Bordeaux mix?

I have been having a few problems with persistent fungal infections over winter / early spring. So this year I wanted to spray them with something different from what I normally use. I looked up Bordeaux mix and concluded it is effectively a 1:1:100 mixture of coppersulfate : hydrated lime : water.

I have found copper sulfate. I am however having no luck with the hydrated lyme (And quicklime + water is not an option in most of europe for individuals).
I was thinking.. Would limesulphur be a good alternative? Or is it needed? Woudl the coppersulfate work just as well alone (Guess not, why else make the mix!)?

As I do not understand the actual process / workings of the bordeaux mix on the plant, or the role of the components it is a bit hard to judge what would be a reaonable alternative.

Anybody any recommendations?

Maybe someone knows of a brand / product to look for in Europe which is hydrated lime, but is named differently..?

I've tried this myself and sort of ran into the same problem. I don't have a massive amount of trees so I finally went with store bought products.
Have you tried something like this?

Burgundy mix is another old alternative to Bordeaux. Replace the lime with washing soda (sodium carbonate) which you may be able to find in the supermarket. Proportions are the same as for Bordeaux mix. but Burgundy mix does not settle out of suspension as easily. Use sodium carbonate (laundry section) NOT sodium bicarbonate (cooking/baking section).
Hydrated lime may also be called slaked lime or builder's lime. Was used a lot by bricklayers to make the mortar easier to spread but they now seem to use 'plasticiser' so lime is harder to find now. It might still be available at farm supply shops or hardware store/ builder supply. Still seems to be reasonably available here in Australia along with cement in the building section of hardware stores.

Lime sulphur diluted properly is also an effective fungicide as well as insecticide. Most gardeners use it for a winter fungal spray. No need to mix with anything else.
You should also be able to get more modern fungicides from garden supply nurseries. Many are far more effective than the older mixtures but you'll need to work out whether you are targeting leaf or root fungi as many newer fungicides are more selective.

leatherback said:

I have been having a few problems with persistent fungal infections over winter / early spring. So this year I wanted to spray them with something different from what I normally use. I looked up Bordeaux mix and concluded it is effectively a 1:1:100 mixture of coppersulfate : hydrated lime : water.

I have found copper sulfate. I am however having no luck with the hydrated lyme (And quicklime + water is not an option in most of europe for individuals).
I was thinking.. Would limesulphur be a good alternative? Or is it needed? Woudl the coppersulfate work just as well alone (Guess not, why else make the mix!)?

As I do not understand the actual process / workings of the bordeaux mix on the plant, or the role of the components it is a bit hard to judge what would be a reaonable alternative.

Anybody any recommendations?

Maybe someone knows of a brand / product to look for in Europe which is hydrated lime, but is named differently..?

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You might try this resource.

markyscott said:

You might try this resource.

Dormant Season Spraying Part 2: Lime Sulfur and Bordeaux Mix

Lime Sulfur vs. Bordeaux Mix Lime sulfur is a mixture of calcium polysulphides formed by reacting calcium hydroxide with sulfur. It’s prepared by boiling the two reactants together with a surfactant (usually soap) and is used in aqueous...

www.bonsainut.com

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But thats the problem I think..He can't find the hydrated lyme in germany..

leatherback said:

As I do not understand the actual process / workings of the bordeaux mix on the plant, or the role of the components it is a bit hard to judge what would be a reaonable alternative.
Maybe someone knows of a brand / product to look for in Europe which is hydrated lime, but is named differently..?

Click to expand...

@leatherback You can find Bordeaux Mix ready to use here in Sao Paulo.
Next time you are around let me know, I can buy some for you. I guess any liquid less than 100ml can be taken on board.

baron said:

But thats the problem I think..He can't find the hydrated lyme in germany..

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hopefully, there’s something in there about the lime sulfur option that the op could use. I personally wouldjust use that.

baron said:

Have you tried something like this?

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similar, but not the same. The bordeause pap I did not run into, thx

OK, good ideas, thx.
Guess I will rethink the whole thing. And take @Clicio up on his offer soon. Too late for spring, but still.

I'd stay away from sodium carbonate as a whole. Potassium carbonate is alright. But sodium is not. Sodium carbonate was the hype on the commercial weed websites in 2018, the result was a bunch of pissed off hippies with a bunch of dead plants.

I have managed to obtain some serious systemic antifungals, if you'd like me to mail you some, shoot me a PM.

You had better know if the trees you plan to spray with Bordeaux can handle it.

Vance Wood said:

You had better know if the trees you plan to spray with Bordeaux can handle it.

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Good point.
I thought this was a generally acceptable treatment? Do you happen to know what groups of trees cannot handle it?

Apple trees are said to be intolerant to Bdx mix, but I sprayed some of mine and they didn't mind.

I’m finding it hard to believe you can’t find lime. It’s readily available in Portugal. It’s widely used to paint walls, especially in the south.

Olà Gus,

Lime and lime sufur are two different things....

I once made my own lime sulfur : boiling lime and sulfur outsdide (fortunately my neighbours are cool, because the stench is horrible).

I dropped the bottle in my garage : it took me weeks to get rid of what CSI would have spotted as a crime scene !

Bordeaux mix is fine for me now.

In the US it is now difficult to find lime sulfur listed as a horticultural spray. However you can still find it as pet dip -- lime polysulfide 28%. You might want to look into that.

Gustavo Martins said:

I’m finding it hard to believe you can’t find lime.

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I have been to hardware stores; They do not sell it. Can't find it in garden centres either

AlainK said:

Lime and lime sufur are two different things....

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Lime sulfur is easy to get. Every bonsai store sells it..

AlainK said:

Olà Gus,

Lime and lime sufur are two different things....

I once made my own lime sulfur : boiling lime and sulfur outsdide (fortunately my neighbours are cool, because the stench is horrible).

I dropped the bottle in my garage : it took me weeks to get rid of what CSI would have spotted as a crime scene !

Bordeaux mix is fine for me now.

Click to expand...

We call it cal viva and is CaO. Easy to get. It boils with water and it is the one used to do the Bordeaux mix here

I also use this copper based called copper oxichloride

"Lime Sulfur/Sulphur" : CaSX (X=2-7)

"Bordeaux mix": Ca3Cu4H6O22S4 H2O