Copper Fungicide: The Ultimate and Effective Guide

Copper fungicide is one of the best options that you should consider when dealing with fungal infections on your plants. However, you should be very careful not to overuse this fungicide as it can kill your beloved plants.

Reading safety information  is one of the most important ways of keeping both the plant and yourself from being harmed by this fungicide. If this is the type of fungal disease control measure you are looking for, go through this article

How to Use Copper Fungicide? The Precise Steps

You should use copper fungicides safely and correctly to avoid damaging yourself and the plants. The first step is to know the situations that warrant copper fungicide applications. Choose the correct type of copper fungicide, wear protective gear, prune the plant, and spray it properly on the foliage.

1. Know When to Use Copper Fungicide

The first thing that you should keep in mind is that copper fungicide does not cure or eliminate a fungal disease that is already existing on a plant. It is only effective in protecting plants from being attacked by new infections. We, therefore, advise you to apply copper fungicide on your plants immediately after you notice the first signs of a fungal infection.

Copper fungicide discourages fungal population growth and reproduction, thereby giving you ample time to look for other measures to eliminate the existing infection. If the fungal disease is on vegetable plants or fruit trees, you should continue spraying them every week or 10 days until they are ready for harvest. The best time to use a copper fungicide spray is when you can have a minimum of 12 dry weather hours after application.

Remember, fungi manifests in conditions that are either too dry or too wet so moderately warm weather offers the best conditions to deal with these microorganisms.

2. Choose the Copper Fungicide You Need to Use

If you wish to use Bonide Liquid Copper fungicide to eradicate diseases that include powdery mildew, leaf curl, rust, black spot, anthracnose, bacterial leaf spot, and fire blight you should be very careful. You should use this type of fungicide on roses, turf, vegetables, and fruits. It can also be used on the plants until the harvesting day.

3. Wear Protective Clothing

When copper fungicides get in contact with your skin, they may cause contact dermatitis. To avoid this, you should wear gloves, long-sleeved shirts, long pants, socks, and shoes. You should also wear a face shield, goggles, or safety glasses to protect your eyes. Also, be very careful to not breathe this fungicide into your lungs.

Additionally, you should not drink, eat, or smoke while using copper fungicides. Carefully read the safety data sheet on the container so that you know how to handle the product.

4. Mix the Copper Fungicide With Water

The “bonide” fungicide is available in pint size (16 oz). You should mix a gallon of water with 0.5 to 2.0 oz of liquid copper. Keep in mind that too much dilution weakens the strength of the copper fungicide. Also, if you add too much of the copper fungicide to a gallon of water, some side effects may result.

Get a suitable spraying can and pour in the mixture. You should follow any other copper fungicide instructions given on the packaging label of this. When copper sulfate and water are mixed, it becomes highly soluble and binds to sediments. The pH of the water declines and the copper fungicides’ solubility rises leading to the release of more copper ions.

In a highly acidic solution, that is a pH above 6.5, too many copper ions are released, thereby burning the plant tissues. Although plants can regulate copper as it is one of the essential minerals, too much of it is toxic as it discourages photosynthesis.

5. Ensure Proper Ventilation

Before spraying your plants, make sure proper ventilation is put in place. If the plants are grown indoors, you should consider temporarily moving them outdoors and bringing them back after the spray dries up. If the plants are grown directly on the ground, just ensure that there is enough airflow around them. If you spray a copper fungicide on your plants in an enclosed space, drying up takes longer, and this prompts rot, especially on those plants that hate too much moisture.

In poor ventilation or low air circulation cases, if the plant has new leaves, they are the first to be damaged. If the outdoor weather is constantly wet, consider another fungi-fighting method other than copper fungicides. Poor ventilation can also cause you to inhale this fungicide which may harm your health.

6. Prune the Plant

Get sharp pruning shears or a knife and dip your preferable tool in rubbing alcohol to eliminate chances of fungal transmission to the plant. Neatly remove any infected parts of the plant and properly dispose of them. Rough incisions take a long time to heal, which makes the plant even more vulnerable to fungal attacks. Let the plant dry up completely while still indoors before moving them outdoors for spraying.

7. Spray the Plant

Spray the entire foliage of the plant thoroughly, making sure it is well soaked up. Copper fungicides work best when they are applied to the plants before the disease becomes visible. Repeat this process once every 7 to 10 days so that you give no chance for fungal manifestation. We recommend that you time these applications in such a way that at least 12 hours of warm weather follow.

If you notice a slight infection on the foliage of your plants, you should also target the affected areas. This stops the infection from growing and discourages the reproduction of fungi. However, you will have to use other suitable fungi-eliminating chemicals to completely do away with the infection.

It is good to note that you can still spray edible plants and fruits, for instance, tomatoes up to the time of harvest. However, we recommend that you wash them with running water before consuming them.

8. Move the Plants Back Indoors

If the targeted plant was being grown indoors, you should move it back to its place after drying up. It should take at least one week for the plant to be ready for another copper fungicide dose. In the case of plants that are in the flowering and fruiting stage, you should be extra careful not to disturb them. Finally, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and running water after handling the plant.

9. Clean Up and Storage

After use, clean your sprayer or container thoroughly with water to remove any residue. Dispose of any excess solution or empty containers according to local regulations. Store the copper fungicide in its original container, tightly sealed, and away from children, pets, and food items.

Frequently Asked Questions

– Are Copper Fungicides Safe to Use on All Plants?

Yes, copper fungicides are safe to use on all plants. If the directions are correctly followed, any copper fungicide will be safe. However, there are some cases that you should be watchful about, for example, in wet weather, the prolonged moisture presence on the foliage can be harmful.

Kindly note that, when copper residues get wet, they release ions in small quantities. These ions penetrate the plant cells, and a regular series of this process hurts the plant. Also, you should not use copper fungicides on plants whose leaf edges have thin and underdeveloped cuticles. A cuticle is the leaf’s waxy outermost protective layer.

– When Should You Refrain From Using Copper Fungicide?

You should refrain from using a copper fungicide as a cure. If your plant is affected by blight, especially in its late stage, copper fungicide is not an option. Also, if you notice spots or marks of the plants’ foliage, you should rather opt for pruning the affected areas.

A copper fungicide only stops the further spread of the disease on the respective plant. A copper fungicide is also not ideal for use when the weather is continuously wet. Wait for the weather to warm up or move the plants to a dry place if they are potted.

– How Long Does it Take for a Copper Fungicide to Work?

It takes copper fungicide around 12 hours to dry on plants. It will start working once it is dry. It is therefore better to use copper fungicides during full sun conditions for a quick response. When a copper fungicide is applied on damp areas it takes much longer to work.

– Can You Use Bonide Copper Fungicide in Stopping Fungus in the Soil?

No, you should not apply copper fungicide to the soil directly. Rather apply it to the foliage of an infected plant. Keep in mind that as water pH drops, copper fungicides’ solubility rises resulting in more copper ions being released.

If the water has pH below 6.0 to 7.0, excessive copper ion amounts are produced which causes damage to the roots, leaves, flowers, and fruits. If you wish to deal with both foliar and soil-borne fungal diseases, you should consider using the Nova Green Companion Biological Fungicide.

Conclusion

Copper fungicides are very effective, easy to use, and have great customer reviews based on how they work in preventing different fungal diseases. Below is a recap of the most decorated highlights of this article.

• You should consider using copper fungicide as the first defense line to control fungal diseases like septoria leaf spot, powdery mildew, anthracnose black spot, downy mildew, and fire blight.
• Before spraying your plants, make sure proper ventilation is in place.
• Despite the type of plant, if the directions are correctly followed, any copper fungicide will be safe.

Having learned a lot about the uses, types, and manner to use a copper fungicide, you should not watch your plants get infected and succumb to fungi. Do not always wait to look for a cure, take up a suitable copper fungicide and protect your lovely plants before they are attacked, instead!