How To Treat Fungus on Plants: 9 Solutions for Your Garden

Common methods on how to treat fungus on plants in this guide include using homemade fungicides as well as store-bought to help save your plants from dying from these common diseases.

Fungal diseases thrive on healthy plants, eating them up quickly to the point of killing them. Different types of fungi show different signs, like moldy coatings, wilting, scabs, rotted plant tissues, or scars. In this article, you will learn how to treat plant fungus effectively.

How To Treat Fungus on Plants Using Simple Solutions?

To treat fungus using simple solutions, you could use homemade – or organic – remedies or make use of commercial fungicides. Homemade remedies included using baking soda, milk spray, and chamomile tea, among others. Commercial fungicides include bonide copper and other chemicals.

Although using commercial fungicides is highly effective, it is preferable to use homemade fungicides. Firstly, they are much cheaper. Secondly, they are also better for the environment, – and we must all contribute to conservation. Finally, they are also much safer, and there is less risk to you and the plant.

1. Use Baking Soda

Baking is an effective solution that most gardeners have approved as adequate to treat powdery mildew caused by fungus. To prepare, mix one-teaspoon baking in a quart of water to make a plant fungus spray.

Spray the infected leaves thoroughly, as the solution only kills the fungus it comes into contact with. Ensure the entire plant is fully coated with this solution. The positive thing about this solution is that it does not harm plants, so they will remain healthy even if you possibly spray more than necessary.

2. Use Milk Spray

Milk spray is another effective homemade remedy that cures fungal plant diseases. Milk coats the leaves so that the spores can’t implant themselves on the leaf.

Simply dilute whole or skim milk with water in a ratio of 1:10 and shake well. Spray on the leaves at the first sign of infection until the leaves drip. You can also spray this solution as a preventative measure if you are in a fungus-prone area.

Discard any remains instead of keeping them for next time. Try using this mixture on cucumbers, bee balm, garden phlox, and other vine crops. It is also safe to use on fuzzy leaves.

3. Using Chamomile Tea

You may have noticed that most seedlings die from damping off. Damping off means the top of the seedlings falls over because the stem is rotted. Chamomile tea is not just good for you but also great for your plants as it fights off the fungus that causes damping off.

Prepare a good amount of chamomile tea using one tea bag mixed with one-quart water. Soak the chamomile tea bag, leaving it for about 20 minutes to steep entirely. Mist this solution over young plants and seedlings, or use it to water the soil before you plant your seedlings.

4. Use Corn Meal

Black spots caused by fungi can be treated using corn meal. It not only heals but promotes good fungus that fights harmful fungi. Corn meal also gives plants even more extra nutrients making it fit for use on your plants.

Prepare half a cup of cornmeal per plant and bark mulch separately. Sprinkle the mixture around every plant and cover it with bark mulch. It will deal with all the fungi in the soil, leaving your plants free to thrive.

5. Use Cinnamon

Orchid growers swear by ground cinnamon to fight fungal leaf spots. They also use it to stop damping off of the seedlings once planted. Scoop some ground cinnamon with your finger and apply gently over the affected area that shows the spots.

Do not use too much cinnamon, as it can burn the leaves. Lightly sprinkle cinnamon over the soil’s surface where you plant the seedling, or where it will germinate when starting seeds, to prevent damping off.

6. Use Baking Soda Mixed with Soap

Black spot is a common fungal disease if you are growing roses. A mixture of baking soda and soap will keep this condition under check. Mix a quart of water with one teaspoon of baking and a half teaspoon of mild liquid soap. The soap is added to help the baking soda “stick” to the plant surface.

Shake this mixture thoroughly and put it in a spray bottle. Apply to the tops and undersides of the leaves using it only on cloudy days or evenings, as it can burn the foliage during the hot season. Spray it before you see any symptoms or notice a few blotches on the leaves. It will keep the spots from getting worse.

7. Use Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider is known to kill fungi on plants naturally. Mix a tablespoon of vinegar with a gallon of water, shaking it well. Put it into a spray bottle and spray the leaves thoroughly. This vinegar mixture is one of the best fungal treatments on any plant, as it causes no harm.

8. Use Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide effectively kills the fungus in only one application. Apply it directly on the affected area or the soil surface to eliminate fungus immediately.

9. Use Commercial Fungicides

Many fungicides are highly effective, have low toxicity, no residue, and stay on long once sprayed. These include Triademifon, bonide copper fungicide, daconil fungicide, ag dithane m-45 fungicide, etc. These can be sprayed at least once every 10 days, two to three times throughout the growing season. Be sure to check with your local nursery for approved fungicides.

Frequently Asked Questions

– How To Know Whether Your Plants Have a Fungal Infection?

To know whether your plants have a fungal infection you have to inspect the leaves. There will most commonly be either black spots (aptly called “black spot”) or a white powder coating the stems, leaves and flowers (called “powdery mildew”). If left untreated your plant could die altogether.

– Which Plants Are Commonly Affected by Fungal Infections?

Plants that are commonly affected by fungal infections include beans, peas, tomatoes, eggplants, potatoes, lettuce, peppers, melons, cucumbers, pumpkins, squash and zucchini. As you can see, a wide range of plants can be affected. Many species come under fungal attack right from planting.

Fungus also affects ornamental plants like hibiscus, lilacs, dahlias, zinnias, roses, peonies and succulents. If you grow any of these plants, keep your treatment solution as needed or apply it early as a preventive measure.

– Can Your Plant Recover From a Fungal Infection?

Yes, your plant can recover from a fungal infection. Even though fungal diseases look dramatic there are many effective ways to combat them. Most fungal diseases can be prevented and treated if you catch them early. You can even take preventive measures by applying anti-fungals as you plant your seedlings.

Conclusion

You now have a complete guide on how to treat fungus in plants. You will notice that most plants get the fungus problem in mid-to late-summer. Here are some crucial points to remember as you treat your plants:

• You have many available options for you to choose from to treat fungal infections.
• You can use homemade remedies such as apple cider vinegar and baking soda mixed with soap, cinnamon and milk spray.
• There are also commercial remedies available such as Triademifon, bonide copper fungicide, daconil fungicide, ag dithane m-45 fungicide, etc.
• It is better to first use organic remedies before resorting to harsh chemicals.
• Signs of fungal infection are black spots or a white powdery coating as well as wilting of leaves and rotting of roots.

With this guide, you can now tell when your plants are affected by fungus and treat them at the first sign of trouble!