A good place to start is a mix of mild liquid soap and water, sprayed onto houseplants. One teaspoon of soap per litre of water will do the job. It sounds simple, but this formula will treat a lot of common houseplant pests. Add just a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda and it becomes a great fungicide as well.
Bicarbonates, like baking soda, have also been used as a natural option for fungicides for a long time. Ammonium bicarbonate and potassium bicarbonate are recommended over baking soda. This is because they are effective without the additional use of oils.
Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is an effective and inexpensive antifungal agent that is readily available at a supermarket. It is an organic and eco-friendly remedy for black spots and fungal diseases such as powdery mildew. Fungus can quickly damage plants and cause plants to wilt and die.
Homemade Fungicide
baking soda, 4 tsp. liquid dish soap and 1 gallon water. Spray the mixture on plants weekly to prevent and control fungal diseases in the vegetable garden. This treatment is also effective on roses and other ornamental plants.
Triclosan is a pesticide that is found in Dawn dish soap.
It is there in controlled amounts, but it exists to kill the bacteria and germs on your dishes and surfaces. It is an organic antibacterial and anti-fungi agent that is toxic to the environment.
There is a general misconception that any soap can be used as an insecticide. Dishwashing liquids are primarily designed to dissolve grease from dishes and clean clothes, not to kill insects. Dish detergents may dissolve the protective waxes on the plant leaves.
As an added bonus, hydrogen peroxide can help discourage unwanted bacteria/fungi that may be lurking in the garden. To give plants an added boost of oxygen or for pest control using the 3% solution, add 1 teaspoon (5 ml.) per cup (240 ml.) of water in a spray bottle and mist the plant.
Vinegar is a proven method for destroying mold and eliminating pesky white spots from your plants. Mix two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with a quart of water, and spray onto your infected leaves and stems.
Apple cider vinegar as fungicide on plants- To make a fungicide out of this, take one tablespoon of vinegar and mix it with a gallon of water. Shake this well and add to a spray bottle. Vinegar mixture can treat most fungal infections on any plant, without causing any harm.
Change the conditions around the plant to be less humid and warm, and water less often (but be careful not to harm your plant). Pull the mushrooms out by the base of their stems and throw them away. Be careful not to shake more spores out of their caps if they've matured to that point.
Hydrogen peroxide, well known as an ingredient in disinfectant products, is now also approved for controlling microbial pests on crops growing indoors and outdoors, and on certain crops after harvest. This active ingredient prevents and controls bacteria and fungi that cause serious plant diseases.
If you do encounter fungus on your plants, just remember it can be treated and your plants will more than likely recover beautifully. Learn how to recognize powdery mildew and black spot, and how you can prevent and treat them in your own garden.
Affected foliage should be removed at the first sign of a bacterial or fungal infection. Removing the whole infected leaf is necessary. Then the remainder of the plant can be treated to prevent further damage, using a copper fungicide.
Be sure not to spray this solution onto plants that you want to keep. Also, the vinegar can affect the soil pH, at least for a few days, which usually will not kill other plants but may cause some stress and upset soil balance.
Vinegar can als be used as a fungicide on your plants. Mix up diluted mixture of 50ml to every 1L of water and spray on your plants.
If you use a higher concentration of hydrogen peroxide on the foliage of the plant you run the risk of burning it. You could burn the roots, but since it's necessary to kill the root rot-causing bacteria, it's a risk worth taking.
It also breaks down into the soil and releases extra oxygen that helps the plant grow new, healthy roots. Before you use hydrogen peroxide on your plants, you'll need to dilute it. Mix one part of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide with two parts water in a watering can or spray bottle.
It's not recommended to use dish detergent (like Dawn), laundry detergent, or hand soap (even the “natural” versions), since these soaps contain abrasive ingredients that could harm your plants. For DIY insecticide, organic pure castile liquid soap is the best solution since it's all natural and highly effective.
INSECT REPELLENT
Combine Murphy® Oil Soap with rubbing alcohol, water, cooking oil and lemon juice to make a natural form of insect repellent for landscaping and gardens. Take your Murphy® Oil Soap further than you ever thought possible and spread some cleaning love around your home.