Citrus trees are susceptible to many fungal diseases, including green mold, brown rot, anthracnose, and powdery mildew. The most serious of these diseases is citrus greening disease, a disease caused by the bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus that infects citrus trees through their roots. This disease can be spread by grafting infected plants onto healthy ones or by touching leaves or fruit with pruning tools that have been used on infected plants.
Copper fungicides are the most common type of fungicide used to treat citrus trees. Copper is an essential metal that is required for plant growth and development, but it can also be toxic to plants when it’s not at the proper concentration. When copper fungicides are applied to the soil around citrus trees, they enter the root zone and kill fungi that cause disease in citrus trees by disrupting their ability to grow.
Copper fungicides for citrus trees are often used as a preventative measure against disease, though they can also be used as a curative treatment after you’ve already noticed symptoms of disease on your tree.
Copper fungicide prevents these fungal infections from spreading and causing damage to your trees. It works by preventing spores from germinating and blocking them from entering new host plants. Copper fungicide can be applied in liquid form or dust form; both are effective at treating fungal infections on citrus trees but have different benefits and drawbacks.
How Much Copper Fungicide per Citrus Tree?
How much copper fungicide to apply depends on the size of your citrus tree. If you have a dwarf variety, you will need to apply 2-4 ounces of copper fungicide per year, depending on how much fruit it produces.
If you have a standard or semidwarf variety, you will need 6-8 ounces of copper fungicide per year. If you have a large tree, such as a Persian lime or Tahiti lime, you will need 16-24 ounces of copper fungicide per year.
How Do You Use Copper Spray on Citrus?
You can use copper spray on citrus trees year-round, but it’s most effective when applied from early spring through late fall.
Copper spray should be applied every 10 days for two weeks during the growing season, and then once every three weeks throughout the winter. To apply, simply mix 2 tablespoons of copper sulfate powder in 1 gallon of water and use it as you would any other garden sprayer.
Here’s how to use it:
- 1) Sprinkle copper spray on the leaves of your citrus plants. The amount depends on the size of your tree, but you’re looking for a light coating on each leaf.
- 2) Reapply every 7-10 days throughout the season for optimal results.
What Is the Role of Copper in Citrus Plants?
Copper is an essential micronutrient for plants, and citrus plants are no exception. Copper plays a crucial role in many of the plant’s processes, including photosynthesis, respiration, and growth.
Copper is a trace element that is essential to all living organisms. It plays an important role in many biochemical reactions within the human body as well as within plants. In particular, copper helps plants convert energy from sunlight into chemical energy that can be used for growth and development.
Copper also helps to regulate cellular processes such as protein synthesis and respiration in plant cells.
Can I Mix Neem Oil and Copper Fungicide?
Yes, you can mix neem oil and copper fungicide. When you mix these two products together, they will work together as one to fight off fungus on your plants.
Neem oil is a natural alternative to chemical fungicides and insecticides, so it’s a good idea to use it in place of traditional pesticides. However, if you want to use both neem oil and copper fungicide on your plants at the same time, you will need to mix them together before applying them to your garden.
Can I eat fruit sprayed with copper fungicide?
Fruit sprayed with copper fungicide is safe to eat. Copper fungicides are inorganic compounds that are used to prevent the spread of plant diseases and promote plant growth. Fruits and vegetables that have been sprayed with a copper fungicide will not be labeled as such, but you can check the ingredient list on your fruit’s packaging for any of the following words: copper hydroxide, cuprous oxide, or cupric hydroxide.
You should always wash the fruit in clean water before eating it to remove any chemicals or pesticides that may have been used in its growth and production.
List of Copper Fungicide for Citrus Trees
Here are some copper fungicides that can be used on citrus trees and where to purchase them.
Bonide 811 Copper 4E Fungicide 16oz (473ML)
Price : $15.99
Features :
- CONTROLS PLANT DISEASES – Liquid Copper Fungicide helps control powdery mildew, downy mildew, black spot, peach leaf curl, rust, and many other listed diseases.
- PROTECTION FOR PLANTS – Designed for use on listed vegetables, roses, fruits, nuts, herbs, ornamentals and turf.
- ORGANIC GARDENING – Approved and suitable for all of your organic gardening needs. It can even be used up to the day of harvest.
- CONTAINS COPPER – The active ingredient of Liquid Copper is Copper Octanoate, or Copper Soap. Copper is a naturally occurring chemical which makes it a much safer option for use on all of your plants.
- EASY TO APPLY – Product instantly mixes with water and should be applied using either a hose-end sprayer or tank sprayer. Carefully read and use according to label directions.
Additional Info :
| Color | Copper |
| Item Dimensions | |
| Height | 1 Inches |
| Width | 1 Inches |
| Length | 1 Inches |
| Weight | 1 Pounds |
Southern Ag Liquid Copper Fungicide, 32oz – Quart
Price : $22.58
Features :
- Controls diseases caused by bacteria & fungi
- New formulation works well with hose end sprayers
- Labeled for control of moss and algae
- Power source type: Manual
Additional Info :
| Color | 32oz |
| Item Dimensions | |
| Height | 7 Inches |
| Width | 2 Inches |
| Length | 5.5 Inches |
| Weight | 2 Pounds |
Bonide 775 Copper Fungicide Rtu Natural 1 Qt
Price : $10.97
Features :
- CONTROLS PLANT DISEASES – Liquid Copper Fungicide helps control powdery mildew, downy mildew, black spot, peach leaf curl, rust, and many other listed diseases.
- PROTECTION FOR PLANTS – Designed for use on listed vegetables, roses, fruits, nuts, herbs, ornamentals and turf.
- ORGANIC GARDENING – Approved and suitable for all of your organic gardening needs. It can even be used up to the day of harvest.
- CONTAINS COPPER – The active ingredient of Liquid Copper is Copper Octanoate, or Copper Soap. Copper makes a great option for use on all of your plants.
- READY TO USE – This product is conveniently ready to use when it arrives. The spray nozzle makes this product easy to deploy.
Additional Info :
| Item Dimensions | |
| Height | 12 Inches |
| Width | 2.5 Inches |
| Length | 4.75 Inches |
| Weight | 1 Pounds |
Monterey LG3190 Liqui-Cop Copper Garden Spray Fungicide for Disease Prevention, 32-Ounce RTS, 32 oz
Price : $31.89
Features :
- Disease control – Liqui-cop, copper-count-n, is designed to prevent a wide variety of plant diseases including anthracnose, brown rot, blight, downy mildew, powdery mildew, botrytis blight, leaf spot and many more.
- Complete protection – Our fungicide is perfect for use on fruit trees, nut crops, citrus, vegetables and ornamentals. Don’t just concentrate on some of your plants. Protect your entire garden.
- Long-lasting coverage – once applied and allowed to dry on the plants or trees, Liqui-cop is extremely hard to wash off. The gel formulation is intended to prevent water from washing it off.
- Prevents infection – copper pesticides are considered preventative, not curative, of plant diseases. Plant surfaces must be completely covered with the fungicide to successfully prevent infection.
- Ready to spray – Monterey Liqui-cop arrives in a container with an attached hose-end sprayer. Simply connect a garden hose to the sprayer and begin application.
Additional Info :
| Color | 32 oz. |
| Item Dimensions | |
| Height | 5 Inches |
| Width | 12 Inches |
| Length | 2 Inches |
| Weight | 2.41 Pounds |
Southern Ag 02904 Liquid Copper Fungicide, 128oz
Price : $49.92
Features :
- Controls diseases caused by bacteria and fungi
- New Formulation works well with hose end sprayers
- Labeled for control of moss and algae
- Contains 31.4% Copper Ammonium Complex (8% Metallic Copper Equivalent)
Additional Info :
| Color | 128oz |
| Item Dimensions | |
| Height | 10.5 Inches |
| Width | 4 Inches |
| Length | 6.75 Inches |
| Weight | 9 Pounds |
In conclusion
Copper fungicide for citrus trees is a good option for preventing and treating fungal diseases in citrus trees. Copper is a natural element that does not harm the plants and can be used as an alternative to other toxic chemicals. However, it is important to remember that excessive amounts of copper can damage the plants as well.