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.
The use of baking soda as a fungicide is not new and has long been utilized by gardeners to protect their plants. Scientifically known as Sodium Bicarbonate, it has been an effective and safe fungicide for the treatment of various fungal diseases such as powdery mildew.
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.
Milk was found to be effective at controlling fungus and also acted as a foliar fertilizer, boosting the plant's immune system. We have saved thousands this year by just spraying our crops with milk instead of using synthetic chemicals and fungicides.
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.
Antifungals are medicines that kill or stop the growth of fungi (the plural of fungus) that cause infections. They are also called antimycotic agents.
Thyme essential oil (Thymus vulgaris) is already known to be effective against fungi infecting humans.
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.
Sodium bicarbonate as a fungicide works by disrupting the ion balance in the fungal cells, which causes them to collapse.
In a study that examined the effectiveness of echinacea, goldenseal, and myrrh against Candida, researchers found that “echinacea demonstrated the greatest antifungal activity.”
The second remedy is a baking soda and vinegar soak. Baking soda can prevent fungus from growing and spreading. Vinegar is a weak acid and will help to kill off the fungus without altering the Ph level.
Baking soda is pure sodium bicarbonate, a fine white powder that has many uses. You may wonder about bicarbonate of soda vs. baking soda, but they are simply alternate terms for the same ingredient. If your recipe calls for bicarbonate of soda, it is simply referring to baking soda.
Tea tree oil (TTO) is the essential oil obtained by steam distillation from Melaleuca alternifolia and it is used medicinally as a topical antiseptic. It has a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity against a wide range of bacteria, viruses, and fungi, including yeasts and dermatophytes.
Tea tree and lavender. Lavender will help fight the infection and prevent skin irritation, as it has antiseptic properties. You can make your own anti-fungal oil by mixing equal amounts of tea tree oil, lavender oil, and olive oil.
Vinegar is inexpensive, accessible, and effective in killing microbes, including bacteria and fungus. It can also be used as a safer alternative to bleach for some applications, such as cleaning.
Fungi are more challenging than bacteria to treat without damaging the host because eukaryotic animal cells and fungal cells share many of the same basic cell structures and machinery. This can lead to off-target drug effects that may manifest as serious side effects in patients.
Milk can be used to clean leaves as well as deter some common issues such as powdery mildew or aphids. Soil milk dilution sprays can be used on the leaves as a method of foliar feeding, which means allowing nutrients to be sprayed on and absorbed by the leaves.
Reapply the milk treatment every 10 to 14 days. With regular treatment, unaffected plants should remain free of powdery mildew and affected plants should improve. It's advised to continue spraying until conditions are no longer warm and humid, even if you don't see any more powdery mildew.
Fungal diseases can look ugly, but don't worry – they are not fatal to your plants and won't do too much damage. Plus, most fungus issues can even be prevented! If you do encounter fungus on your plants, just remember it can be treated and your plants will more than likely recover beautifully.