What Kills Mold and Mildew On Plants?

What Kills Mold and Mildew On Plants? After mold and mildew spoil your organic ways, then it is time to kill them. Before using any of these chemicals on plants, make sure that they are not poisonous to the plants. The following are things are that kills mold and mildew:

What Kills Mold and Mildew On Plants?

1) Vinegar

Vinegar kills molds by dehydrating them because of its acidic nature. It will also prevent molds from growing back, so you can use this as a preventive measure, especially if you have soft fruits which are more prone to having fungal attacks after being exposed to moisture.

You can use either white or apple cider vinegar, but most people prefer the latter just because it has an enhanced flavor over the former one. Spray some vinegar on affected areas once every day until you see signs of restoration. For prevention, mix equal parts of water with vinegar and spray it on affected areas once every two weeks.

2) Grapefruit seed extract

The grapefruit seed extract is an active anti-fungal ingredient that has been used for thousands of years, first found in India. The first thing you will notice about grapefruit seed extract is its pleasant scent; don’t be mistaken by this as it can kill molds but also all kinds of bacteria, viruses, and parasites.

But because of the active anti-bacterial properties present in grapefruit seed extract, it tends to work well with other chemicals since they can synergize each other to penetrate deeper into affected areas. Mix 10 drops of grapefruit seed extract per liter or gallon of water, then apply this solution to affected plants.

3) Cleaning solution

You can make a cleaning solution by mixing two parts of water with one part vinegar. Spray this on affected areas and leave it for about half an hour before rinsing it off using clean water. Clean your gardening tools every time you use them so that they do not get infected with molds or mildews. You can also disinfect these tools by dipping them in boiling water for 10 minutes.

This will kill all kinds of spores present on the surface of your tools which may infect other plants, especially if you tend to transfer some soil from one plant to another during manual pruning or transplantation.

4) Petroleum jelly

Petroleum jelly works differently than other chemicals since it suffocates molds and mildews by forming a film-like barrier on top of affected areas. This film prevents air and moisture from getting into these areas, and this will ultimately kill spores responsible for fungal attacks on organic plants.

When using petroleum jelly on organic plants, make sure that you only put a thin layer of it since too much of this jelly will suffocate your plants.

5) Bleach solution

Bleach is a strong chemical that can kill molds and mildews through the process of oxidation. Use ten drops of bleach per liter but make sure that you only spray it on affected areas once every two weeks because too much bleach will kill your organic plants, while some combinations can produce poisonous chemicals when mixed with other types of chemicals.

When using bleach, always wear protective gear such as masks and gloves to prevent any accidents from happening since it is very toxic for human beings. Read the instructions carefully before using this product on organic plants.

6) Rubbing alcohol

Rubbing alcohol has been used for decades to cure molds and mildews, although its concentration level differs depending on the type of plant you are trying to cure. In most cases, 70% isopropyl rubbing alcohol will do the trick, but some plants can only survive at lower or higher levels of concentration. Mix 20 drops of rubbing alcohol with one-gallon water and spray it on affected areas twice a day until symptoms disappear.

7) Hydrogen peroxide solution

Hydrogen peroxide works by releasing oxygen which oxidizes molds and mildews at a cellular level. You can make this solution by adding 10 drops of hydrogen peroxide to every liter or gallon of water, then use this mixture on your organic plants twice a day for best results.

8) Baking soda

Baking soda is another popular organic remedy for killing molds and mildews. Mix 3 teaspoons baking soda per one gallon of water, then mix this solution with one teaspoon of oil before applying it to your plants.

9) Tea tree oil

Tea tree oil is scientifically known as melaleuca alternifolia and it is very popular for its medicinal benefits. This type of oil contains antimicrobial compounds that can kill molds and mildews on organic plants. Use 10 drops of tea tree oil per liter of water then spray this on affected areas twice a day until symptoms disappear completely.

10) Hydrogen peroxide + dish soap

Mix five parts hydrogen peroxide with three parts dish soap to make a powerful solution for killing molds and mildews. You can either use this mixture on topically infected areas or you can make it into a spray bottle for spot treatments.

11) Non-organic pesticides

There are some pesticides available on the market today that are very effective in killing molds and mildews without harming your organic plants. Fungicides made of sulfur can effectively destroy spores responsible for attacking organic plants, so it is highly recommended that you use these products with caution.

Also, oils such as neem oil can kill adult molds and mildews by suffocating them so they will never appear again on infected areas. Always read labels before using any type of product on your organic plants to avoid making mistakes that might harm them in the long run.

What Kills Mold and Mildew On Plants? – Conclusion

These 12 things act as deterrents against molds and mildews, so most types of fungi won’t even think of attacking organic plants that already have these products on them.