How Do I Get Rid of the Mildew on My Plants?

5/17/2021 (Permalink)

Whether flowering or fruit-bearing, bushy or prickly, plants can clear the air and generally bring personality to our homes. However, when plant mildew takes hold, you may worry your plant’s days may be numbered. Fortunately, getting mildew doesn’t mean the end of your plant. With a bit of effort and some things you can likely find around your Germantown, Tennessee, and Collierville, Tennessee, home, you can rid your plants of mildew.

About Powdery Mildew

One of the most common fungi to show up on plants is called powdery mildew. It can look a bit like a fine powder you can dust off. But it comes back again and again, coating leaves and giving your plant a dull look. Powdery mildew often:

• It looks like white or gray spots
• Prefers warm, dry environments
• It shows up when plant foliage is dry

While mildew growth won’t immediately kill your plant, it’s a good idea to clear it before it gets out of hand and becomes a real threat.

Cleaning Powdery Mildew

Common grocery store items are your first weapon against plant mildew. Baking soda mixed with liquid soap and water sprayed on plants can neutralize mildew and be a preventative for new mildew formation, while spraying plain mouthwash on leaves can kill mildew spores. Milk offers a surprising antiseptic effect on powdery mildew. Mix one part to three parts of water and rub on leaves to relieve your plants from fungal effects. Watering your plants is another easy solution for powdery mildew, erasing the dry environment the fungus loves.

Plant mildew is an unsightly menace that, if left alone, can eventually leach nutrients from your plants and cause them to wither. Look for tools to eradicate the mold or contact a mold specialist. To learn about fungicides and other options to keep your plants beautiful, contact SERVPRO of Germantown / Collierville at (901) 755-3705.