How To Care For Plant Diseases Naturally

All plants get diseases. Organic farming methods combine the scientific knowledge of ecology, natural pesticides and practices to control these diseases. Concern about applying chemicals and pesticides on plants have sparked a new surge of organic farming methods. It’s cheap and easy to use these methods and good for the environment.


Fungi cause most garden diseases. There are more than 8,000 species of fungal pathogens that inhabit the above ground portion of the plant or are within the soil. Most any fungicide acts as a barrier between the pathogenic agents and the plant tissues and must be applied before new leaves or other susceptible pant parts appear. You can apply fungicides when the first sign of disease appears or when the weather conditions are favorable.

Most diseases infect plants through wounds caused by insects. Some of the best ways to prevent diseases infections is to use products that contain botanicals that kill insects as well as add minerals to prevent diseases. The best method for fighting disease is in preventing it in the first place.

Prevention methods:

* Avoid wet soggy soils, since they favor many root diseases.

* Rotate the crop, to deter the build up of plant specific diseases.

* Use only disease free seeds and transplants

* Maintain good soil tiling and fertility. Maintain a soil ph of 6.5 to 7.0. Lower levels of ph are more acid and disease of pathogens is favored in acidic soils.

* Don’t overcrowd plants. Thinning them out promotes air circulation and prevents humidity.

* Destroy or discard diseased plants or plant parts.

*Keep your garden free of debris that might harbor pathogens and snip off diseased spots as soon as they are noticed. Carry a small bag with you when inspecting your garden to get rid of infected plants of pests.

Generally speaking, if you plant your garden in well-drained soils and amend the soil annually with good quality compost, there will be a high population for beneficial bacteria in that soil. You can also purchase inoculated seeds or inoculate seed yourself. This prevents many pathogenic diseases.

Herbal oil sprays may also be effective against fungal pathogens. Essential oils such as made from basil, fenugreek, cumin, mint, clove and eucalyptus have been known to show success against fungal pathogens.

Soaps have been used for many years in organic farming. A few drops of dish detergent used in a spray bottle with water will protect against some insects. As with any treatment, it is important to test a small area of the plant first.

Oil sprays protect against fungi probably because it helps dispel the water that fungal diseases need to grow. Some oils like petroleum based can build up in your soil with repeated use.

Vegetable oils are biodegradable and should not cause any long-term problem for you garden. Salad and cooking oil are less disruptive to the environment and are readily available.

Baking soda is another not toxic substance that helps control pests and diseases. Mix together 1 ½ tablespoon baking soda,

1-tablespoon vegetable oil,

1-tablespoon dish detergent,

2-gallon water jug

Shake up and spray on plants. Be careful of flowers or blooms, and start with a test area.
Silica and Silicate salts have long used as sprays for organic gardens. These contain the extract of the common plant horsetail and protect against fungal diseases. Be cautioned that when using a silicate salts; they are strong alkaline substances.

Compost tea is a water extract of fermented compost. These teas are full of antibiotics microbial products and are beneficial microbes that compete with pathogens for nutrients. Compost tea can be used as a foliar spray or used undiluted tea on soil and roots. One type of commercial product that makes use of “friendly” microorganisms to fight diseases is Galltrol-A. There are many controls you can apply to fight diseases naturally, but it is advisable not to limit yourself to a single approach. Trying an approach as simple as a row of marigolds in with your vegetables is one such control. The trick is to experiment with what works best for your plants and test small areas first.


By  Renee Rotto