I just had to toss some more AV's because they were too far gone w/ PM. I need that home remedy recipe(something w/ cinnamon?)before I have to toss all my AV's.
Whole year has been bad for AV's due to unusually cool and wet/humid year.
Peggy
Home remedy for powdery mildew
Peggy-- mix 1 part milk to 9 parts water and spray your plants. This works really well but may need to be repeated at weekly intervals until gone, although I have never had to repeat. Be sure to check your air circulation and temp since PM seems to develop when environmental conditions are less than optimum. (In my case the plants were in a cooler corner of my light stand with poor air circulation)
I usually run a small fan once we start closing up the house for cooler weather but just haven't done it yet and we've had unuusally cool and wet year so I imagine those two factors are working against me.
Thanks for the receipe. I'll set up heater in here before I spray and to run until they've dried.
P
Also if you can stop it when you first see it, you can usually contain the problem. A friend used those lysol wipes on her leaves and that worked for her. I haven't tried that. The few leaves I've had a problem with, I was able to just cut them off. tish
Peggy-- I understand about the cool and damp this year!!! My AV's have been OK since they are in the house and I have used the wood stove--My begonias are another matter--especially the canes--since they were outdoors. I have used the milk solution on them--I do need to correct my earlier statement--they have needed to be re-sprayed once since being brought into the GH --but they are recovering ^_^
I'm going to give it a shot after I get back from fitness class.
P
Lysol worked fast for me.
I noticed it on a leaf of a couple of my newer plants. I sprayed with 100% neem oil, diluted according to package directions, last night. Hopefully it will work- it's reported to anyways. Will let you all know how it goes!
I've used Lysol on some begonias in the past and it worked well.
What does P mildew look like? Guess I don't have any or ever had, but would like to know what it is. Thanks..hope someone posts a picture! ChuLin
ChuLin It looks like someone dusted powder on the leaves, sometimes you can see it on darker colored flower petals as well, its white or light grayish.
tish
A very old remedy is too dust the plants lightly with powdered garden sulfur....not the pellet stuff.You can place shallow lids or saucers around the plants and gently blow on it a little to put some in the air also.It doesn't smell as good as cinnamon LOL,but it works.
I thought ya'll were nuts but I sprayed my AV's yesterday w/ milk solution...mildew all gone*G*
Wonder why? What in milk is repellent to the mildew? That is cool anyway :).
I think it is probably the lactic acid, but really don't know. I know that its the enzymes in milk that break down bloodstains in clothing--pretty good stuff!! Glad it worked for ya--LOL--- I won't say i told you so...^_^
I know it makes good glue. The kids have glued countless cereal boxes to the table, lol. I get it, before milk is pasteurized it is constantly changing and basically protects itself from rot, first it forms curds and whey, then makes cheese, etc. I would definitely use it if I have any trouble with pm.
Hillbilly_Gran...go ahead...say it..*G*
3..all purpose food...LOL
I just read on another forum that milk works really well for PM as well as commercial fungicides. The person said that the research study showed it worked best as a 10% solution in water or 1 part milk to 9 parts water and use any milk at any percentage so skim, whole, 2% whatever. They didn't figure out why it works but think maybe it's a natural germicide or that it helps the plant fight it somehow and helps the plant's immune system. Works great on outdoor plants too so it's a great weapon huh?
Im gonna try the milk and water on the indoor begonias.. Mine got a little on them.. I am wondering if I should do the rexes? I have one snail rex with spots and looks like a fungal?
9 parts water 1 part milk shouldn't hurt, use a mist bottle so a ton doesn't get into the soil is my recommendation.
I use this on my begonias both canes and rexes with great results, I also use it on African violets. It works better for me than cinnamon. I usually mix 1 oz milk to 9 oz water in a spray bottle. (stronger is not better) You can store the unused spray in the fridge for a day or too before it goes sour. I have sprayed outdoor plants with it after it sours and it still works-- but too stinky for indoors ^_^ Be sure to clean your bottle /sprayer thoroughly when done-- clabbered milk can really clog your sprayer.
That reminds me, gotta find a sprayer.. gads I knew I forgot something when I was it town...
Good luck, Blossom... Are your reiger's begonias still giving you trouble? Alot of the time, I use an old window cleaner bottle that was very well rinsed.
Not as much since I picked of their bad leaves.. will that milk and water thing work on them? They dont have PM.. just a few spots on my snail leaf.
I don't know, but I think it wouldn't hurt.
Im going for them then.. WIll spray later today. I done wat to lose them or my waxes.
Are you growing under lights or natural light?
Florescents
Ok. Do the wax begonias do well under lights? I mean besides the powdery mildew
Very well for me. They have been indoors since 10/10 and I have had to pinch them just about every 10 days.
Ok, found my spray bottle. good thing I thought I was gonna have to run to town.
I think my reigers is what started the PM... Oh so pretty when I got them, but oh so chopped back now! LOL!
PM comes from cool temps and/or poor air circulation--some begonias are just more susceptible (intolerant) of those conditions, same with african violets and other gessies. Sometimes moving the plant to a more suitable environment or the addition of a small fan will greatly reduce pm infections.
Hmmmmmmmmmmm....ima thinking...house is now 57-60
Air quailty in movement drafty doors when someone goes in and out. Could put the ceilfan on....
Oh, your making me cold. I used to laugh at people that had to keep the house 80 degrees F, but now I go stoke up the stove when it gets down around 70. Get them a heater, lol.
Well, actually thats too warm for me.. I can take it 55 in short sleeves. Just so long as the pipes dont freeze I can don a sweater if I have to to conserve more.
OK< it is done, the PM plants here are sprayed with the milk and water solution....
Moooooo!
Here is one before.
Ick ick ick!!
You can see they are a decent size and these have been pinched back!
I will take a pic again in a few days to see how the mooo-juice remedy works. Nice thing about the Moo solution so far is it can be refridgerated so it should keep for a little while anyway. If not, I am not gonna cry over 16oz of spilt milk! SO thats a positive!
I might whine a tad if I lose the begonias though! We been buddies for a while! Well since spring anyway!!
Heres hoping we rid them of the PMS!
Very nice. I've been growing mine in a sunny window, then whack them in the spring and let them grow out. Maybe I'll try pinching all winter to see if they like it or if they get up and pinch me back.
They like getting pinched, I like making cuttings.. but not with PMS! Aint that disgusting looking!! LOL!
I do my wax cuttings dipped in hormone powder, put direct to a cell pak inpotting soil until they root at about 2-3 weeks and bump them up then or when I get time after! EZ- PZ!
I was just reading that powdery mildew hates the sun. That could help if you have a sunny window.
What ever you do DO NOT tell my monarda, lilacs or some of the tall gardenphlox that...they will wanna come indoors and look out one! And the hub sez no more room and absolutely no room additions of any kind. Besides that.. for the next couple months we will not see the sun for days!
You're right, I forgot about the months of no sunlight.