what causes mildew on plants and how do you get rid of it?

Question

the schifleras (SP) we have got mildew on the leaves and i don't know the cause or treatment for.

the mildew looks black not white and powdery is this the same thing?

Answer 1

A non chemical way of getting rid of mildew on plants is to prune the plant! By pruning, more air will flow through the plant, it will promote drying of the interior by reducing the humidity. This reduces the favorable conditions the fungus needs to reproduce. Try that before applying any chemicals!

Answer 2

wash the leaves with a mild detergent and water solution wash both underside and over-side as well.
Wipe them with a soft cloth.
Plan to wash the leaves (shower with water only) once a week; (daytime only.)This should be done early in the day as evening watering is a major cause of mildew on leaves. adjust watering you plant accordingly as the leaves will absorb water. Test the soil of the plant before watering, if it is damp to the touch an inch below the surface, then it has enough moisture.
Schiflerras tend to enjoy being root-bound. However, they need less water each time you water, and need to be watered more often when root bound.
When you do water your tree, water until the water comes out of the bottom of the pot, this eliminates air bubbles around the roots which lead to root rot.
Try placing the tree in a window with as high a concentrated amount of diffused sunlight as you can find.
When spraying the plant, spray it early in the morning
place it outside often through the week in a shady area, to help it dry well. If it is used to being in the house then don't leave it out for more than two hours.
Schifflerras are a good houseplant because they seem to thrive on artifiicial light. Place it under or near a floor lamp, you will be pleasantly surprised at the results you will notice within a four week period.

Answer 3

Baking soda makes an inexpensive control for powdery mildew on plants. The baking soda fungicide is mostly effective as a preventative, offering only minimal benefits after your plants have become infected. Weekly spraying of susceptible plants during humid or damp weather can greatly reduce the incidence of powdery mildew in your garden.

To control powdery mildew on plants, mix together:

1 tablespoon of baking soda
½ teaspoon of liquid soap
1 gallon of water

Do not store unused mixture. While this recipe has been known to be effective, it can burn the leaves of some plants. It is recommended that you water your infected plants well a couple of days before applying this mixture, and don’t apply it in full sun. Try on a small area first, to test the plant’s response before spraying the entire plant.

Some recipes also recommend applying 1 tablespoon of dormant oil to the mixture. The oil coats and smothers the fungi. The soap is added to help the mix spread and cling to the leaf surface. Be sure to apply to lower leaf surfaces as well.

Answer 4

Mildew is a fungus. To get rid of it, spray your plants down in the a.m. and let them dry naturally during the day.

Answer 5

There are sprays for it. I've tried some but they tend to let the plant burn in the sun, I would look for a natural alternative. Like the rosewater spray.

Answer 6

PLANT MD IS RIGHT. At least he's not spamming all over answers like the guy above him.

Answer 7

You might like to join the Yahoo group gardenmessenger at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gardenmessenger/ they have members from all over the USA and the world that would love to answer this question.

Answer 8

The cause is probably too much water. cut down on the watering .