Neem Oil for fungi is a great treatment for this organism and has been around for quite some time. The gardening community is very big on using natural oils as insecticides and pesticides and neem oil is one of the biggest hits.
Fungus is a huge problem in plants and sometimes it can be tough to get rid of it as it can spread very fast and very deeply in no time. Thankfully, neem oil is a great warrior against fungus and other plant diseases, and in this article, we bring you a simple and effective recipe for the oil solution that will help you get rid of the fungus and prevent further infections.
Contents
How To Use Neem Oil for Fungus on Plants?
You can use the neem oil for fungal infections on plants by making a solution and then spraying it all over the plant. This will take a few coats until the whole fungal infection is gotten rid of so reapply in equal intervals and also, generously.
Plants grow fungal infections because of infected soil, seed, bad crop debris, and nearby plants that are already infected with fungus. The fungi reproduce mainly through spores which when formed can travel easily with the wind and land on any nearby plants and consequently cause infection.
1. Select the Correct Moment
The best time to use neem oil for fungal infections on your plants is in the daylight when the sun is shining bright. The sun will help your neem oil to stick to the plant as it will be dry from the heat and parched, so you want it to work properly, which is why it is best that you use this naturally occurring oil from the neem tree and works great for getting rid of fungal infections because of its bitter taste and high insecticidal power.
You will also need to make sure that the weather is all right for your neem oil application, so that the product will work in an effective way. The cold and wet weather makes the use of neem oil redundant so make sure that the weather is most appropriate.
Keeping in mind that you would also need to check that the soil is dry and there is no imminent forecast of rain. These are small things that make a big difference when dealing with general plant health and gardening.
This is why it is very significant to conceal the fungus-infected plants so their spores do not fly about everywhere in the air. The infection caused will be visible instantly because the leaves and the fruits, if there are any, are the first to be affected and spotted.
2. Prepare the Neem Oil Solution
The second step in the process is to make the neem oil solution for your plants. This is a very easy recipient and does not require more than three simple ingredients out of which two can be found in your kitchen right this moment.
You should start by taking a container in which you will be mixing your solution and make sure that it is safe to use in your garden. Add in one gallon of water, two to three tablespoons of neem oil, and a normal dishwashing liquid of a few drops.
Give this solution a good mix and pour it into a spray bottle for further use, as the soap will help the oil to emulsify. This solution will stay well for a long time as it has a good shelf life so you can prepare it beforehand and use it when needed.
Now, you may check and see how the solution will look kind of translucent in color or maybe even has a different color depending on your choice of dishwashing liquid. Use a spray bottle with a medium-sized nozzle, so the spray comes out nice and easy.
Before you go on to the next step where you will be spraying the plants with the solution, we highly recommend you wear protective gear in order to keep yourself safe. Most times the fungal infections of the plant can cause allergic reactions in humans when they come in contact, or the spores can stick to our clothes without us even noticing it.
This is where the protection gear comes in very handy which may include goggles for your eyes, a face mask, and a set of overalls for your body. Make sure to wear grading gloves for your hands as well.
3. Inspect the Plant Thoroughly
When you have fungi, and you should inspect the plant well, first, and then aim to spray this oil because it works great against the following types of fungi: black spot, powdery mildew, sooty, rust, mold scab, leaf spot, anthracnose. You can spray any plants with the above-mentioned fungi with neem oil spray, and the fungi will be treated.
You should also try to inspect or examine the state of the plant thoroughly, because if fungi have grown over a long period of time, other organisms may have grown too, and this solution can still be used. Neem oil can be used for many different algal species, insects, and infestations on plants and trees.
You can check and see how it works best when used in the most appropriate way and at the most optimum time of the day and weather. You can use a store-bought neem oil spray or you can make one at home. The store-bought spray might be a little expensive compared to the one you make at home.
4. Spray the Neem Oil Foliar Solution
The third step in the process is spraying the neem oil foliar spray onto the plants while wearing your protective clothing and gear. You should start by spraying the neem oil from the top of the plant and move your way down to the roots.
The fungal growth will spread across the plant so it is important that you cover all of it. It is very significant that the spray sticks on the plant, this is why you should make sure that the plant and the soil are dry, when you are using is again on the leaves or targeting other places where fungi have grown.
If your fungal infection is much more invasive than you had imagined, you can double the dose of neem oil for the plants. Start by spraying in the mornings and in the evenings for a few consecutive days until you see an improvement.
Meanwhile, if any of your plants are still untouched by the fungal infection, cover them with plastic wrap so that they remain untouched. If the disease is very new, and you have caught it in its early stages, you should hurry and spray them with neem oil to curb the infection.
It may take you a couple of weeks to completely eliminate the fungal infection from your plants using neem oil because it depends on how well the fungus has spread to your plants and how well the weather is. After your initial coat, you will need to plan a schedule for when you need to reapply the next batch of spray to the plants.
The neem oil simply does not kill fungi when it comes in contact. It works by going inside of them and killing them, so you will need to give a good amount of time for the neem oil to work its magic against fungal infections.
5. Preventing Fungal Infections
The last step in the process is preventing the fungal infections from ever returning and keeping the plant healthy and prosperous. For this, we will deploy some preventative measures to help you.
The first preventative method is to use a protective net over your plants that will keep the plants safe from any stray spores and eggs. The net will be handy as it allows the water and the sunlight to pass through it and block the flying insects and other species from invading your plants.
You should also note that it is significant hat you apply a generous layer of neem oil solution to the plants. Even though we have discussed the use of neem oil against fungal and other infections but it also works great as a preventative solution before the invasion or infection caused by any specie. Start from the top and make your way to the roots, making sure that all the hidden crevices are fully covered.
So even though the oil will kill the harmful organisms that destroy your plants, it will spare all the good insects that cause pollination and make your plant healthy. In addition to this, you should also keep in mind that you may try to spray some rosemary oil as s finishing touch, as they are used in the same way as neem oil does but is a lot more pleasant to deal with in terms of fragrance. You can find rosemary oil in gardening stores or online.
To make the rosemary oil solution spray, you will need a gallon of water and a few tablespoons each of rosemary oil and liquid dish soap. Mix this all in a container and keep it in a spray bottle for imminent use. The solution can be held on the shelf for a good amount of time and works exactly like neem oil does.
Conclusion
In this article, we talked about how you can use the neem oil solution on your fungus-infected plants but in case you missed anything, we have gathered some of the most important points for you:
- You can use the neem oil for fungal infections on plants by making a solution and then spraying it all over the plant.
- Neem oil is a naturally occurring oil of the neem tree and is a natural pesticide against numerous invading insects.
- It goes very well with the beneficial insects and does not harm them, being used in the majority of the plants in your garden and collectively can prevent many algal, fungal, and bacterial infections and infestations.
- Its slippery nature makes the fungus growth lose its grip on the plant and also the oil destroys them from the inside.
- The oil must be sprayed at equal intervals for a few weeks so that the fungal infection is completely removed.
Here we come to the end of the article about using neem oil for fungal infections in your plants. All in all, this oil works great for fungal infections and the best thing about them is that they are nontoxic to some of the beneficial insects.
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