Plant fungus is a type of plant disease caused by a fungal infection such as powdery or downy mildew, anthracnose, rust, and blight. Sometimes the fungi just causes your plants to look ugly. However, more often that not, it can cause serious damage to your plants. Therefore, you want to make sure that you control fungus in plants. Catch it early and get rid of it. And, of course, you probably want to do so naturally, even though there are chemical options.
What Exactly Is Fungus?
Fungus is a type of living organism that is neither a plant nor an animal. Fungi are typically characterized by their ability to grow as long, branching filaments called hyphae, which allow them to penetrate and absorb nutrients from their environment. Some fungi also produce spores, which can be spread through the air or water to help them reproduce and colonize new areas.
Fungi themselves are not a bad thing. In fact, they can play an important role in many ecosystem. They help to break down dead organic matter and recycle nutrients back into the soil. They are also important in the production of many foods and medicines, such as bread, beer, cheese, and antibiotics. And of course mushrooms are fungi and many of us love those.
That said, some types of fungi can also cause disease in plants (and animals and humans, too, for that matter). Fungi can infect all parts of a plant, including the roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits.
Plant Problems Caused By Fungus
Some common signs of plant fungus include:
- Discolored or wilted leaves: Fungal infections can cause plant leaves to turn yellow, brown, or black, or to wilt and droop. Leaves may also develop spots, lesions, or other unusual markings.
- Fuzzy or powdery growth: Some fungal infections can cause a fuzzy or powdery growth on the surface of leaves, stems, or flowers. This may be a sign of fungal spores, which can spread the infection to other parts of the plant.
- Stunted growth: Fungal infections can stunt plant growth, causing the plant to be smaller than expected or to produce fewer fruits or flowers.
- Root rot: Some fungal infections can cause root rot, which can be difficult to detect since it occurs underground. Signs of root rot may include yellowing or wilting leaves, as well as a foul odor or soft, mushy roots.
- Defoliation: Fungal infections can cause leaves to drop prematurely, reducing the plant’s ability to photosynthesize and weakening the plant overall.
- Discolored or distorted fruits or flowers: Fungal infections can cause fruits or flowers to be misshapen, discolored, or otherwise damaged.
Natural Ways to Control Plant Fungus
You want to take a multi-prong approach to control plant fungus. First of all, you want to do all that you can to prevent fungus from showing up in your garden in the first place. Then, if you still find fungus on your plants, you want to get rid of it. Here are some of the best natural ways to do that:
Natural Fungus Prevention
In terms of prevention, it’s really all about just keeping a careful approach to treating the plants in your garden right:
- Good air circulation: Fungal spores thrive in warm, humid environments with poor air circulation. Avoid planting them too close together and trim away any dead or crowded foliage to keep the air circulating well. Prune back plans regularly to prevent overcrowding.
- Proper watering: Do not overwater. Allow for proper drainage. Be consistent with understanding the different water levels each of your plants requires.
- Soil management: Healthy soil with good drainage is key to preventing fungal infections. Use compost and organic matter to improve soil health and avoid using contaminated soil.
- Mulch: Applying mulch around the base of plants can help to retain moisture in the soil and prevent fungal infections. Use organic materials such as straw, leaves or wood chips, which will break down over time and add nutrients to the soil.
Natural Fungicides for Prevention:
Some of these will also help you to repair and control fungus in plants once you begin. But, start early and you can also use them as fungus prevention:
- Baking soda: Baking soda has antifungal properties and can help to prevent fungal infections in plants. Mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda with 1 gallon of water and spray onto plants as a preventive measure.
- Neem oil: Neem oil is a natural oil derived from the neem tree and has antifungal properties. It can be used as a preventive measure against fungal infections in plants by mixing with water and spraying onto plants.
- Garlic: Garlic contains natural antifungal compounds and can be used as a preventive measure against fungal infections in plants. Mix 1 to 2 cloves of crushed garlic with 1 quart of water and spray onto plants.
- Copper fungicides: Copper fungicides are natural compounds that can be used to prevent fungal infections in plants. Copper is a natural fungicide and can be found in various forms such as copper sulfate, copper hydroxide, and copper oxide.
- Tea tree oil: Tea tree oil is a natural essential oil that has antifungal properties and can be used to prevent fungal infections in plants. Mix 2 to 3 drops of tea tree oil with 1 quart of water and spray onto plants.
Natural Ways to Control / Repair Plant Fungus
In addition to those preventive measures, there are some natural ways to control plant fungus once you see it cropping up. First, take these steps to get rid of the fungus:
- Remove infected plant material: The first step in treating plant fungus is to remove any infected plant material. This includes leaves, stems, and fruits that show signs of infection. Be sure to dispose of the infected plant material properly to prevent the spread of the disease.
- Prune affected areas: If the fungus has affected only part of the plant, prune away the affected areas with clean, sharp pruning shears. Make sure to disinfect the pruning shears with rubbing alcohol or a bleach solution between each cut to prevent the spread of the disease.
- Improve growing conditions: Fungal infections often occur in plants that are stressed or have poor growing conditions. Improving the growing conditions, such as providing proper watering, improving soil quality, and ensuring good air circulation, can help the plant recover and prevent the fungus from returning.
Then add those natural fungicides into your plant care routine. Finally, also add in some beneficial microbes. For example, mycorrhizal fungi can be added to the soil as a powder or in a liquid form. Bacillus subtilis and Trichoderma can also be added to the soil as a soil drench or a foliar spray. Some others to look into include Rhizobium, Azospirillum, and Pseudomonas.
Read More:
- 5 Quick Tips To Rescue Your Plants From Root Rot
- 6 Tips To Revive Wilted Plants
- Frugal Ways to Clean and Disinfect Your Garden Plants
Kathryn Vercillo is a long time writer, crafter and author of several books. A resident of San Francisco, she is committed to helping others explore, articulate and share their own individuals stories. When she’s not evaluating investing opportunities Kathryn is an avid knitter, researcher, and blogger.
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