2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Powdery mildew is an unpleasant fungal disease that spreads at a tremendous speed. Fungi, drawing nutrients from plants, make them look unsightly. So that the vegetation does not die, it is necessary to take prompt measures to cure such an unpleasant ailment
A few words about the disease
At the beginning of the course of this disease, a powdery coating of white color that resembles powder or flour is formed on the vegetation, which is sometimes easy to mistake for the most ordinary dust and easily wipe it off with your finger. As a result of the development of the disease, not only the leaves turn white, but also the peduncles with stalks. Old leaves, losing turgor, slowly begin to turn yellow, and new ones grow inconspicuous and twisted.
The white bloom mentioned above is nothing more than the mycelium of the parasitic powdery mildew fungi called Erysiphales. Malicious fungi instantly draw out juices from plants, invading their cells - in order for the lower leaves of plants to hang, turn yellow and atrophy, just a couple of days is enough.
In the places of attachment of the mycelium on the leaves, you can see small ulcers, "eating" living tissue. The white bloom that covers the leaves also significantly complicates the process of photosynthesis.
Spores of harmful powdery mildew fungi are permanent inhabitants of the soil. However, they do not reveal their parasitic tendencies every time. On sunny and warm days, if the plants are well fertilized and watered regularly, they have almost no chance of getting sick. Mushrooms prefer cloudy, damp and fairly cool weather. They also parasitize if the plantings are quite thickened, as well as if there is a lot of nitrogen in the ground or the irrigation regime is not observed. If, without waiting for the upper layers of the earth to dry out, watering too often, or constantly overdrying the lumps of earth, and then flooding them, the immunity of the plants will be impaired, and the likelihood of infection will become noticeably higher.
Spores of fungi can get on plants in different ways: with water for irrigation; by air (from nearby infected plants or trees); through the hands (this happens if you touch diseased plants, and then touch healthy ones).
How to deal with adversity
Of course, the main condition for competent control of powdery mildew is good agricultural technology. Plants need to be watered only after the upper layers of the soil are dry. Thinned plantings are thinned out, old leaves in contact with the ground are cut off. During the fight against powdery mildew, as a rule, they generally refuse any spraying, with the exception of medicinal ones. To cure the disease, if there is such an opportunity, the damaged plants are taken out to a sunny place until the moment of complete recovery. During the illness, they also try not to use fertilizers, and during the period of remission, they increase the amount of phosphorus-potassium fertilizers, reducing the number of nitrogen fertilizers.
In pots, containers or under plants in flower beds, replace the topsoil - this is where you can find mushroom mycelium.
When treating an ailment for spraying, you can use a solution of potassium permanganate: it should be dissolved in an amount of 2.5 g in ten liters of water and applied with a five-day break 2 - 3 times.
A solution of rotted manure helps a lot (cow manure will be the most suitable): it is poured with water in a ratio of 1: 3 and insisted for three days. The resulting concentrate is diluted in half with water, and then the plants are sprayed with it.
You can fight the misfortune with a serum solution. For this, the serum is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10. Such a solution creates a film on the leaves and stems of plants that makes myceliums difficult to breathe, and the plants treated with it are noticeably healthy, receiving additional nutrition in the form of various useful substances. The appearance of the vegetation is also significantly improved. Treatment with the rescue compound should be carried out at an interval of 3 days at least three times, in dry weather.
A combination of soap and ash is also a good remedy. 10 liters of water is heated to 30 - 40 degrees, then ash (1 kg) is stirred in it. Stirring occasionally, the solution should be infused for about 3 to 7 days. Then the liquid component, after separating it from the ash suspension, is poured into a clean container, mixed with a small amount of liquid soap and, pouring the composition into a special spray bottle, the plants are treated 3 times daily or every other day. And water (10 liters) is poured into a bucket with ash particles at the bottom, mixed and used for irrigation.
You can prepare a solution of soap with soda ash: dissolve 25 g of soda ash in five liters of hot water, then add a little liquid soap (5 g). Both plants and the topsoil are treated with this solution 2 - 3 times with a week break.
Recommended:
Saving Gooseberries From American Powdery Mildew
American powdery mildew, also called spheroteka, is one of the most dangerous and unpleasant fungal diseases of the gooseberry. In addition to gooseberries, this ailment can also overwhelm currants from time to time: black - to a greater extent, and white and red - to a lesser extent. Mainly fruits suffer from this scourge, as well as vulnerable shoots and leaves. In gooseberries, berries are predominantly affected, and in currants - stalks with fruit twigs, and only sometimes berries
The Simplest Remedies For Powdery Mildew
Powdery mildew is an extremely unpleasant problem that gives summer residents a lot of trouble. Bright pumpkin, juicy zucchini, spectacular roses, wholesome gooseberries or crunchy cucumbers - all of them can be amazed by this ill-fated ailment. However, not only them - powdery mildew attacks a truly incredible number of other cultures. How to overcome it? You should not think for a long time in search of an answer to this question, because this can be done using the simplest means that it will not be difficult to prepare with your own hands
Apple Powdery Mildew
Powdery mildew is usually found on apple trees in early spring, when tiny buds begin to bloom on the trees. Leaves with shoots are affected by this scourge almost simultaneously. The growth of apple trees when affected by powdery mildew slows down or stops altogether, and the leaves slowly fade and, having dried, fall off. Flowers and buds are scattered, and with them the chances of a good harvest are gradually melting. Often, as a result of the defeat of this scourge, the yield of the fall
Powdery Mildew Of Pumpkin Crops
Powdery mildew attacks almost all pumpkin crops, and cucumbers with melons in particular. She also does not bypass pumpkin, watermelons and squash with zucchini. And it does not matter at all in what kind of soil these crops are grown - in the open or in the protected. In a warm and dry climate, powdery mildew is incredibly harmful. To a large extent, its spread is also facilitated by excessively sharp fluctuations in humidity and temperature
Ways To Get Rid Of Powdery Mildew
This disease often affects both indoor and garden plants. There are many ways to get rid of it. But one of the main decisions is timely and correct prevention
