A world without bugs would be unrecognizable, unstable, and very smelly. Insects are an essential biological class on our planet that help decompose organic matter, pollinate flowers, provide food for animals and people, and used medicinally. You might not be a fan of bugs, but we critically need them!
However, some insects are not improving our plants' lives; we need to use pesticides to keep them at bay. This is where choosing wisely matters, and there is an organic and safe pesticide that you should consider using on your houseplants, neem oil. Neem oil is derived from the neem tree (Azadirachta indica) and contains a compound called Azadirachtin, inhibiting growth and suppressing the insects' appetite. Neem oil is superb when used as a preventative and very effective in eliminating infestations. The great news is that it targets major pests like spider mites, mealy bugs, aphids, and fungus gnats. Neem oil also prevents fungal problems in the soil when applied as a soil drench! Neem oil is the perfect pesticide choice for those who prefer the organic route and keep harmful chemicals away! Houseplants such as hoyas, and philodendrons, and pothos that have many leaves will benefit from preventive neem oil mists.
There are two ways to use neem oil to eliminate and prevent pests from eating your indoor plants.
1. Foliar spray
Spraying neem oil solution on your houseplants regularly will prevent catastrophic infestations and help keep your plants free of dust! It is better to create your solution for a few reasons. First, using a diluted concentrate with water and soap is more potent than pre-mixed solutions. Secondly, pre-mixed neem has a short shelf-life and will start to lose potency soon after it is mixed. We recommend creating a mixture each time you need it, and storing the concentrate in the refrigerator as heat will reduce its effectiveness!
Preventative Application
Ingredients:
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1 Liter of room temperature water
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3 ml Concentrated neem oil
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2 ml Castile soap (used as an emulsifier and should not be used on carnivorous plants)
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A sprayer that holds more than 1 liter of liquid
Directions:
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Mix all the ingredients and shake it up until thoroughly combined
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Before you treat all of your houseplants, try testing the solution on sensitive indoor plants first to see if there are any adverse effects. (spray and wait 24 hours)
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Spray all parts of your plants once a month with a fine mist of the solution, making sure you reach crevices, the undersides of the leaves, and stems.
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Spray enough solution to leave a light coating, as too much solution will cause large droplets that will expose parts of the plants.
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Avoid spraying when there is direct light exposure on the leaves, as the oil can facilitate leaf burn.
Infestation Application
Ingredients:
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1 Liter of room temperature water
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5 ml Concentrated neem oil
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2 ml Castile soap (used as an emulsifier and should not be used on carnivorous plants)
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A sprayer that holds more than 1 liter of liquid, or less depending on your portions.
Directions:
-
Mix all the ingredients and shake it up until thoroughly combined
-
Before you treat all of your houseplants, try testing the solution on sensitive indoor plants first to see if there are any adverse effects. (spray and wait 24 hours)
-
Spray all parts of your plants once a week with a fine mist of the solution, making sure you reach crevices, the undersides of the leaves, and stems.
-
Spray enough solution to leave a light coating, as too much solution will cause large droplets that will expose parts of the plants.
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Avoid spraying when there is direct light exposure on the leaves, as the oil can facilitate leaf burn.
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Do this until you have eliminated the pest problem. It could take a few weeks to get rid of them completely!
2. Soil Drench
There might be times when you have unwanted guests living in the soil of your plants, and a neem oil drench is a safe and effective way to eradicate these critters. Not only will the drench free your soil of possible soil mites and fungus, but the neem oil will be absorbed through the roots and act as a systemic insecticide throughout the foliage.
Ingredients:
-
1 liter of room temperature water
-
3 ml concentrated neem oil
-
2 ml castile soap (used as an emulsifier and should not be used on carnivorous plants)
Directions:
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Mix all of the ingredients, so they are evenly distributed.
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Pour the mixture onto the plant's soil until the root ball is wet.
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Allow the excess mixture to seep out of the drainage holes.
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You can drench the soil once a month as a preventative and every week if you are battling a pest problem.
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It is always a good idea to have watered your plants a day before applying the mixture to reduce the chances of the roots absorbing too much neem oil quickly.