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.
Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) 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. 3 Best of all, baking soda is completely non-toxic for mammals, readily available in any grocery store, and inexpensive.
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. Repeat every few days until all traces of mold are gone.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Sodium bicarbonate as a fungicide works by disrupting the ion balance in the fungal cells, which causes them to collapse. The biggest danger in using sodium bicarbonate on plants is the potential for foliar burn.
Bicarbonates. Sodium bicarbonate can be successful against plant garden infections when utilized with oil. Though botanical fungicides are always advisable due to their effectiveness, potassium bicarbonate and ammonium bicarbonate provide better disease control and plant wellbeing than sodium bicarbonates.
There is no scientific evidence indicating that Epsom salt can control or manage fungal or bacterial pathogens in plants. Epsom salt can help if a recent soil test indicates that there is not enough magnesium for the type of plants being grown.
Neem Oil Spray
The best part, it is organic and great for plant health. It naturally helps you disrupt the entire life cycle of bugs. Plus, neem oil spray is non-toxic to pets, birds, and effective on pests and insects.
Did you know that a build-up of dirt on the leaves of your plants can affect growth and photosynthesis? Try mixing a small amount of ACV with water and gently applying it to the leaves with a soft cloth. Not only will this clean the leaves but the smell of the ACV is likely to prevent pests from eating them.
But if you notice wilting, mold, rust, blotches, scabs or decaying tissue on your plants it's time to hit them with our organic fungicides and disease fighters. Most are made from naturally-available oils and other components, some are even listed with OMRI for use on organic gardens.
Fungal diseases in plants happen quite often due to mild humid or damp weather conditions or due to some pathogens waiting in the soil to sneak up on your new green fellow.
Fungus exists naturally in soil, and most of it's beneficial for your plants. But there are 8,000 varieties that have no purpose other than messing up your garden plants.
They damage plants by killing cells and/or causing plant stress. Sources of fungal infections are infected seed, soil, crop debris, nearby crops and weeds. Fungi are spread by wind and water splash, and through the movement of contaminated soil, animals, workers, machinery, tools, seedlings and other plant material.
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.
It is perfectly safe for plants when properly diluted and used in moderation. Adding hydrogen peroxide to water promotes better growth in plants and boosts roots ability to absorb nutrients from the soil. Diluted 3% peroxide adds needed aeration to the soil of plants and helps control fungus in the soil.
Prevent Fungal Disease
Give this natural remedy a try. MAKE IT: Mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda and 2-3 drops of liquid soap in 1 liter of water. Spray the solution on the infected plants. Baking soda helps the plants become less acidic and prevents fungal growth.
Epsom salt can improve the blooms of flowering and green shrubs, especially evergreens, azaleas and rhododendrons. Work in one tablespoon of Ultra Epsom Salt per nine square feet of bush into the soil, over the root zone, which allows the shrubs to absorb the nutritional benefits.
The results of the study show that apple cider vinegar is the most economical product to treat Candidiasis and other fungal infections.
Boosting growth
Just like using coffee grounds as a fertilizer, the best part of using cinnamon to boost plant health is that it's completely safe and non-toxic. 'Unlike chemical pesticides, fungicides, and fertilizers, cinnamon won't harm beneficial insects or contaminate your soil and water supply,' Richa notes.