If the powdery mildew has covered the plants’ leaves, the photosynthesis depleted and the infected leaves may fall. This page describes the symptoms of the fungal disease, its spread and recommended control measures. Powdery mildew can take away the plant’s nutrients therefore the plant can become weaker, less bloom and slow down the plant’s growth. Powdery mildew is a disease which is becoming more prevalent in Western Australian strawberry crops as increasing areas are being grown under high (Haygrove) tunnels. But most powdery mildew can be avoided or cured with inexpensive, homemade remedies that have been proven to work as well as or better than commercial fungicides. Remove infected tissue by mowing strawberry beds. Powdery mildew is a common summer problem on many types of vegetables and cut flowers. To prevent strawberry fungal disease, such as powdery mildew and fruit rot, grow resistant varieties, provide good drainage and spray fungicides when necessary. Then, treat with fungicides like JMS Stylet oil, Nova 40W, and Rally 40 W, once flowering begins. The good news is that powdery mildew infections are typically mild. Home remedies for powdery mildew - As warm, dry weather settles in this month, be alert for the development of powdery mildew on crops. There are even some plants, such as the lilac, that can have the powdery mildew on it and it doesn’t hurt the plant that much.So using a homemade cure for powdery mildew on the hardier plants isn’t necessary. Treat powdery mildew by applying fungicide. How to Control Powdery Mildew Without Conventional Fungicides. Treatment is often unnecessary. Otherwise healthy plants will often recover on their own after changes in the weather, and with proper care to improve airflow. Another thing to remember is that if one type of plant gets it, that particular strain of powdery mildew won’t transfer to the other types of plants. The best defense against powdery mildew is to plant resistant varieties of strawberries. This powdery mildew can kill the plants. Interestingly, an effective means of preventing and treating powdery mildew is to spray the foliage of your plants daily with water from the hose. Using Fungicidal Sprays Powdery mildew hates water; the only caveat with this method is to do it early in the day so the foliage completely dries before cooler evening temperatures arrive.