Mildew is a common fungal disease on hydrangeas. You can successfully treat the fungus with milk and other home remedies. You can find all the tips in this post.
When should I water my hydrangeas with milk?
Milk helps control powdery mildew on hydrangeas. The fungus, which causes a white coating on the leaves, does not tolerate lactic acid bacteria. These are not only found in milk, but also in apple cider vinegar and sauerkraut juice, among other things. To treat, spray your plants regularly with a mixture of milk and water.
How do I identify powdery mildew on hydrangeas?
You can recognize powdery mildew on the leaves of hydrangeas: the fungus causes a white coating on the top of the leaf.
Why does milk help against mildew?
The fungus responsible for powdery mildew is sensitive to theLactic acid bacteria found in milk Be careful with both the milk for your hydrangeas and dairy products for your own consumption Organic quality, as it contains fewer harmful residues than conventional products.
How do I water my hydrangeas with milk?
Milk should not be given straight to the hydrangeas, butdiluted with water. A ratio of 1:10 is recommended, for example 100 ml of milk to one liter of water. Fill this mixture into a spray bottle (€27.00 on Amazon) and spray the infected hydrangeas in the morning and evening. An improvement should be noticeable after just a few days. Caution: Do not spray the hydrangeas if they are exposed to strong sun. This could cause burns, further weakening the plants.
What alternatives to milk are there?
If you don't have milk at home or don't want to use milk, you can also tryAlternatives to combat mildew. Lactic acid is not only found in milk, but also in other foods. That's why you can, for example, use diluted apple cider vinegar or sauerkraut juice to spray the hydrangeas.
Tip
Treat mildew with baking powder
Due to the baking soda it contains, baking powder is another home remedy that can be used to treat mildew. To do this, mix a packet of baking powder or a teaspoon of baking soda with a sip of rapeseed oil and a little water. Then spray the hydrangeas with this mixture. Do not use this mixture before rain. Baking soda has a very high pH value and should therefore not be washed into the hydrangea's soil. This prefers acidic soil.
