Have trouble with fungal infections on your carnivorous plants or any other plants? What if you could find a fungicide that not only deals effectively with fungus but also helps boost growth?
That is what the common, affordable fungicide, Azoxystrobin, does for Venus Flytraps.
Regular use of this easy-to-find product during the growing season can boost the health and growth rate of Venus flytraps and other carnivorous plants.
Additionally, the leaves and traps of plants treated with this product seem to last longer.
In this article, we discuss the benefits of using Azoxystrobin fungicide on carnivorous plants. Read on to learn more.
Why Is Fungus so Harmful?
On any plant, fungus can wreak havoc. Fungal infections can cause damage, unsightly blight, and even death to:
- Great expanses of lawns
- Agricultural crops
- Potted plants
When a fungal infection sets in on an agricultural crop, it can cause damage to the food chain, farmers’ incomes, and even the economy.
How Can You Deal with Fungal Infection in Plants?
Luckily, with most plants, proper care (e.g., adequate watering, enough sunlight, good ventilation) will prevent fungus development.
When fungus has already set in, the use of an effective fungicide can save the day. Azoxystrobin is a good example.
Proactively use this systemic fungicide. It helps protect plants against four different types of fungal diseases. It is one of a class of fungicidal chemicals called ß-methoxyacrylates.
Made of naturally occurring compounds, they are very safe to use in food-producing agricultural settings. This product is also safe to use on sensitive, picky carnivorous plants.
How Does Azoxystrobin Work?
The discovery of Azoxystrobin was a bit of an accident. Scientists were studying a type of fungal mushrooms that grow in European forests.
They were attempting to determine how these sturdy little fungi defended themselves.
The researchers found that the mushrooms secreted two different substances:
- oudemansin A
- strobilurin A
These two substances deflect competitors of the mushrooms (other types of fungi) and kill them in close quarters.
The research of these defenses brought knowledge to create the effective fungicide, Azoxystrobin.
This powerful, long-lasting fungicide works by interrupting the electron transport chain activity of the fungus.
It prevents the germination of fungal spores, stopping the fungus growth process, and choking out the organism.
Azoxystrobin Both Prevents & Kills Fungal Infections
One of the most significant benefits of Azoxystrobin is being able to use it in advance of problems. You can prevent fungus development with regular use. Or you can use the product as a curative if fungus appears.
To control and suppress fungus on most plants, apply Azoxystrobin as a spray to both the foliage and the areas surrounding the target plants.
The chemical makes its way through the soil, where the plants’ roots take it up. It is also absorbed through the leaves of the plants. The dual-action provides complete protection against fungus for about a month at a time.
How is Azoxystrobin Usually Used
This powerful fungicide works in agricultural or commercial settings, and in lawn care. It can contaminate groundwater and be dangerous to fish, snails, and other aquatic life. Thus, it has restrictions in some environments.
When applying the product over a large area, wear protective gear. Avoid accidental ingestion, inhalation, or contact with your skin.
The product is fairly safe as long as you follow the directions on the labels. Remember that when dealing with pesticides and fungicides, the label is the law.
If you do use it, take care not to pour unused product down the drain or otherwise dispose of it in a way that may cause hazards to the natural environment.
Azoxystrobin is Remarkably Affordable
The most cost-effective way to buy Azoxystrobin is to get Scotts Disease-Ex Lawn Fungicide, designed for lawn care
This powder comes in a 10-pound bag for about $15. It takes a minimal amount of the product mixed in water to create an effective treatment.
When stored correctly, the powder will last indefinitely. If you use it for a few carnivorous plants or houseplants, you may need only to buy it once in your lifetime.
Venus flytraps and other carnivorous plants are often sold in home improvement stores and other shops that may not know how to care for them. Thus you may find these exotic plants in deplorable condition on the sales rack.
Should you take the chance to buy these bargain carnivores? If you use Azoxystrobin, then yes.
Fertilizer is not recommended for Venus Flytraps. Still, this simple fungicide is an excellent way to end disease and rot and even boost growth.
It also helps increase the longevity of these carnivorous plants’ traps and leaves.
How Does Fungicide Help Venus Flytraps Grow?
Even though Azoxystrobin is not a fertilizer, it has the effect of one on carnivorous plants. It works by protecting the plant against oxidation, a side effect of environmental stresses and photosynthesis activity.
Apply a Weak Solution Once a Month for Healthy Venus Flytraps
It doesn’t take much of this versatile product to make a big difference to an ailing Venus Flytrap.
Apply a quarter teaspoon of powdered product per cup of distilled water monthly throughout the growing season.
Do not apply the product more than three times a year. Ten pounds of Azoxystrobin is plenty to allow you to treat about 30 Venus Flytraps for nearly a century!
Are There Any Downsides to Using Azoxystrobin for Venus Flytraps?
Consider the product’s harmful effects on aquatic life. If your plants are growing in the wild, you should not use Azoxystrobin. It would be dangerous for aquatic life surrounding your plants.