Wastei
Well-Known Member
Have you tried this mix?Okay while we continue to wait for pollen , here is a Tuesday update on the potassium bicarbonate for powdery mildew tests I've been running for the last few weeks. And let me preface it by saying I have not been using distilled water, so I may re-run this all again once I get a new bottle.
My first search was to find what the industry standard dilution was (and farmers don't use distilled water when they spray their fields), and I came across a product called Armicarb which is potassium bicarbonate, and it's dilution rate is listed at 2.5 to 5 lbs. per 100 gallons.
Here's the math on that:
2.5lbs/100 gallons = 1lb/40 gallons = 0.025lbs/gallon = 11.34g/3.8L = 0.3% solution. Feel free to check my math!
So I mixed up a .3% and a .6% solution and tested it on some branches of the old Candida mother that I've been intentionally growing PM on. Neither had any effect.
I did additional sprays at .6% and here are the results of that latest test:
20240416_090412 CD-1 PM after 6% pot.bicarb spray.jpg
Candida sprayed with 6% potassium bicarbonate
20240416_090430 CD-1 PM after 6% pot.bicarb spray.jpg
Candida sprayed with 6% potassium bicarbonate
So, plenty of PM, not to mention some leaf damage:
20240416_090513 CD-1 PM after 6% pot.bicarb spray.jpg
Candida sprayed with 6% potassium bicarbonate
20240416_090538 CD-1 PM after 6% pot.bicarb spray.jpg
Candida sprayed with 6% potassium bicarbonate
Besides the edge curling and burning, the leaves have a dull quality to them that makes the plant look unhealthy. I've decided that potassium bicarbonate (with tap water) is not the answer to my PM issue so I sprayed that plant with neem oil this morning. I may give it another try with 6% in distilled just to confirm, and I'll update you on that if I do.
Thanks for your interest!
Quotes:
Thanks Caddie, and nice to see you around!
Good question con. And congrats on post #35,000!
Thanks Absorber, you made it to the top of the page!
3 tsp potassium bicarbonate
3 tsp Neem or vegetable oil (Neem being more effective but both works well)
0.5 tsp soap/dish soap
Per gallon of water.
Cheers!