Powdery mildew is one of the most common fungal diseases in plants. You can recognize an infestation by the thin, white coating that makes the leaves look like they are dusted with flour.
Powdery mildew and downy mildew
There are two different types of powdery mildew. Powdery mildew occurs in warm and dry temperatures, which is why it is often referred to as "fair weather powdery mildew". Here the fungus settles mainly on the stems and on the leaf surface. Downy mildew finds ideal conditions, especially in damp weather, and causes very stubborn, white deposits.
Combat powdery mildew naturally
Affected leaves must be removed immediately and either burned or disposed of with household waste - under no circumstances should they be composted. Otherwise, the affected plant is sprayed with a milk-water mixture (100 milliliters of whole milk in 900 milliliters of water) or a garlic infusion (pour boiling water over two to three crushed cloves of garlic and leave for at least an hour and then allow to cool). The treatment should be repeated several times.
tips and tricks
Chemical pesticides, the so-called fungicides, should not be used on herbs intended for consumption, such as rosemary.
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