That White Powder on Your Plants Isn’t Dust: Here’s What to Do Before Winter

White powdery mildew can coat leaves and stems, but gardeners can often manage it by removing badly infected growth, improving air circulation, cleaning up diseased debris, and using an appropriate labeled treatment when necessary – Shutterstock

That white powder coating your plant leaves probably did not arrive courtesy of a very messy bag of flour. It may be powdery mildew, a common fungal disease that can spread across leaves, stems, and even flower buds when conditions cooperate.

A plant covered in white does not automatically need the compost pile. With a little detective work and some timely cleanup, gardeners can often slow the disease and send plants into winter in much better shape.