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DIY Insecticidal Plant Spray
Many people enjoy gardening in the summer. Whether tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers or flowers, having a beautiful garden is a rewarding and beautiful summer project. We all start off in May with new plants, fresh flowers and manicured garden beds, but by the time July and August roll around, sometimes my garden is not always looking quite as beautiful. The heat may have taken its toll and pests have begun to enjoy the veggies in my garden just as much as I have. Depending on where you live you may be dealing with a variety of pests from caterpillars to cabbageworms, to aphids, or beetles. None of them are pleasant.
Commercial insecticides are very dangerous, and while they may kill your pests they may also leech into the ground and end up contaminating your water supply. The vapor from sprayed insecticides can be inhaled and may be harmful to you and other (friendly) animals in and around your garden, and eating food that contains pesticides can lead to a build up of toxins in your body. Pesticides have been linked to countless diseases.
So, what is an organic gardener to do? Obviously, we don’t want to give up our healthy gardens without a fight but the risks of commercial pesticides outweigh the benefits. I have a very simple solution for you… soap! Yes, soap.
Dr. Bronner’s Castile soap is made with all natural plant based ingredients so it is not harmful to our health or the environment. However, it is very effective in killing insects because it disrupts the insect’s cell membranes and kills pests by causing dehydration. Dr. Bronner’s is also made with essential oils, which can repel insects from coming to your plant because it subtly covers up the plant’s natural scent.
It doesn’t take much to work, so just spray as needed and you will most likely see results fairly quickly. So, next time the pests start to invade your garden just reach for the soap!
DIY Insecticidal Plant Spray:
- 2 TBS of Liquid Castile Soap (I prefer Dr. Bronner’s lavender or peppermint)
- 1 Qt of Water
- Spray bottle
Directions:
Combine all of your ingredients and transfer to a spray bottle as needed. Spray as needed to get rid of garden pests.
Gonna try it
Per Dr Bronner website it says to mix 1 tbsp per quart of water and that’s how I’ve always done it but you use 2 tbsp and I was wondering if it’s more effective or works in fewer number of treatments? I try to use least amount of anything on my plants if I don’t have to. I also add in a 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper for pest deterent properties or for Fungus gnat invasions I have another soap spray that I add 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon and it works wonders on the Gnats.
Can I use this on my house plants?
Yep!
Maybe it can work on magnolia scale
This will not hurt butterflies or hummingbirds or honey bees?
Would think s work for roses? To kill aphids?
Will it work on slugs?
I love your articles. Would this work for potted plants? Would I have to dilute it?
Nope, the same ratio works perfectly with potted plants.
Wow, I didn’t know this. Seems like a pretty simple solution. I will have to try it.
I love it! My mum and aunty have a little garden and they tend to buy sprays in order to get rid off bugs, etc. So I will send them your article and get them to try it 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Great post!
Cheers, Trish