General Recommendations: Powdery mildew is a very common disease of many plants. It gets its name from the white powder appearance it gives to plants as the fungus grows over the leaves or shoots. The specific fungal organism that causes the disease is usually different for each plant affected. That is, the fungal organism that causes powdery mildew on lilac is not the same organism that causes powdery mildew on rose or phlox. Since the disease frequently develops under similar environmental conditions, however, many plants may be affected.
Control of Powdery Mildew:
Some plants, such as lilac, may succumb yearly to the disease but experience little damage or loss of vigor. Control of the disease on these plants may be unwarranted. Damage on other plants, such as roses, apples, phlox and cucumbers and other cucurbits may cause more severe damage and threaten plant health or productivity. In these causes preventive control measures may be recommended. |
