Houseplant clinic: why does my kalanchoe have a powdery coating?

What’s the problem?
My kalanchoe plant’s leaves person developed a unusual white, powdery coating, and I’m disquieted it may spread.

Diagnosis
This sounds similar powdery mildew, a common fungal disease. It thrives in warm, humid environments with mediocre airflow. Powdery mildew doesn’t usually termination a works outright, but it weakens growth, damages leaves and tin dispersed rapidly to adjacent plants.

Prescription
Start by isolating the affected works to forestall the fungus from spreading. Remove immoderate heavy infected leaves carefully. Improve airflow by opening a model often oregon utilizing a fan. Treat the remaining leaves with a earthy antifungal spray: premix 1 spoon of baking soda with a litre of h2o and a drop of castile soap. Spray the works play until the mildew clears. For much stubborn infections, use neem lipid oregon usage a store-bought fungicide.

Prevention
Make definite not to overcrowd your plants and support bully aerial circulation, peculiarly astir succulents. Check them regularly, particularly during the cooler months, to place aboriginal signs of fungal activity.