How to get rid of powdery mildew on phlox

If powdery mildew appears on phlox, how to get rid of this problem becomes a pressing question for all gardeners. But this is where problems arise, as many have never encountered this problem. Powdery mildew occurs when microscopic fungi thrive on a particular plant due to favorable conditions created for their growth.

Main features

This disease is exactly on phloxes Active development begins around mid-July. If left untreated, the fungi will progress and spread. They especially prefer humid weather with abundant rainfall. To spot the damage, take a close look at your flowers.

Powdery mildew on phlox is easy to spot, which is the first step in getting rid of it. If a white coating appears on the flower stems and lower leaves, this is a sure sign of a harmful fungus. Initially, only white spots appear, but later the mycelium clumps together, forming large spots, and the fungal spores infect young shoots, neighboring plants, and flowers.

Important! Another telltale sign is the appearance of burn-like spots on the stems and leaves. If left untreated, phlox affected by powdery mildew will first lose their decorative appeal, gradually wilt, and eventually simply dry out.

What preventative measures against powdery mildew on phlox are essential?

1. Be sure to use a complete fertilizer for fertilizing the flowers. Additionally, periodically sprinkle the soil around the phlox with wood ash.
2. The complex fertilizers listed in the first step are applied to the roots. However, it is also recommended to spray the plant with compounds containing multiple microelements.
3. Fallen leaves, dried flowers, and plant debris must be promptly removed and not allowed to lie on the ground for long. It's best to burn such debris immediately.
4. As a preventative measure, amateur gardeners recommend digging up the soil every year and adding copper-containing preparations to it.
5. Starting in mid-summer, you should stop using nitrogen fertilizers on phlox. If the flowers overgrow, they will become more susceptible to powdery mildew.
6. When powdery mildew appears on phlox, it is essential to stop using phosphorus fertilizers and replace them with potassium fertilizers.

Specific methods of struggle

Chemicals

Fungicides are excellent for the effective control of powdery mildew on flowers, including: on phloxesYou can safely buy products such as "Skor," "Topaz," as well as "Baleton," and "Thiovil." Chemicals such as "Topsin" and "Fundazol" are also excellent. The active ingredients in these products combat fungal diseases of flowers. It's important to carefully read the instructions for preparing and using the product you choose.

To prevent powdery mildew from forming, in the middle of the first month of summer, you can carry out preventative spraying with the preparations mentioned above, but prepare a non-concentrated solution based on them.

Folk methods

As always, alongside chemical methods for protecting plants and flowers from diseases and pests, folk remedies stand apart. Let's look at options that have proven themselves among gardeners.

First, make a wood ash solution. Add 150 grams of ash to a liter of boiling water and let the infusion steep for two days. Then strain and add four grams of coarsely grated laundry soap. Stir well and repeat the process twice.

Another good spray solution is prepared by dissolving four grams of washing soda in a liter of water. Add four grams of coarsely grated laundry soap to the solution. Mix everything together and spray the plantings with this solution twice, a week apart.

Interesting! Sour milk or kefir is excellent for treating phlox against powdery mildew. Separate the whey from the product and dilute it with water at a ratio of one part to ten, then use it as a spray.

Alternatively, you can spray with water that has been allowed to ferment. This is a folk remedy where even weeds can be beneficial. Weed the garden, then remove all the soft grass. Chop the grass, place it in a bucket, and fill it to the very top with boiled water. Stir and let it sit for three days. Then strain and use the prepared solution for spraying or manually treating phlox.

Another spray can be made using fresh mullein. Fill a bucket one-third full with mullein, then add water and let it sit for three days. Stir the infusion periodically, and strain after three days. Then dilute it with regular water at a ratio of one part to ten and use it to spray flowers.

Advice! Any powdery mildew control solution will be most effective if applied in calm weather, in the afternoon (closer to sunset, to prevent the sun's rays from scorching the weakened plant). All folk remedies have a short shelf life; a fresh infusion must be prepared for repeat treatment.

These are the main ways to get rid of powdery mildew on phlox. We hope you'll be able to avoid this disease using preventative measures, and if the fungus has already begun to actively grow, using chemicals and folk remedies will help combat the problem. It's important to be vigilant and carefully inspect your flowers several times a season for disease and pest infestations.