Powdery mildew control: basic rules and tips

Features of the disease

The following pathogens are especially dangerous for cultivated plants:

• Rod Sphaerotheca vid mors and pannosa;
• Rod Erysiphe is a kind of grass and common; 
• Rod Uncinula was a killer.

Downy mildew is one of those nasty attacks that not only spoils the aesthetic appearance of the plant, but also causes irreparable damage. Parasitic fungi spread mainly on the green leaves of the crop. They penetrate deep into the cells of the plant with their mycelium and begin to multiply in the form of a thick white layer that looks like flour. Under the influence of the disease, the leaves can no longer participate in photosynthesis, they gradually curl up, fall off and die.

Phlox begin to hurt, starting with the lower leaves. Then the upper leaves are covered with linen, and soon the spots merge, causing great harm to the plant. The most favorable conditions for parasitic microorganisms are – temperature 18-20ºC and high humidity. Therefore, the main manifestation of the disease occurs in mid-summer and early autumn. The parasite develops very quickly – within 3-5 days. Overly planted soil and weeds or other plants growing in the neighborhood also contribute to this ailment. It is possible to fight powdery mildew, but it is always better to pay attention to preventive measures.

Prevention

This type of flower, like phlox, is rather unpretentious, but it is very interesting for fungal organisms. Downy mildew affects phlox very often. In this case, an effective means of prevention is sulfur. If during the summer the plant is treated with it several times, then powdery mildew treatment is not needed. Phloxes are pollinated with sulfur 2-3 times, adhering to an interval of 10-12 days. Such a procedure is carried out quite simply: a small bag is made of gauze, into which sulfur powder is poured, then with the help of this bag the bushes are pollinated with sulfur powder.

Starting from the end of May, it is also possible to spray phloxes with a 1% solution of soda ash or a copper-soap solution in the composition: copper sulfate – 25 g, soap – 200 g and water in a volume of 10 liters. The processing interval is one week.

A good nourishment and precaution are also a solution of boric acid (you need to take it on the tip of a knife and stir it in a five-liter watering can) and a solution of pink potassium permanganate.

Do not forget about where and how to plant phloxes. The soil must fully provide the plant with nutrients and be loose enough for normal growth. It is not worth overloading the earth with nitrogen fertilizers – this will only contribute to the development of the disease. Conversely, potash and phosphorus fertilizers will become not only an additional source of nutrition for flowers, but also excellent remedies against fungal infections.

On phlox, powdery mildew spreads from the bottom up, so you need to periodically check the stems and lower leaves for the presence of the disease. If a white coating is found, in no case should you wipe it off – this will not eliminate the cause of the disease, but it can lull vigilance and prevent timely assistance to a diseased plant.

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How to treat

If, nevertheless, phloxes are covered with a white coating, there is no need to despair – there is a treatment for flowers. There are many ways to fight disease. The only condition is that measures should be taken as soon as the disease manifests itself. The onset of the disease usually peaks in mid-summer.

If small areas of the plant are affected – a few buds or leaves, then they must be carefully cut and rinsed with chemicals that can be purchased in specialized stores. These are various fungicides, as well as the well-known Bordeaux mixture.

The latter is nothing more than an aqueous solution, which includes vitriol and lime. Bordeaux mixture can be prepared at home, but then you need to mix the components in the correct proportions: dilute 100 g of copper sulfate and 150 g of quicklime in 10 liters of water. To obtain a 3% solution, you will need: vitriol in the amount of 300 g, lime – 450 g, water – 10 liters. It should be noted that vitriol is one of the most effective and affordable remedies for powdery disease.

Sometimes treatment is with antibiotics. The following agent has a good effect: terramycin 100 units / ml, penicillin 100 units / ml and streptomycin 250 units / ml in a ratio of 1: 1: 1. The mixture is dissolved in water and sprayed on the leaves.

It is worth noting that phloxes, like any other flowers, are very delicate, so chemicals often have a detrimental effect not only on the parasitic microorganism, but also on the plant itself. Powdery mildew can be successfully dealt with with folk remedies.

Folk remedies

The most common and well-established folk remedies:

1. garlic tincture. Grind 40-50 g of garlic (cut with a knife, squeeze, scroll in a meat grinder). Pour 2 liters of water and let it brew for a day. With this solution, wipe the leaves of a diseased plant;
2. manure infusion. Another excellent remedy for illness. To prepare it, you need to pour cow dung with water in a ratio of 1: 3 (that is, 1 part mullein to 3 parts water), leave it in the sun for 4-5 days to ferment, then strain. The resulting infusion is diluted with water 1: 1 and you can water the phloxes with it. In this case, the procedure is carried out in the evening to avoid direct sunlight;
3. infusion of ash. Mix the sifted ash in the amount of 1 kg in 10 liters of water, preheated in the sun. Infuse the mixture for 5-7 days, then pour into a clean bucket. Such a remedy can not be filtered, it settles well enough and becomes almost transparent. You can also add some soap for better adhesion to the plant. Infusion can wipe the leaves or sprinkle them;
4. infusion of rotten grass. To prepare such a remedy, weeds or any herbs are used. They are stirred, torn and poured with hot water. The proportion of the solution is 1:1. Then they also defend for about 5 days, filter and use to treat flowers;
5. horsetail decoction. As with other home remedies, powdery mildew can be successfully defeated with this decoction. 1 kg of fresh horsetail (150 g can be dry) should be soaked in 10 liters of water, stand for one night. Then boil and cook for 30 minutes. The broth is cooled, filtered, diluted with water (1:5). The tincture is ready;
6. lactic acid bacteria. These can be found in every home – in sour milk, kefir or yogurt. By collecting serum from them and diluting it with cold water (1:10), you can effectively eliminate the pathogen.

The treatment of leucorrhoea with folk remedies is based on the action of microorganisms that multiply in large numbers in decoctions and infusions during the fermentation process, and can suppress the growth of colonies of filamentous fungi (pathogens of powdery mildew), entering the affected area of ​​the plant. A huge plus is that this method of eliminating the disease does not harm the plant itself.

Powdery mildew is not just a disease, it is a parasitic microorganism that can cause the wilt of a large number of house plants. There are effective measures against this disease. You can fight the parasite in different ways – these are traditional folk remedies and modern chemicals and even antibiotics. The choice is up to the owner. In order for phloxes to grow healthy and have a wonderful appearance, preventive measures cannot be neglected and it is important to help the affected plant as soon as the development of the disease has become noticeable. The gardener’s “first aid kit” should always contain vitriol, potassium permanganate, sulfur powder, as well as the necessary knowledge for preparing homemade recipes.

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