Neem oil for plants - how to use it as an organic pesticide in the garden

 Neem oil for use as an organic pesticide in the garden

Synthetic pesticides and fertilizers were part of the "green revolution" of the 20th century. Because of their effectiveness in killing pests, they quickly became a staple in all plant operations - from large farm fields to small home gardens.

However, it is only in recent decades that we have begun to learn about the dangers and dangers of using synthetic pesticides. Unfortunately, due to their chemical composition, they can be an agent behind many harmful and dangerous processes that take place in natural ecosystems and human bodies. Many of the pesticides that were once commonly used (think DDT) are now labeled as dangerous cancers, while others pose a threat to bee populations worldwide.

These are the main reasons why people are starting to see organic horticulture and the use of natural fertilizers and pesticides. As many insects eat plants, many of them have developed complex chemical mechanisms to defend themselves. From these plants, we can extract some highly effective pesticides that are safe for humans and their pets.

What is neem oil?

The neem tree is one of the most effective plants in combating plant pests.

This miracle plant goes by the scientific name of Asadratsa Indica and is native to India. Since neem is an important ingredient in traditional Indian Ayurvedic medicine, neem has the status of a sacred tree in its origin.

From cosmetics to insect repellents - Neem oil is especially valuable for traditional and modern neem remedies. The latter is of interest to us.

The insecticidal properties of neem oil make it a natural companion in our gardens. Neem oil is nature’s gift from plant to plant.

What is neem oil made of?

 

Neem seeds with leaves

l, which may be up to 50% of the seed weight. That is why neem oil is extracted from the root oil within the seeds.

The by-product of the oil extraction is called neem cake, which is basically made from kernel residue. It can be used as a pesticide and fertilizer in horticulture and agriculture. Interestingly, a cake is also used in organic animal husbandry as an alternative to antibiotics - it is added to animal feed to treat parasitic, bacterial, and fungal diseases.

How does neem oil kill insects?

Neem oil has an adverse effect on more than 200 plant-eating insects, and this number is said to be as high as 600! These include mealy bugs, aphids, cabbage worms, thrips, whiteflies, insects, fungal mosquitoes, mushroom flies, locusts, beet armyworms, the Japanese beetle, and other leaf-eating beetles.

And how does neem oil work as an insecticide? It contains a component called azadirachtin, which is a natural insecticide and repellent that acts as a food and growth barrier.

This means that once ingested, it prevents the insects from feeding on the asparagus, preventing their growth and preventing the larvae from reaching the next immediate or adult form. In a short time, the colony of harmful insects will die.

Neem oil repels insects by its strong aroma, except that it disrupts their metabolism, so the bug is undesirable to consume in the first place.

Use of neem oil in the garden

Insecticidal properties Neem oil is not the only supply to a gardener.

In addition to pests, neem oil and neem oil-based products are effective against nematodes and many well-known, annoying fungal diseases such as powdery mildew, black spot, and rust fungus. Neem oil is said to be able to prevent plant viruses as well.

How to use neem oil properly?

If you want to try neem oil in your garden, you have two choices.

One is to buy commercial neem oil garden products. Brand name versions of store-bought, neem sprays are (generally) well-tested and safe to use. Also, there is the convenience of purchasing ready-to-use items instead of having to do the extra work of finding and mixing the items yourself.

However, store-bought neem oil products generally contain less acetaminophen than you can make from pure oil, which can be less effective in solving your pest problem. Also, they may contain additional compounds that you do not want to have in your garden

In addition, due to some legal limitations in our next section, brand-name neem oil sprays may not actually be available for purchase in your area.

Another approach is to create your own neem oil spray. There are some pros and cons to the DIY approach, such as store-bought,

A DIY neem oil spray at home helps you choose the ingredients and concentrations you want to try in your garden - and you can change the “recipe” according to your observations and experience. For example, you can test high or low neem oil levels and explore the effect of different doses on your common pests.

However, You have to be extra careful with DIY sprays. Different plants can react differently to homemade solutions and their components (e.g. oil or soap concentrate), and some of these reactions turn out to be very bad.

There is one important general rule when creating your own insect sprays: Do not blindly trust the effectiveness and safety of DIY formulas from the web without adequate testing. If you spray the affected plant or your entire garden without first doing a test run, you may get some damaged or dead plants. It goes for all DIY sprays, not just neem oil.

Always test what you have created to a small area of ​​the plant first and see what happens in the next 24 hours.

Neem oil DIY formulas

As I pointed out earlier, homemade neem oil pesticides are more powerful than commercial ones. By carefully selecting a good quality neem oil, you will get a high level of active acetaminophen mixture in your solution — it may be higher than the store-bought version. Asathirachin is the one who kills the insects.

Look for 100% pure, cold-pressed neem oil — these are usually "crude" or "raw" neem oil. Cold pressure is important because it is destroyed by the heat of the asparagus, which means that the oils obtained from the heat do not have much of this precious active compound.

Also, by purchasing organic neem oil, you can avoid contamination caused by chemicals or solvents that may come in contact with plants during the routine, uncertified refining process.

Prepare your neem oil spray

You do not need many ingredients to spray neem oil - oil, water, and broth. The last word should not scare you, because the deal is simple. Oil and water do not mix, so you need to add a mild liquid soap (an emulsifier) ​​to the mixture.

Basic Neem Oil Insecticide Spray - Instructions

To make a basic, mild 0.5% neem oil spray, you will need:

1-foot (1 l) of warm water

1 tablespoon (5 ml) neem oil.

Mild tablespoons (1-2 ml) of mild liquid soap, insecticidal soap, or another mild soap. Other sources suggest that 1 teaspoon of soap is also good.

Mix the soap and water in a closed bottle and shake well until the soap dissolves completely. Add neem oil and shake again.

Concentrations of 0,5-1% are very common for general and regular garden use, however, you can experiment with 2% sprays if you think you need a stronger solution.

How to use neem oil spray?

Always test the neem oil spray on a specific area before using it liberally. This cannot be overstated.

Spray your solution on the affected plant leaves, but first, you will see any adverse effects on a limited area of ​​the plant one day only. If the plant takes the spray well after 24 hours, it can be sprayed all over the affected area.

Neem oil spray can be used when you need it or regularly - a good measure once a week. Regular use of the spray can be a preventative solution, which can be very effective if you are aware of an impending pest attack in your area.

As with other oil-based sprays, make sure the leaves are fully coated so that the active ingredients are in full contact with insects and fungi.

Some more general safety guidelines when using neem oil sprays:

Never use your neem oil spray in direct sunlight.

Do not spray your plants in hot or cold temperatures.

Do not treat plants stressed by poor growing conditions such as drought or excessive watering; Improving the condition of the plant before spraying is important not to add damage by spraying.

Keep neem oil and neem oil spray in a safe place to avoid ingestion by children or pets.

Neem oil toxicity and protection

Since neem oil is highly bioactive and powerful in fighting both pests and other infectious agents, it would be naive to think that it is 100% safe for other organisms.

In humans, there have been reports of severe toxicity caused by ingestion of pure neem oil - 20 ml oral dose causing vomiting, seizures, and toxic encephalitis. It has been reported to have adverse effects on the liver of children and fertility in women.

Therefore, groups that should stay away from any neem products - not just neem pesticides - are women trying to conceive, pregnant women, and children.

The EPA recognizes neem oil-based products as safe, so the rest of your products are acceptable. However, although neem oil is an organic pesticide, all fruits and vegetables treated with neem spray should be washed thoroughly in clean water before use. This applies to any vegetables or herbs you can eat from your garden.