In order to avoid expensive trips to the plant nursery, many gardeners choose to make their own fungicides and pesticides at home. The trick is to use non-harmful chemicals that are effective in killing off fungal diseases. In this article, we’ll give you an example of a DIY fungal pesticide using common household items and a few easy steps on how to make it.
Only an experienced organic gardener knows which is the best technique to use in each case. In fact, choosing the right method requires an excellent understanding of horticulture specifically dealing with fungal infections in plants as well as proper identification of the fungus and its stage of development. This must be done before even thinking about how to get rid of fungus on a plant or any other treatments for that matter. In some instances, having the right equipment like a microscope will help recognize the type of fungus affecting the plant and then decide which treatment will work best depending on how active the fungal infection is at different growth stages.
What is a Fungicide?
Fungicide is a type of pesticide used to kill fungi. Fungicides are used on plants to prevent or slow down the spread of diseases caused by fungi, like powdery mildew and black spot.
Fungi are a diverse group of organisms that includes molds and yeasts. Fungi can be found almost everywhere, including soil, water, and on plants and animals. In fact, some fungi are beneficial to humans and their crops, while others can cause infections or diseases.
When it comes to taking care of your plants, it’s important to be prepared for the worst. You never know when a fungus will strike, and you don’t want to waste time trying to figure out what to do while your precious plant is being eaten away.
Fungal diseases can ruin your plants, but you don’t have to succumb to the disease if you use a homemade fungicide. You can make your own natural fungicide using ingredients that are probably already in your kitchen.
Types of Fungi That Affects Plants
Some of the more common types of fungi that affect plants include powdery mildew, brown spots, and leaf spots.
Powdery Mildew: Powdery mildew is a common problem for gardeners because it can spread quickly and kill plants. The fungus prefers to grow in cool areas like shade or under trees. It will also thrive in greenhouses where there are high humidity levels and little air circulation.
Brown Spots: Brown spots usually appear on leaves as they turn yellow-brown in color before they die off completely; however, they can also appear on stems or even small flowers depending on what kind of plant you’re growing (such as roses). These spots are caused by various kinds of diseases including viral diseases such as tobacco mosaic virus (TMV
Black spot: This type of fungus appears as black spots on leaves and stems, and it can lead to browning or yellowing leaves if left untreated for too long. It is caused by an overabundance of moisture when watering your garden plants every day during summer months when temperatures are high outside. If you catch this problem early enough before it spreads too far throughout your garden then consider using a fungicide (such as copper sulfate) that contains potassium salts which will help prevent future outbreaks from occurring again later down the road once temperatures cool off again during fall/winter seasons.
What Naturally Kills Fungus on Plants?
The fungus can be a tricky thing to deal with. It’s not like you can just grab a bottle of bleach and spray it on your plants to get rid of the fungus, right?
Luckily, there are plenty of natural solutions for getting rid of fungus on plants. Here are some of our favorites:
Vinegar – If you have a plant that’s dealing with fungus, try giving it a bath in vinegar. Just fill up a bucket or bowl with 1 part vinegar and 4 parts water, then submerge the infected area of your plant into the solution for 10 minutes. After that, let the plant dry off naturally before putting it back in its place.
Hydrogen peroxide – Use hydrogen peroxide to kill fungus on plants by spraying it directly onto the infected areas 2 or 3 times every week. This should clear up any problems within about two weeks.
Borax – Mix one part borax with five parts water in a spray bottle and spray over affected areas once every week or two to keep fungus from returning again later on down the road.
How Do You Make Natural Fungicides at Home?
There are many different ways to make natural fungicides at home. For example, you can use orange peel to kill fungus. To make this fungicide, you need to boil the orange peel in water for 10 minutes. Once it is boiled, strain the peel and add a tablespoon of baking soda. After that, mix the mixture well and pour it into a spray bottle. Apply this mixture directly on your plants or around them after watering them with water.
Another option is to simply use vinegar as your natural fungicide. This can be especially effective when it comes to combating mold and mildew. If you choose this method, be sure to dilute the vinegar with water before applying it to any surfaces that might be damaged by the acidity of vinegar alone.
Another method of making natural fungicides at home involves using garlic as an ingredient in making a solution that kills fungi on your plants. You will need 1/2 cup of baking soda, 1/2 cup of vinegar, and 3 cloves of garlic (crushed). Mix these ingredients together until they form a paste-like consistency before applying them directly to affected areas on your plants or around them after watering them with water.
How Do You Make Fungicide With Dish Soap?
Making fungicides with dish soap is a simple process, but it does require a few steps. Here’s what you need to do:
First, mix together equal parts of dish soap and water in a spray bottle. This will be your fungicide.
Next, apply the fungicide to the affected area of your plant. You can use an eyedropper or spray bottle for this step, but whichever you choose will depend on how much of your plant is affected by the fungus.
If you’re using an eyedropper, fill it halfway with your fungicide solution and then squeeze out small amounts onto individual leaves as needed. If you’re using a spray bottle, spray evenly across all affected surfaces of your plant’s leaves until they’re soaked but not dripping wet.
How Is Baking Soda a Fungicide?
Baking soda is a fungicide because it’s a salt. When you mix baking soda with water, the resulting mixture is called an alkaline solution. This alkaline solution has the ability to kill fungus by attacking its cell wall. Baking soda also helps your plants absorb nutrients from the soil better than they would if you didn’t use it, which can help your garden grow healthier plants and flowers.
The Effectiveness of DIY Fungicide For Plants
The effectiveness of DIY Fungicides for Plants is highly dependent on the type of plant you are treating, your location, and the severity of the fungus. For example, if you live in a humid climate with lots of rain, then you may want to look into using diatomaceous earth as your primary treatment. If you live in an arid area with very little rainfall, then neem oil is a great option.
If your plants are suffering from mild symptoms such as yellowing leaves or spots on the leaves, then neem oil may be sufficient for treating them at home. However, if your plants are experiencing severe symptoms such as wilting or browning leaves, then you may need to use stronger fungicides like sulfur or copper sulfate.
List of Fungicides For Plants
Fungicides are common for the treatment of powdery mildew and leaf spots, which can ruin the appearance of your plant. Fungicides can also be used to prevent an infection from occurring in the first place.
Fungicides are used to treat fungal infections in plants. They can be applied to indoor plants or outdoors.
Here’s a list of some common fungicides used on plants:
NATRIA Neem Oil, Ready-to-Use, 1 Gallon
Price : $69.11
Features :
- Right Results: Help stop pests and diseases with Natria Neem Oil Plant Spray; As a multi-use insect repellent for plants, post bud, this fungicide spray can be applied at the first sign of insects or disease on outdoor plants and indoor houseplants.
- Easy-to-Use Neem Oil Pesticide: This neem oil for indoor plants and trees comes in a ready-to-use bottle for easy application; Our fungicide plant spray can be applied in the spring, early summer or fall, and it can be used up to the day of harvest.
- Organic Neem Oil: This multi-purpose plant spray can be used on a variety of indoor and outdoor plants; As a bug and disease spray, our neem oil for plants can be sprayed on plants bearing nuts, fruits, vegetables, or on delicate flowers like roses.
- Versatile Insect Killer Spray: Natria neem oil for indoor plants and ornamental shrubs is designed to kill insects fast; This quality plant bug killer works on aphids, spider mites, whiteflies, caterpillars, fruit flies, midges, beetles, and more.
- Help Control Plant Disease: This organic neem oil for plants can help control disease on plants; Our plant spray for disease care on plants, roses and flowers, helps control blackspot, botrytis, downy mildew, powdery mildew, scab, rust and more.
BioSafe ZeroTol HC Organic Disease Control Kills Mold and Mildew On Contact for All Plants, Fruits, Vegetables, Use Till Day of Harvest, One Gallon
Price : $55.99
Features :
- Kills mold spores before they turn into pathogens.
- Contains no copper or harsh chemicals.
- Leaves no harmful residue.
- Kills diseases on contact.
- Biodegradable and Sustainable.
In Conclusion,
Fungal diseases that attack plants include mildews and black spots on roses, powdery mildew on vegetables, brown rot on cherries, blights on tomatoes and potatoes, and several other fungi. Traditional fungicides contain harsh chemicals that are harmful to humans and the environment. You can make your own natural fungicide using different household ingredients.