Fungicide [fun-ji-side]. While this funny sounding word is familiar to many, not everyone can tell you exactly what it is. Fungicides, insecticides and herbicides all fall under the same category, they are pesticides. Icide is a noun essentially meaning something that kills someone or thing. Herbicides-kill weeds, pesticides-kill insect pests and so naturally, we can figure what kills fungus.
Given that, the Organic Daily Post has done our homework (and yours) and put together this plant-friendly and informative article explaining what fungi and fungicides are and what they do. We also give you a short list of organic solutions to fighting fungus for those who prefer treating their plants in a way less impactful to the soil and environment than potentially dangerous chemicals.
Additionally, we post an inexpensive homemade solution that makes a handy and efficacious spray for stopping mold or fungus using a gallon of water, some baking soda and a couple of kitchen items.
Are All Chemical Treatments Bad?
In spite of the bad press they receive, chemical-based pesticides like a fungicide spray, can be safe and quite efficacious at controlling plant diseases when used properly.
Because directions vary for use from product to product when it comes to their use, we recommend you carefully read the label and follow their instructions to the letter for best results. As a precaution, always wear protective garb such as rubber gloves and protective eye wear when handling any form of pesticides. Avoid inhaling chemical fumes while applying.
What is Fungus?
Fungus belongs to a group of eukaryotic organisms that include microorganisms. In plants, fungus is a pathogenic (disease causing) organism. Fungal infections causing mold and rot on plants cost agriculture billions of dollars each year in crop loss worldwide. In fact, fungi (plural form) are the number one leading cause of crop loss in the world.
Are you sure it’s fungus? Short video on diagnosing plant issues:
Even so, there is still some good fungus. Some of the good types include yeast and mushrooms. Bad fungi includes mold, mildew, and disorders of the skin such as ringworm, nail fungus, athlete’s foot and even jock-itch; all these are forms of fungal infection. Fungi grow from spores.
Mold in the Garden
Plant damage from mold can be found in gardens the world over including your own backyard. Excessive moisture and lack of proper air-flow trigger these fungal spores and create the perfect breeding ground for them.
Gardeners everywhere have experienced these conditions on all manner of garden plants. Tomatoes, potatoes, rose bushes and especially ground-hugging foliage are quite susceptible and can be mold prone if conditions are right. So how do we combat that mold and fungus? Read on.
A Fungus Among Us
In the garden and under favorable conditions, fungus in the form of mold can flourish. Below are the three most common types found in gardens and flower beds.
Powdery Mildew
Appears as a white powder on leaves, generally occurs mid-summer when temperatures rise above 60 degrees F. Powdery mildew thrives in high humidity.
Gray Mold
Lots of rain with cooler temps combine to create the perfect condition for gray and other molds to grow. Like its namesake, it appears as a gray fuzz that can eventually affect the entire plant.
Black Spot
First appears as small black spots on the leaves of plants but can quickly spread. Roses are are particularly susceptible to black spot.
Root Rot
This condition affects the roots of the plant when excessive moisture accumulates and remains around the plant’s root system causing leaf-yellowing, wilting, and even death.
Healthy squash leaves:
Not so healthy squash leaves:
While all the aforementioned conditions can be trying, in most cases they aren’t fatal if addressed early. Generally, fungicides are most effective when applied to new and unaffected plants, although some fungicides do carry curative properties.
Introducing Fungicides
Fungicides are a chemical or combination of chemicals designed to specifically target mold and mildew by inhibiting their growth or killing them all together. Treating a plant with the wrong fungicide can be ineffective and actually harmful as it allows the fungal disease to continue. Fungicides are not ‘one size fits all’.
Before using any fungicide it is imperative to choose the correct one. Fungicides may be applied by various methods depending on the product. Generally, there are two categories of fungicides.
Contact fungicide which kills on contact when sprayed on the plant and Systemic which is absorbed by the plant and works internally. Other forms include granules and dust. Most fungicides are chemically based and designed to address specific plant diseases.
The list of fungicides used to treat ailing plants is miles long and can be easily found online or by asking your local garden center or plant Guru for the most efficacious treatment for your specific problem. This article is written to bring options to your attention if your plants suffer from mold and mildew.
5 Effective Fungicides
Some home-use fungicides (by chemical and not brand name) are listed below as well as their plant-specific function. Again, this is to give you a general idea of fungicide types as there are literally hundreds of fungicides available from which to choose.
Polyoxin-D is a broad-spectrum fungicide for foliar and soil borne diseases. Approved for greenhouse use.
Cymoxanil
Used for late blight of tomato and potato as well as Downy Mildew on cucurbits (melons-cucumbers-gourds) and lettuce.
A broad-spectrum fungicide targeting various fungi.
Oxathiapiprolin
Treats phytophthora and Downy Mildew.
Broad-spectrum fungicide used to treat dry beans, potatoes, tomatoes, cucurbit vegetables and onions.
There are also organic fungicides available but the product must adhere to the standards established in the Organic Food Production Act of 1990.
[Organic is] a labeling that indicates the food or other agricultural product has been produced through approved methods that integrate cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources that promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity. Consequently, synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, irradiation, and genetic engineering may not be used. – U.S. Department of Agriculture
Some active ingredients in these natural fungicides include:
- Neem oil
- Sulfur
- Rosemary Oil
- Jojoba oil
Copper Fungicide
Copper fungicides are two words often connected to organic gardening. To shed a little light on the term, here is a brief synopsis of copper fungicides.
Copper is a metal that when dissolved, penetrates a plant’s tissues (systemically) to control several varieties of mold and fungus to include; Fire blight, Black spot, Powdery mildew and Septoria leaf spot and others. While effective, copper can also be toxic to a plant and the surrounding soil when it accumulates.
Formulations vary widely as to amounts and strengths of copper used in these products so caution is needed. Follow the directions!
5 Best Organic Fungicide Options
The following five organic fungicides have been so certified by the storied Organic Material Review Institute or OMRI.
- Copper hydrochloride + copper hydroxide - A bactericide and fungicide.
- Paraffinic oil - Treats fungal diseases and aphid transmitted viruses.
- Sulfur - A protective fungicide that works well against powdery mildew.
- Potassium Bicarbonate - Fights a host foliar diseases including powdery mildew.
- Reynoutria Sachalinensis - Acts as a plant defense activator for fungal and bacterial diseases.
Organic or not, these are still compounds that should always be used according to the manufacturers exact specifications. Read the label!
Recommended natural fungicide:
Preventative Measures
A wise old saying claims an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. That adage has survived the ages because it’s true. It is far easier and more effective to take measures that prevent the onset of disease in plants than it is to try and doctor them once infected.
Sometimes though, we aren’t aware we have a problem until it is detected. In those cases we do what the situation dictates but prevention is always the best way to grow!
We hope you have enjoyed reading this article and perhaps learned a little something to help make you and your garden grow strong and healthy together.