The flower-rich azalea can be found in many gardens. Find out here how you can protect your plant from and combat powdery mildew.
How to treat and prevent powdery mildew on the azalea?
Mildew on azaleas appears as yellowish spots and white powdery mildew coating. Home remedies such as a milk-water mixture, baking soda solution or garlic decoction can be used to combat it. Preventive measures include a protected location, adequate water supply and regular leaf strengthening.
How do I recognize powdery mildew on the azalea?
Mildew in most cases attacks deciduous types of azalea, rarely evergreen ones. Deciduous azaleas usually shed their leaves in autumn to protect themselves from frost.
Mildew formsfrom June onwardsand initially manifests itself asyellowish spotsThese form awhite powdery mildew coating, which spreads from the underside of the leafto the upper side of the leaf.
What are the causes of powdery mildew on the azalea?
Mildew is one of the most common and annoying fungal diseases of useful and ornamental plants in the garden. A distinction is made between real and downy mildew. Thepowdery mildew, also known asfair weather fungus, can be wiped off on the top of the leaf. It mainly occursin hot and dry weather. It likes to attack cucumbers, zucchini, carrots, roses and fruit trees. Affected leaves slowly dry out. If the plant is infected too badly, it dies.
How do I save my azalea from mildew?
If you are infected with powdery mildew, you should act quickly andcut off the first affected leavesRemoved leaves should not be composted under any circumstances, but disposed of with household waste. Otherwise, the fungus will spread to other plants.
The followingHome remedies can help you to combat mildew:
- Milk (see below)
- Baking powder (1 packet of baking powder, 20 milliliters of rapeseed oil and 2 liters of water, spray the plant with it every 2 weeks)
- Sprinkle algae lime finely
- Garlic stock (pour a liter of boiling water over 4 cloves of garlic, let cool, spray the plant every 2 days)
How do I fight powdery mildew on the azalea with milk?
Use the following method to get rid of mildew in the early stages:
- Mix whole or raw milk (long-life milk does not work) with water in a ratio of 1:8.
- Spray the water-milk solution every other day (and immediately after a rain shower) on the affected plant.
The lactic acid bacteria create afungal-unfriendly environment on the leaf surface, so that the fungus disappears with regular use. Milk also contains sodium phosphate, whichsupports the plant's defenses.
How can I prevent powdery mildew on the azalea?
He althy plants are more resistant. Therefore, make sure your azalea is doing well in advance. You should note the following care tips for azaleas:
- Find the ideal sheltered location possible without direct sunlight.
- Give it enough water, but avoid waterlogging.
- At the first sign of weakness, give her a tonic, for example from home remedies such as a milk and water mixture.
Tip
What happens if powdery mildew on the azalea is not treated?
If the azalea is particularly badly affected by powdery mildew, deciduous azaleas lose their leaves too early. This weakens them, which severely affects next year's flowering. If they are not treated now, they will become increasingly weaker. In the worst case scenario, they don't survive the winter and die.
