Neem Oil Insecticide

You may not know this but neem oil as an insecticide has been used in India for many hundreds of years. Neem oil benefits today are gaining popularity as a natural, safe and effective insecticide. And due to this, it is used in organic farming. Neem oil is inexpensive, and makes a very good choice of insecticide. Also, it is safe for humans and animals, as many people tend to take neem oil internally as a herbal medicine. Given below is information on neem oil as insecticide, why it works, and some tips on using neem oil as insecticide.

Why is Neem Oil as an Insecticide Effective?
Neem oil uses are many. Neem tree's bark and leaves have many properties. It is antiseptic, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer, antifungal, etc. With these many useful medicinal properties, neem finds its uses in many home remedies, herbal medicines, and other medical products. Neem oil significance in being an insecticide is important. What neem oil does as an insecticide is that it disrupts the insects hormonal balance, so they die before they can molt to the next life stage.

Organic neem oil insecticide kill some pests, when pests have eaten the leaves which were sprayed by the insecticide. While some of the pests get repelled due to the strong smell of neem oil. Neem oil has been used to control many pests like aphids, whitefly, moth larvae, scale, Japanese beetles and spider mites. Because, neem oil can be used to get rid mites, which are not insects but related to bugs like ticks and spiders, certain studies show that it is also an effective miticide.

When neem oil is treated with alcohol, the azadirachtin and related substances separate from the oil, and the remaining oil without the azadirachtin is called clarified hydrophobic extract of neem oil. Neem oil as insecticide spray containing clarified hydrophobic extract are also used as a fungicide against rust, mildew, leaf spot, black spot, scab, anthracnose, blight and botrytis.

Recipes
First of all, you will need to buy neem oil. Thinking, where to buy neem oil? You can find it in many health stores. However, if you can't find it at a health store, then you can buy a bottle of neem oil at online stores. Make sure you buy a good organic quality. Also, check if it has been diluted to what amounts.

To use it as a pesticide, in a large container add two quarts of warm water and mix half teaspoon of a mild liquid soap and then add half ounce of neem oil. Then mix everything properly. Then pour it into a clean spray bottle. You can increase the concentration of neem oil in this recipe by double, however you need to use it within 8 hours, before it loses its potency.

To use neem oil insecticide spray, use the solution all over the plant, including the leaves, stems, even the soil can be saturated with it. Make sure you remember to spray the underside of the leaves too. Always spray early in the morning or early evening to avoid scaring off the good bugs which are scorching the plant in the hot sun. Also, keep spraying more than once a week if it rains.

This was all about neem oil as an insecticide, and how it works on pests, insects and other harm posing organisms to plant health. To use neem oil as insecticide, use the above tips to make an insecticide spray, and use it properly to cover the complete plant and saturate the soil, to get rid of any pests attacking the plants.