In gardening, everyday life, construction and traditional medicine, copper sulfate is often used. Application against fungus is one of the most popular methods of its use and therefore deserves special attention.
Blue Stone
This is also the name of this substance, which is an odorless crystalline powder of azure-blue color.
This is a copper sulphate that readily decomposes at high temperatures to form sulfur dioxide, cuprum oxide and oxygen. It dissolves well in water and quickly erodes in air. It occurs naturally as a little-known mineral called chalcanthite.
Copper sulfate in horticulture
This substance is very important for controlling fungal diseases. In addition, copper sulfate is used to prepare solutions to treat the walls of vegetable stores, horticultural crops against scab and lichen, as a fertilizer, to heal wounds on shrubs and trees, and to combatpests.
Almost a rare gardener does without such an indispensable tool in this economic activity as blue vitriol. The use of products prepared from this substance against fungus on plants allows you to get a good result without harm to the environment and human he alth.
To get rid of certain types of fungi wintering in open areas of plants, it is recommended to carry out the first treatment of fruit trees and shrubs in early spring, before the leaves appear.
In summer, copper sulfate is mainly used to treat the root system of seedlings, keeping it in solution for five minutes and then rinsing thoroughly with water. You can spray the plants in case of the first signs of fungal diseases.
Preparation of solutions
For whitewashing tree trunks and treating wounds, disinfecting hollows, copper sulfate diluted with water is used. In order to prevent scab, septoria, a five percent solution of copper sulfate is needed. Against gray rot, moss and lichens, a preparation is prepared that uses 30 g of the substance per 1 liter of water.
The so-called Bordeaux liquid discovered by a French botanist at the beginning of the last century, which is based on copper sulphate, gained great popularity among gardeners. The use against the fungus has made this tool one of the most popular. For its preparationcopper sulfate, slaked lime (100 and 200 grams, respectively) and 2 buckets (only not iron) are needed. In one of the buckets, copper sulfate is dissolved in a liter of water, in the other, slaked lime is dissolved in five liters. Both solutions are filtered through gauze, after which copper sulfate is further diluted, topped up with water to five liters, and poured into a bucket of slaked lime in a thin stream.
Copper sulfate in the fight against mold
This is one of the most affordable and effective remedies for this type of fungal growth. Where there is high humidity and no air circulation, it is very common for mold to appear on foodstuffs and on the walls and foundations 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 sulphate is also highly effective. Application against fungus on walls requires some preparatory work.
First you need to remove all coatings affected by mold (wallpaper, paint, plaster, etc.). Ventilate and dry the room well, then treat the walls with a solution based on copper sulphate at the rate of 20 grams per liter of water. It is most convenient to use a spray gun for this. When the surface of the wall dries, the procedure must be repeated.
It is advisable to additionally use building mixtures containing antifungal additives. Copper sulfate, although effective against fungus, does not affect all types of fungus.
Other Useful Features
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 carry it out in the second decade of April.
Wood is the leading material for construction. But the big problem is its susceptibility to decay.
Copper sulphate will again come to the rescue here. The use of compositions with this substance against the fungus on wood is due not only to the effectiveness against decay, but also to the availability of copper sulfate, as well as safety for humans and animals. In addition, unlike other products, this treatment 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 prone to fungus damage due to high humidity and poor air circulation. This threatens that disputes can spread throughout the apartment, threatening other rooms and furniture.
Copper sulphate will successfully cope with black spots on the walls. The use of any industrial preparations against the fungus in the bathroom can often cause allergies, so folk remedies always have their advantages. A solution of vitriol wipes not only the areas affected by the fungus, but also the adjacent surface. After a few hours, all walls are thoroughly washedclean water.
Safety measures
Copper sulfate is a toxic substance, so 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 has, the use against the fungus will be more effective with repeated processing.
