plants to a location where they cannot be disturbed.
If you prefer a gentler solution, try using baking soda. Baking soda is an antifungal agent and can even kill some established forms of fungus. Research has shown it’s effective against some kinds of black spot and powdery mildew. Best of all, baking soda is completely non-toxic for mammals, readily available in any grocery store, and inexpensive.
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How To Treat Plant Fungus With Baking Soda
As far as plant diseases go, there are none more annoying, frustrating, and hair-pulling than fungus issues. Whether youre growing microgreens, houseplants, or veggies, plant fungus like powdery mildew can absolutely ruin your plants.
Heres an example of a classic type of plant fungus, powdery mildew:
Heres a simple rule to detect plant fungus: If your plant has started showing signs of unusual spotting or has growth on it that is a different color than the plant, it probably has some kind of fungus.
There are a variety of ways to treat fungal problems, fungicides being one of the most common. But, harsh sprays that contain chemicals are sometimes not the ideal way to treat plant problems, especially if theyre inside your home.
If you dont want to use fungicides, you should consider this simple remedy: baking soda.
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Ortho Max Garden Disease Control Concentrate
When it comes to leaf spots, most gardeners applaud the effectiveness of chlorothalonil. Chlorothalonil is an organic compound that is widely used in controlling diseases in crops and in preserving wood.
Chlorothalonil is the active ingredient of Ortho MAX Garden Disease Control Concentrate at a rate of 29.6%. It helps stop and prevent the occurrence of diseases the following diseases:
- Canker diseases
A common practice of gardeners that works in controlling plant diseases is to remove the infected parts of your plants before you continue applying a fungicide.
Ortho Max has a highly-concentrated formula, and a single bottle can make up to 64 gallons of diluted spray. That means a little comes a long way, especially if you have other plants in your yard aside from hydrangeas.
The best thing about Ortho Max you can use it for a variety of plants aside from hydrangea, including:
As with other synthetic fungicides, you should keep your kids and pets away if the leaves are still wet from the foliar spray. The manufacturer recommends applying this fungicide during early propagation. However, there can be some discoloration in the blooms of your hydrangeas if you apply the fungicide during the flowering season.
Be sure to wear gloves and a long-sleeved shirt when you mix and spray Ortho Max on your plants. Avoid letting your bare skin touch, as it can cause skin irritation. It may also trigger an allergic reaction if you get exposed to the diluted solution.
Pros
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Remedies For Powdery Mildew
There are lots of home remedies, but researchers have found that simply spraying with plain water weekly can be effective. The spores like humidity but hate rain and water. They cant germinate or grow if the leaves are wet. This is the opposite of what most gardeners think, me included.
One season I tried to defeat powdery mildew by planting squash in our high tunnel, thinking that if I could keep the leaves dry they would not be affected. Naturally, they got the worst case of powdery mildew I have ever seen! It was the perfect place for it to thrive: high humidity and no rain hitting the leaves. Another lesson learned the hard way!
If you decide to try a home remedy rather than plain water, there are several that have been proven to be effective if used early. They can slow or stop the spread early on, but once the fungi are established in the leaves, they wont eliminate it.
Homemade Baking Soda Spray
Many of these remedies include baking soda. Just be aware that baking soda can burn plants and it can build up in your soil, potentially causing deficiencies in calcium, magnesium, and iron. Potassium bicarbonate can be substituted for baking soda. Test these sprays on a small area first to make sure they do not damage your plants.
Bonide 811 Copper 4e Fungicide
Copper 4E Fungicide is another efficient fungicide from Bonide.
According to the information I found on the Internet about this product, Copper 4E Fungicide is even approved and suitable for organic gardening .
It even seems that this product can even be used up to the day you harvest the fruits and is designed to be safely used around people and pets.
This liquid copper fungicide can help you prevent common fungal infections such as black spot, powdery mildew, downy mildew, plant rust, peach leaf curl, and many others.
Copper 4E can be utilized for a wide range of vegetables, trees, nuts, roses, herbs, ornamental shrubs, and lawn.
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Homemade Remedies For Pests And Diseases Of Edible Plants
Growing your own edible plants at home is not always as easy as it looks. Many a times, home gardeners may encounter pests and diseases that attack or eat up their hard work. They then face the dilemma of whether to apply chemical pesticides or fungicides on their edible plants, worrying that these strong chemicals may be accidentally ingested subsequently.
Fear not, there are many safe remedies that can be made using everyday ingredients and items or simple household products that you may already have at home. Here are some recipes to make safe and effective treatments for your edible plants, and even for your other houseplants!
For Fungi and Powdery Mildew
Fungal diseases often cause the browning of plant parts, rotting, and eventually, death of the plant.
Baking Powder Spray
Baking powder consists of sodium bicarbonate which can increase the pH of the surface where the fungus may grow an alkaline condition helps to prevent the onset of fungal diseases such as powdery mildew.
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Do also check out our Gardening Resources page where you can find many interesting and useful articles and resources to help you in your gardening journey:
Gardeners Day Out Is Back!
For more information about the flora and fauna found in Singapore, please visit Flora and Fauna Web.
Text by Ang Wee FoongPhotos by Ang Wee Foong and Dr Wilson Wong
How Does Powdery Mildew Hurt Your Plants
Compared to many viruses powdery mildew might not seem like the most detrimental virus. Powdery mildew doesnt have any negative effects on your plants except for one very significant way.
Powdery mildew blocks leaves from completing photosynthesis, and the less energy your plant has, the less likely it is to produce viable fruit. Not only that, but since powdery mildew spreads extremely fast, it can quickly overtake the entire plant and prevent it from getting enough photosynthesis to simply survive.
To make matters worse, since it spreads via airborne particles it quickly infests every single plant in your garden. So, while those small white spots on a single pumpkin plant might not seem like much now, if you leave them alone for too long then they can quickly take over your garden and ruin the entire harvest.
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Natural Ways To Get Rid Of Fungus Gnats
An infestation of fungus gnats will cause plants to show signs of wilting, slow growth, and yellowing of the leaves.
Fungus gnats are small dark flies that mostly affect indoor houseplants. The adults are non-biting and do not cause damage to plants however, they can be annoying as they tend to fly up when watering the plants.
These pests are destructive at the larval stage . The larvae feed primarily on fungi and decaying plant material, as well as plant roots. Below is a picture of fungus gnats eggs in soil and a larva.
Is Baking Soda Good For Plants
Baking soda on plants causes no apparent harm and may help prevent the bloom of fungal spores in some cases. It is most effective on fruits and vegetables off the vine or stem, but regular applications during the spring can minimize diseases such as powdery mildew and other foliar diseases.
A solution of 1 teaspoon baking soda to 1 gallon a of water reduces instances of leaf burn. Add 1 teaspoon dormant oil and ½ teaspoon of dish soap or horticultural soap as a surfactant to help the mixture stick. Keep in mind the solution is water soluble, so apply on a dry cloudy day for best results.
While some trials and scientific research mitigate the effectiveness of baking soda against fungal diseases, it wont hurt the plant and does have short term benefits, so go for it!
BEFORE USING ANY HOMEMADE MIX: It should be noted that anytime you use a home mix, you should always test it out on a small portion of the plant first to make sure that it will not harm the plant. Also, avoid using any bleach-based soaps or detergents on plants since this can be harmful to them. In addition, it is important that a home mixture never be applied to any plant on a hot or brightly sunny day, as this will quickly lead to burning of the plant and its ultimate demise.
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How Do You Get Rid Of Fungus On Plants
One way to prevent plant fungus infections involves the adoption of preventative measures. These are:
Garlic Helps Thwart Noxious Diseases
For plants with a fungal, viral, or bacterial disease, cook up a batch of what I call garlic soup. Puree two cloves of garlic in a blender for a minute. Slowly add 1 quart of water, and continue blending for about six minutes. Strain the mixture, and add 1/8 teaspoon of liquid soap. Pour the liquid into a storage container and cover tightly. When youre ready to take action, mix 1 part garlic soup with 10 parts water into a spray bottle and apply the mixture to the top and undersides of your sick plants leaves, taking caution not to spray beneficial insects and larvae. Scientists have discovered that garlic leaves are potent in their own right, so you can also puree two handfuls of leaves instead of using cloves.
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Organic Fungicides To Kill Fungi
There are natural remedies that can help to kill fungi on your plants, however sometimes plants are completely infected by fungal pathogens and it becomes almost impossible to cope with the problem by using such natural remedies.
In such cases, the use of chemical fungicides become necessary. Fungicides are used as a spray or dust on the affected parts of the plants.
While using the fungicides it is very important to diagnose the plant disease first and then use the specific fungicide for that specific problem.
Your timing in applying fungicides is important in optimising their effectiveness. Ideally, the first choice of remedy is a bio-fungicide, such as the above examples, instead of chemicals.
A broad-spectrum fungicide called Serenade Garden is a bio-fungicide provides protection against both fungal and bacterial pathogens. To achieve the best results, spray it on plants immediately after identifying the initial symptoms of the disease.
Other organic fungicides include Neem oil , sulphur and lime-sulphur. Spray them on the affected areas for 7 days.
What Does Fungus Look Like On Houseplants
The fungus on houseplants appears as dark brown to black spots on both the upper and lower sides of the leaves. These dark and irregular spots merge and cover the whole leaf surface .
Different fungal infections appear additional on various host plants. For example, it seems yellow to pale green, tan, reddish, and brown. In other host plants, the fungus on infested plants appears as white powdery masses of spores that are ready to spread over other healthy plants.
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Natural Remedies For Fungal Diseases
Most public places offer free hand sanitizer so germs dont spread. Plants dont have that luxury. Your plants share lawn beds with other living organisms and without proper care, contamination can occur. Lawn sanitation and treatments, however, preserve your gardens health. Heres what you need to know.
