Mildew is a real nuisance when caring for peppermint. You have to differentiate between real and downy mildew. One occurs in very dry weather, the other in very humid weather.
How to combat powdery mildew on peppermint?
To combat powdery mildew on peppermint, remove infected shoots, spray the plant every two days with a decoction of tansy, garlic or diluted milk and ensure adequate air circulation between plants.
Powdery or downy mildew?
You can recognize powdery mildew because it only appears on the upper side of the leaves and can be rubbed off with your finger. Downy mildew attacks the undersides of leaves and causes spots that show through to the surface.
Natural measures against mildew
- Cut off affected shoots
- Dispose of shoots in household waste or burn them
- Spray the plant with diluted milk
- Make a decoction of tansy or garlic
- Use neem oil (€28.00 at Amazon)
Infected peppermint plants must be sprayed with the decoction every two days.
As a preventive measure, you should make sure that you do not water the peppermint too much or too little.
Tips & Tricks
Do not plant peppermint too close together and ensure that air can circulate between the leaves.
