Powdery Mildew: What Is It And How To Treat It

Powdery Mildew is a fungal disease that leaves a light or whitish powder on your plant’s foliage or flowers. The mildew is often located on the lower leaves of a plant, but it may also spread to the entire plant if the disease is left to progress.

It usually occurs in the fall and spring when there are warmer days and cooler nights. It can also occur in highly humid areas anytime, or during humid weather conditions.

It’s a common garden disease and can affect almost any plant. However, certain plants such as Dahlia, Delphinium, Hydrangea, and Roses are more susceptible to heavy infection than.

How Does It Spread?

Powdery mildew has spores that tend to overwinter in plant debris. When spring rolls in, it produces more spores. The spores are carried to your garden via wind, insects, and even splashing water from the soil onto your plants.

It also thrives in crowded gardens where there is poor air circulation. The spores will spread faster in plants that remain.

What Are The Symptoms?

Powdery mildew is easy to spot. The most common symptom you can look for is white or gray patches on the leaves. Other symptoms may be mottling leaves or wilting and dropping of your plants.

Plants with powdery mildew usually get stressed and can weaken.

Powdery mildew infections are rarely fatal for your plants, but a plant can be less fruitful and often stunted if left untreated.

How Can It Be Prevented?

With the right garden management, you can prevent powdery mildew from wreaking havoc in your garden. Here are some things to do:

·     Improve air circulation by thinning out and pruning your plants.

·     Stressed plants attract diseases much easier so correct any poor growing conditions in your garden and keep them healthy.

·     Choose powdery mildew-resistant plants.

·     Avoid planting non-resistant plant varieties in the shade or in areas that might remain damp for long periods.

Avoid overhead watering of your plants.

How Can It Be Treated?

The easiest way to treat plants is by removing and discarding the infected foliage. Be sure not to compost them to prevent more spores from forming. Clean your hands and clippers thoroughly after removing affected parts of your plants.

Another option is to apply a natural fungicide. Here are my favorites:

·     Baking Soda: You can mix 1/4 teaspoon baking soda with 1 quart of water. Spray affected leaves weekly as soon as you see the first signs of the fungus.

·     Apple Cider Vinegar: You can mix 3 tablespoons of ACV per gallon of water. Spray affected leaves vigorously when you first detect it, and then weekly until gone.

·     Neem Oil: Mix 3 tablespoon of neem oil with 1 teaspoon of biodegradable liquid soap per gallon of water. To avoid leaf burn, apply early in the morning or in the early evening.

Do you have a natural treatment that is your tried-and-true go-to thing for powdery mildew? Please share in the comments.