Neem Oil Spray

If you are looking for an effective biodegradable insecticide to protect your plants, you must check out the organic neem oil spray. Since time immemorial, neem has been known for its medicinal properties. It is used in alternative healing therapies for treating health problems. The leaves, fruits and bark of the neem tree are used for various purposes. Neem oil is derived by pressing the seed kernels of the neem tree. Due to its medicinal properties, this oil is used for treating skin problems and is also used in various skin care products.

These days, neem oil is increasingly being used as an insect repellent. If you find aphids or other pests damaging your plants, all you need to do is use neem oil insecticide in your garden. The presence of compounds known as azadirachtin and salannin make it a very effective pesticide. You can even prepare it on your own. Here's some information on how to use neem oil on plants and the benefits of using neem oil as an insecticide.

Neem Oil Insecticide Recipe

Wondering how to make neem oil spray at home? Here is the list of ingredients and the procedure for preparing this organic insecticide at home.

Ingredients

• Organic neem oil, 4 teaspoons
• Liquid dishwashing soap, 1 teaspoon
• Water, 1 gallon
• Spray bottle
• Container

Procedure

• Take the container and pour a gallon of warm water in it.
• Add the liquid dishwashing soap to warm water.
• Add neem oil to this solution and mix well.
• Get hold of the spray bottle and fill it up with this solution.
• Use this spray on the plants within 5 hours.
• Make sure that you use the spray in the morning or evening, if sprayed in sun, it could burn the leaves or cause leaf curling.

Benefits of Neem Oil Insecticide Spray

Though the benefits of neem oil are numerous, let's focus on the effectiveness of neem oil as an insecticide. If aphids or other insects are damaging your plants, you can use this spray in order to protect your houseplants. Neem oil is an environment-friendly alternative to the pesticides that are made from harsh chemicals. Since neem oil has a bitter taste and a very pungent smell, when it is sprayed on the plants, it works as an antifeedant. The pests don't die as a result of poisoning, they die due to starvation. Due to the repulsive taste and pungent smell, the pests refuse to eat or chew on the leaves and die eventually.

Certain compounds present in the neem oil are responsible for breaking the life cycle of insects. The presence of azadirachtin in neem oil is greatly responsible for disrupting the hormonal balance. When this compound enters their system, it interferes with their normal life cycle which includes feeding, molting, mating and laying eggs. Since, the growth pattern of insects gets affected, the pest population is easily controlled. Plant diseases caused by aphids, mealy bugs, spider mites, locusts, thrips and Japanese beetles can be prevented by using this spray.

Neem oil also acts as an effective fungicide and helps in controlling diseases such as black spot, mildew, rust and scab. Unlike the other pesticides that kill the insects instantly, the neem oil works slowly. Don't expect the pests to die the moment it is sprayed. Some insects will die due to starvation and some will die before they molt to the next life stage, thus use of this spray will prevent the pest population from growing further. Another advantage of using this spray is that it doesn't harm the beneficial insects and birds. Only the plant sap-sucking insects get affected. Besides its use as an insecticide or fungicide in organic farming, another advantage is that spraying neem oil on plants doesn't cause any harm to human beings. Due to its medicinal properties, it is actually used for treating several skin conditions. Neem oil also contains vitamin E and several fatty acids and is used in soaps, shampoos, toothpastes and several Ayurvedic medicines. So, you don't have to worry about the side effects and you can safely use insecticides made from neem oil.

For a gardening enthusiast, nothing is more disheartening than seeing his/her houseplants being damaged by insects. Now that you are aware of the various uses of the insecticide made from neem oil and its effectiveness as a method of pest control, you can make this spray at home and protect your plants from the damage caused by insects.