Things You'll Need
Milk--raw or pasteurized, whole or part fat
Dried milk--whole or part fat
Spray bottle
Spray attachment for hose
Powdery mildew is a fungal disease that routinely attacks garden flowers such as rose, phlox, lilac and zinnia; and vegetables such as beans, cucumbers, lettuce and pumpkins. Leaving a white to grayish coating on leaves, buds and fruit and causing general disfigurement and weakening of plants, powdery mildew is best eradicated by the use of fungicides.
Not all powdery mildew fungicides are chemicals that must be purchased at your garden center. While it is not yet known how, in some cases, milk can get rid of powdery mildew.
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Using Milk to Control Powdery Mildew
Step 1
Identify your garden plants that are suffering from powdery mildew. According to the University of California, powdery mildew will appear as blotchy white or gray patches on the tops of leaves. In severe cases, powdery mildew may spread to the shoots, buds and flowers of plants. If you see a white chalky or powder coating on your plant, it is most likely powdery mildew.
Step 2
Prepare your milk spray for powdery mildew. Mix liquid milk with water at a concentration of between 10 and 20 percent milk. If you have only a plant or two to spray, use a hand-held spray bottle to dispense the milk solution. If you have many plants that are affected by powdery mildew, use a spray bottle attachment for your hose, set at the proper dilution rate.
Step 3
Spray your plants, taking care to carefully cover all surfaces of the plant, including the undersides of leaves. The best time of day to spray plants is first thing in the morning, or in the evening.
Step 4
Inspect and respray affected plants once a week.
Warning
Do not mix milk with water at a higher rate than 20 percent, or you risk attracting other fungi that will feed on the remains of the milk fat.
According to a report by Washington State University, the use of skim milk has induced leaf spot disease, black rot and soft rot on treated cruciferous crops.
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