Are you noticing some white molds on the leaves of your plants? No, it is not any kind of powder or flour. It is caused because of fungus spores and is also called as powdery mildew and it is very necessary to get rid of it because they spread fast and damage the growth of the plants.
Get Rid of Them Right Away!
If you are avoiding and delaying getting rid of them then you should know that they not only spread on the leaves of the plant, but they spread all over the stems, soil, and other parts of the plant. You can get to see these white molds in the indoor as well as outdoor plants, but you do not need to worry about the plant dying because of it. It only damages the growth of the plant and does not kill the plant.
What is a White Mold?
A fungal disease that affects various houseplants or outdoor plants that is contagious enough to cover your plant totally including fruits and flowers. If you leave your plants without treating them, they can spread all over your other plants harming damage to their growth. Some of these powdery mildews are not harmful but when left untreated for a longer time can damage the growth of plants.
What Causes the White Mold On Plants?
The prime cause of the white mold is the humid climate in some regions that some plants cannot bear. High humid climate conditions without proper airflow restricts the plants to grow in an organic way and it is the prime reason you have been seeing the powdery substance all over your plans.
Plants also need sufficient space to grow and adjusting all the plants together will not allow them to breathe and intake proper circulation of air. Over-watering your plants can also lead to white molds and lack of sunlight to the plants will cause powdery mildew.
5 Ways to Get Rid of White Mold on Plants
Getting rid of these unwanted guests out of your plants is easy and quick as you just need to search for some of the ingredients at your home and mix them together to make a DIY spray for the white mold on plants. Let us investigate all the ingredients and methods you would require in the process of treating them.
Baking Soda to Treat the Molds
One of the most used ingredients that is used as a homemade remedy for almost everything. Your sink is covered with something? Baking soda is for the rescue. You wish to bake a delicious cake? Baking soda would help.
So, there are so many things that baking soda helps us with and today it will help us get rid of the white molds on the plants, so your plants have the healthiest growth.
Let us create a Baking soda Spray for the white molds on plants.
- Take one tablespoon of baking soda in a bowl with ½ gallon of water.
- Add ½ teaspoon of a liquid soap, a dishwasher or any other liquid in the mixture and mix it well.
- Grab an empty spray bottle and fill it with the mixture you created.
- Spray the mixture on the affected parts of the plants wherever you find the white molds.
- Leave the plant and let it dry.
- Repeat the process until the white mold is totally gone.
If you still do not see an effective result after applying this mixture, then you can try mixing potassium bicarbonate into the previous mixture for better results.
While you try mixing all these mixtures make sure you are aware that applying the mixture may affect the growth of your plants. So, avoid applying it on the roots and soil of the plant and if the white mold is on that area, you may need to change the soil occasionally.
Baking Soda for Prevention
The mixture of the baking soda can be used to prevent the mold to make a place on your plants. Some plants that cannot stay in a humid climate, this spray can be beneficial to prevent them from white molds.
If you’ve houseplants, there’s higher chances of them inviting these white molds during summers so make sure you spray this mixture every 3 weeks to keep them away from your houseplants.
Neem Oil Against White Mold on Plants
Neem oil has been a natural remedy to kill all the pests and unwanted bugs, but it is also very effective in getting rid of the white mold on the plants. Wiping-off the powdery mildew is now an easy task for every plant owner, and it would additionally help you get rid of pests on the plants.
It is an antifungal spray that has proven effects of treating the white molds effectively when you use the mixture in the right way.
Let us create the Neem Oil Mixture
- Take a bowl and add 2 teaspoons of organic neem oil.
- Add ½ gallon of water in the mixture.
- Next step is to add dishwashing soap to the mixture and mix it well.
- Grab a spray bottle and pour all the mixture to the bottle and shake well.
- Spray the mixture on the affected area of the plant.
- Let it dry and repeat the procedure to see the desired
You can use this mixture on the soil and every part of the plant as this mixture would not harm the growth of your plant and will also prevent it from any white molds. You can also prevent and use this mixture to eliminate pests or insects on your plant.
Apple Cider Vinegar for the Win
A treatment that will help you get rid of the molds by eliminating them totally while restricting their further growth. It is one of those items that can be easily found in every household and can be very effective in getting rid of the white molds on plants.
There are several studies that have proved apple cider an effective solution to the white powdery substance found on the plants. It is an antifungal solution to this problem that can help us get rid of all the white molds on your indoor as well as outdoor plants.
Let us Create the Apple cider vinegar mixture.
- Take a bowl or a container and add one and half tablespoon of apple cider vinegar.
- Add ½ gallon of water into the mixture.
- Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and shake it well.
- Spray the mixture in all the affected areas to get the desired results.
You can also use white vinegar if you do not have the apple cider at home as white vinegar is also as effective as the apple cider vinegar. You can add the white vinegar by following the same steps and just spray the mixture on the plants.
The white vinegar is stronger than the apple cider, so it is better if you do a patch test by applying the mixture on one leaf. If you do not see the leaves react negatively to the mixture, then you can spray all over the affected area of the plant.
Cow’s Milk to Eliminate White Mold on Plants
A natural ingredient that can be found in every household and acts as an effective remedy to cure all the white molds occurring on your plants. Milk can be sprayed on the affected area and would not harm the growth of the plants as any other chemical based sprays.
Cow’s milk has some nutrients with antifungal properties that help in reducing the white mold on plants without causing any side-effect to the growth of the plant. The lactic acid found in the cow’s milk helps in eliminating the white powdery mildew from the plants.
Let us create Cow’s milk Mixture.
- Take a container with measurements.
- Add milk and water with a ratio of 40:60 in the container.
- Fill the mixture in a spray bottle and shake it well.
- Spray the mixture on all the affected parts of your plant.
- Let it dry in a place that has direct sunlight and leave it for a few
- Repeat the process until you see your plant like it was before, free from white molds.
Milk Spray for preventive measures
If you wish to prevent your plant from future white fuzzy molds, milk spray can help you with its anti-fungal nutrients and will protect it from humidity. Plants that are susceptible that are more likely to get these white molds, the milk spray shall be sprinkled to prevent it.
As the baking soda helps the plant in preventing but can harm the growth of the plant, this mixture is safe and would not cause any side-effects to its growth. The only thing that you need to bear about this mixture is the smell of the cow’s milk on your plants but do not worry it will go away after a few days.
Prevent the Powdery Mildew Before It Is Too Late
Preventing the powdery dew is much better than treating them as the growth of the plants would get affected by chemical sprays and the plant can even die because of all the chemical products. The plants that are more likely to get the white molds should be considered first as the plants that can strive in humid climates would not get infected by the white molds.
This white powdery mildew is more likely to grow in a humid temperature and due to improper air flow so before you think of preventing it, you must know the factors that cause it.
Here are the root causes of Powdery Mildew:
- Temperature ranging from 60°F and 80°F.
- Hot and excessive humid Air.
- Insufficient air flow.
- Very poor air-circulation.
There are plants that like being in a humid temperature and there are plants that like cold temperatures, so it is difficult to prevent. But you can plant shrubs or bushes that can strive in a humid climate which will become easy for both the plant owner and the plant to prevent it from white mold.
Here is what you can do to prevent your plants from Powdery mildew:
Morning Sunlight
The location that you place your plants should get direct sunlight in the morning and partial shade for the rest of the day. It is always said that morning sun is beneficial for health, but it is also very beneficial for the plants.
Give Space to The Plants
Your plants need sufficient space to grow and placing all the plants together without leaving any space for the air to flow pass by them will result to white molds. Try placing your plants away from each other and offer them some space.
Frequent Plant Check
Regularly check your plants if they are keeping well, try checking them every 3-4 days and water them regularly so they get adequate moisture. If you see any of the leaves getting infected, you should quickly prick them off and get rid of them at that moment.
Conclusion
We have clearly concluded that you would see many mixtures and sprays to treat the white mold on plants. But preventing it from any further damage will not only increase the lifespan of the plant but also their ability to grow healthier.
There are several natural remedies that can help you prevent the plants like the Cow’s milk mixture and the Baking soda mixture.
It is okay if you still see the powdery mildew on the plant as we have listed all the mixture that you can create with the ingredients present at your home.
Try spraying the ingredients that you have available at your home, so your plants are free from the white powdery molds.