Interesting! I love tall phlox. I've had a mildew problem in the past. I will definitely write this down and give it a try this summer!

When do you start spraying it and how often? I'm guessing this is a preventative and you don't wait till you see signs of mildew?

Oh one more question - if you don't use the whole mixture, does the milk spoil if not refrigerated?

Thank you for the tip!

I read that tip in a gardening magazine--glad to hear that it really works! Thanks!

Share -- I try to get ahead of actual mildew in a preventative way, but I have so many gardens and so many phlox that sometimes it does show up before I deal with it. I need to refill my special little sprayer pump more than once to do the entire job. If I have leftover mixture, I do put it into the fridge, after making sure I empty the nozzle so it doesn't clog.

So when I have been lazy and the mildew has shown up, I just begin the spraying regardless, and unless the attack is truly terrible (which has happened!) to the point that the infestation is very heavy, even at that late time, the procedure kills much of it. I try to reapply the mixture every few days in high summer when conditions here (Zone 5b-6 Central MA) are humid.

Glad you plan to try it! The One-handed Pressure Sprayer I mentioned in the OP from Amazon Is able to be set for constant spray mode without my having to squeeze the trigger handle. Makes it much kinder to my aging small hands!! I highly recommend it (I have four of them for various garden uses, lol).

Violetsnapdragon (love your name!) -- go for it! It really helps. When I do it soon enough, AND faithfully, the result is hardly any mildew, hurrah.

Although a milk solution is well known in its ability to help control powdery mildew, it is only a preventative. Most fungicides, even organic ones, are. You need to start spraying before you see any signs of the disease. It will not kill or remove existing infestions but only keep it from spreading to unaffected foliage.

Really appreciate this tip for a home made solution. I haven't really grown phlox because of the mildew problem. I've seen them get pretty ugly by the end of the season. But I came across a variety last year that seems to be very resistant to it, or is claimed to be and I bought two last fall. 'Glamour Girl'

Phlox 'Glamour Girl'

I like the fact your sprayer has a constant spray setting, because that was something I would avoid without it for the same reason. I link to the one you mention below.

Solo One Hand Pressure Sprayer

I'm thinking I may be able to use one of these for liquid fertilizer.

Love that sprayer with the up turned nozzle..thanks for sharing!

It will come in handy to tackle those destructive ‘four lined bugs’ that took up residence in my garden...

Yep, that sprayer has all kinds of good features! I love mine. Enjoy!

(Thanks for posting the link, PrairieMoon, as I haven't the faintest idea how to do that!)