Mildew, Powdery

Fungal disease causing a white or gray, powdery, growth on the lower leaf surface and flowers buds of zinnias, crape myrtles, many vegetables, phlox, lilac, melons, cucumbers and many other plants. It is common during cool, humid, cloudy days. Leaves turn yellow on the top. Controls include baking soda spray, potassium bicarbonate, neem, garlic, and horticultural oil. Garrett Juice plus garlic tea is best for long-term results. Treat soil with horticultural cornmeal and use the entire Sick Tree Treatment for serious problems. This disease can cause long-term weakness when it occurs early in the growing season. This common fungal disease is increased by humidity but actually deterred by water. 

Crape Myrtle Powdery Mildew

Powdery mildew attacks crepe myrtles and other plants especially during humid weather. The control is to apply horticultural cornmeal to the root zone at 2 lbs. per 100 sq ft and spray the foliage with Garrett Juice plus either potassium bicarbonate or cornmeal juice. Cornmeal juice is made by soaking a cup of cornmeal in 5 gallons of water. Put the cornmeal in a nylon bag made from old panty hose or whatever to keep the larger particles from getting in the water. This cornmeal juice can be used alone or mixed with compost tea or Garrett Juice.  PureGro works even better.

Potassium bicarbonate Fungicide

Mix 4 teaspoons (about 1 rounded tablespoon) of potassium bicarbonate into one gallon of water. Spray lightly on foliage of plants afflicted with black spot, powdery mildew, brown patch and other fungal diseases.  Potassium bicarbonate is a good substitute for baking soda. There are commercial EPA registered as well as generic products available.

Baking Soda Fungicide

Mix 4 teaspoons (about 1 rounded tablespoon) of baking soda and 1 tablespoon of horticultural oil into one gallon of water. Spray lightly on foliage of plants afflicted with black spot, powdery mildew, brown patch and other fungal diseases. Avoid over-using or pouring on the soil. Potassium bicarbonate is a good substitute for baking soda. Citrus oil and molasses can be used instead of horticultural oil.


QUESTION: I have always battled powdery mildew in my garden. This year, we have gone organic and have had no problems except with powdery mildew. I put horticultural cornmeal on the ground and spray Garrett Juice once a week. I have even tried baking soda spray a few times, but nothing seems to work. The mildew is spreading like crazy, and my pumpkins, zucchini and yellow squash are dropping fruit or rotting. Please tell me what else to do. M.M., Stephenville

ANSWER: Soak some cornmeal in water and spray the plants with cornmeal juice. Put a cup of horticultural cornmeal or whole ground cornmeal in 5 gallons of water. Let the solution soak for at least an hour, then strain the solids out with cheesecloth or pantyhose. Spray the plants thoroughly.


QUESTION: We have five large crape myrtles that are about 10 years old. Four have purple flowers, and the largest has white flowers. We recently noticed that where the white tree has been trimmed over the years there are small, egglike, white Styrofoam-looking capsules on the bark. When we mash these white capsules, they turn purple. We’ve also noticed small ants on the tree.  M.N., Dallas

ANSWER: The ants aren’t a problem. The capsules are scale insects, which can be killed by spraying a solution made with 2 ounces of orange oil and 2 ounce of Garrett Juice per gallon of water. PureGro works even better.


QUESTION: How can I "doctor" my crape myrtles the natural way? They have a powdery white substance on the leaves.  B.C., Waco

ANSWER: My Sick Tree Treatment is the solution, but a couple of additions are necessary. Some crape myrtle varieties and cultivars have more resistance to powdery mildew and other diseases, but all will benefit from aerating the root zone and applying these amendments: compost, lava sand, Texas greensand, dry molasses, horticultural cornmeal and cedar mulch. A thin layer of shredded cedar is all the mulch that's needed. Never pile mulch onto the trunks of trees.

Also, make sure the trees in question are not planted too deeply before adding amendments. If they are too deep (root flare and root ball top are covered with soil), hire a certified arborist to use an air spade to remove the excess soil.

The last part of the Sick Tree Treatment is to spray the foliage, trunk and ground plane with compost tea or Garrett Juice.



 

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