Identifying Powdery Mildew & Early Intervention 

Powdery mildew is a common fungal disease that affects many plants. It's easy to identify in its early stage because it is often preceded by downy mildew, which causes yellow spots on leaves. Prevention and early intervention is key to stopping its spread. Always remove the infected leaves, branches, vines, and dispose of them. Don't waste time and treatments on portions of the plant that are hopelessly infected.

Why Fungicides Aren't the Answer

It's key that we keep in mind that as regenerative gardeners, we strive to partner with rather than compete with nature. Using harsh chemicals, such as fungicides, can harm the soil's beneficial microbes and have a long-lasting influence on the health of your garden as a whole. So it's crucial to take into account sustainable and regenerative options to manage powdery mildew.

Natural Solutions for Powdery Mildew Treatment & Prevention

Neem oil is frequently used by gardeners to combat powdery mildew, but it's important to keep in mind that this can actually make the plant more stressed. The additional stress from the neem oil can lead to a downward spiral when the plant already has trouble dealing with the disease.

You can try a number of more effective natural remedies to both prevent and treat powdery mildew. Use of Effective Microorganisms® in EM-1®, a plant probiotic that boosts the immune system of the plant while producing an enzyme with antifungal proteins, is one method. Use one ounce per gallon of water for preventive and eight ounces per gallon of water for a full-on attack.  Using a sprayer, apply once per week. To learn more about EM-1® click here.

Utilizing milk is another option that may be helpful with strengthening the plant's immune systems, while combatting powdery mildew. Use a ratio of nine parts water to one part milk as a preventative strategy. Use a milk to water ratio of two thirds for a full-on assault.
    

A baking soda treatment can also be used as a preventative measure. By shifting the leaf's surface from the moderate pH range that the fungus need to survive, baking soda, which has a pH balance of 9, is extremely alkaline. 

Vegetable oil can be used to help it adhere to the leaves. Then a very small amount of biodegradable dish soap is all you need as an emulsifier. It would be better to error on the side of not enough soap, because soap can strip the plant of its defense system. Three drops of soap, two tablespoons of vegetable oil, and two tablespoons of baking soda make up the one-gallon formula. 

Finally, please watch my video update addressing the Powdery Mildew video I made in 2021 (VIDEO BELOW) as I introduce a cost-effective treatment recommended by Tree Amigos Growers.

Tree Amigos Growers has switched to a more affordable treatment called Monterey Complete Disease Control, as I mentioned in my video update (above). Similar to EM-1®, the primary active ingredient of this Monterey product is a naturally occurring bacteria called Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, which lives in soil and inhibits the growth of disease-causing organisms. 

If you live locally in South Florida, you can check the availability of the product on the Tree Amigos Growers website by clicking here. Or you can click the product image to access my affiliate link if you're not local.

 

Conclusion

Many gardeners find powdery mildew to be a challenging problem, but by using these regenerative gardening techniques, you could prevent and control it without using harmful chemicals. Early detection, removal of contamination, and the use of natural treatments like EM-1®, milk, baking soda, and Monterey Complete Disease Control are all recommended. Keep your soil fertile and your plants healthy.
 

DISCLAIMER: The store link for Monterey Complete Disease Control (product photo) is an affiliate link, which means that if you click on it, I’ll receive a small commission. This helps support the Mission of Stack's Urban Harvest. Thank you for the support!