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Which one works best? Since these formulas are not based on scientific testing nobody really knows. All it does is control the spread of the disease. When mixed with oil it becomes more potent, but it is not a cure. Sodium bicarbonate on its own is not very effective, but does work to some extent. It also helps the oil and water mix together.

Lets face it, every home remedy includes some dish soap – so why not add it? In this case it helps the water stick to the leaf and may also help the bicarbonate stick better. It also helps the bicarbonate stick to the plant. The oil is important since it makes the sodium bicarbonate more effective. It is much more likely that horticultural oil was used in the research and it is also a common recommendation. Many formulas suggest using vegetable oil, probably because it is readily available to home owners. Howard Garrett-a well-known horticultural columnist and radio personality in Dallas, Texas, recommends baking soda sprays at a concentration of 4 teaspoons (1.3 tablespoons) per gallon of water for control of powdery mildew, blackspot, brown patch, and other fungal diseases (ref 2). How much sodium bicarbonate should you use? J.

Each fungal disease is controlled to a different degree. Black spot is a completely different disease. We think of powdery mildew as one disease, but it is actually hundreds of different diseases. Too much can be phytotoxic (harms the leaf), and too little is ineffective.Įffectiveness also depends on the disease. To be effective the right amount of material needs to be on the leaf. This sounds simple, but all of this is very dependent on the dose. So sodium bicarbonate prevents or slows down the growth of fungi. Fungal spores germinate best in acidic conditions. Sodium bicarbonate when mixed in water is fairly alkaline. To better understand if and how this mixture works it is valuable to have a look at the ingredients. That seems clear – the Cornell Formula is an invention by writers and general public, and spread by social media.īut like any good mystery – there is more to this story. Many of the formulas that are promoted in articles and forums are simply inferior and may have adverse impacts.” Horst, “The myth of the so-called ‘Cornell Formula’ continues to spread and I feel that the record needs to be set straight.

Horst says, “There is no such formula.” “With the advent of the Internet,” says Dr. Other writers picked up on the information, filled in the details of the formula and gave it a name – the Cornell Formula.ĭr. “ During scientific trials, incomplete information was reported in a gardening publication that ultimately found its way into the public domain”, (ref 1). Horst, working at Cornell University, started testing the effectiveness of sodium bicarbonate on garden fungi, like powdery mildew and black spot on roses.

Or at least we are led to believe this press release happened. Ken Horst, has commented on the myth in a press release dated May 18, 2006, to try and set the record straight. We know the basis of this myth because the original scientist, Dr.