In gardening, in everyday life, in construction and in traditional medicine, copper sulfate is often used. Application against fungus is one of the most popular methods for its use and therefore deserves special attention.
Blue stone
It is also called this substance, which is a crystalline powder of azure blue odorless color.
This is copper sulfate, which easily decomposes from high temperatures, while forming
sulfur dioxide, cuprum oxide and oxygen. It dissolves well in water and quickly disappears in air. It is found in nature in the form of a little-known mineral called chalcanthite.
Copper sulfate in gardening
This substance is very important for the control of fungal diseases. In addition, copper sulfate is used to prepare solutions for treating the walls of vegetable stores, garden crops against scab and lichens, as fertilizer, healing wounds on shrubs and trees, as well as for controlling insect pests.
Almost a rare gardener does without such an indispensable tool in this economic activity as copper sulfate. The use of preparations prepared from this substance against plants fungus allows a good result without harm to the environment and human health.
To get rid of some types of fungi wintering in open areas of plants, the first treatment of fruit trees and shrubs is recommended to be carried out already in early spring, before the leaves appear.
In the summer, copper sulfate is mainly used to treat the root system of seedlings, keeping it in solution for five minutes and rinsing thoroughly afterwards with water. You can spray the plants in case of the first signs of fungal diseases.
Solution preparation
To whitewash tree trunks and treat wounds, disinfect hollows, copper sulfate diluted with water is used. In order to prevent scab, septoria, a five percent solution of copper sulfate is required. Against gray rot, moss and lichens, a preparation is prepared in which 30 g of the substance is used per 1 liter of water.
The so-called Bordeaux liquid, which is based on copper sulfate, discovered by the French botanist at the beginning of the last century, gained great popularity among gardeners. Application against a fungus has made this tool one of the most popular. For its preparation, copper sulfate, slaked lime (100 and 200 grams, respectively) and 2 buckets (not iron) are needed. In one of the buckets, copper sulfate is dissolved in a liter of water, in the other - hydrated lime in five liters. Filter both solutions through cheesecloth, and then dilute copper sulfate, adding up to five liters of water, and pour it in a thin stream into a bucket of slaked lime.
Blue vitriol in the fight against mold
This is one of the most affordable and effective means in relation to this type of fungal formations. Where there is high humidity and no air circulation, mold often appears on food products, on the walls and foundation of buildings. The spores formed by this fungus are also dangerous because they can cause allergic diseases.
In addition to the mechanical destruction of mold and the use of various folk remedies, copper sulfate is also highly effective. Application against fungus on the walls requires some preparatory work.
First you need to remove all coatings affected by mold (wallpaper, paint, plaster, etc.). Ventilate the room well and dry it, then treat the walls with a solution based on copper sulfate at the rate of 20 grams per liter of water. It is most convenient to use a spray gun for this. When the wall surface dries, the procedure must be repeated.
It is also advisable to additionally use building mixtures containing antifungal additives. Copper sulfate, whose use against the fungus, although effective, does not affect all of their species.
Other useful properties
Copper sulfate is used in horticulture not only to combat fungal diseases of plants, but also as an insecticide, protecting plantings from insect pests. Timely processing of plants allows you to destroy up to 50% of eggs and larvae. In central Russia, it is recommended to conduct it in the second decade of April.
The leading position among the materials for construction is wood. But the big problem is the susceptibility to rotting.
Here again, copper sulfate will come to the rescue. The use of compounds with this substance against fungus on wood is determined not only by its effectiveness against decay, but also by the availability of copper sulfate, and also by safety for people and animals. In addition, unlike other means, such processing does not lead to a change in the color of the tree and the appearance of unpleasant odors.
In any home, the bathroom is the place most affected by fungus due to increased humidity and poor air circulation. This threatens that disputes can spread throughout the apartment, threatening other rooms and furniture.
With the appeared black spots on the walls, copper sulfate will successfully cope. The use of any industrial preparations against a fungus in the bathroom can often cause allergies, therefore folk remedies always have their advantages. With a solution of vitriol, not only the areas affected by the fungus are rubbed, but also the adjacent surface. After a few hours, all walls are thoroughly washed with clean water.
Security measures
Copper sulfate is a toxic substance, therefore, special care should be taken when working with it. In no case should you prepare solutions in food utensils. After work, you need to thoroughly wash your hands, face and rinse your mouth. Apply the solution only with a brush, be sure to wear protective gloves.
Despite the high toxicity that copper sulfate possesses , the use against fungus will be more effective with repeated treatment.