What Can Be Sprayed On Plants To Prevent Pests? 6 Options

Are you looking at what can be sprayed on plants to prevent pests? This article will provide you with adequate information about the homemade insecticides you can use in your garden.

 

what can be sprayed on plants to prevent pests

Natural Insecticides

Natural insecticides are what you can spray on plants to prevent pests. You can use natural insecticides to eliminate pests from your plants without the use of chemicals with dangerous compounds. 

In addition to that, natural insecticides have more benefits than synthetic insecticides as it is more cost-effective, considering the cost of synthetic insecticides. They are also biodegradable, and rarely leave residues in the soil. 

Natural insecticides can also be substances produced by living organisms for their defense. As an example, nicotine is a natural insecticide created by tobacco leaves and is a harmful component of cigarette smoke.

Examples of natural insecticides include vegetable oil, soap spray, neem oil spray, garlic spray, and tomato leaf spray. Keep in mind to apply natural insecticides responsibly because not all insects are harmful. 

Do you want to gain further information about pesticides? You may click on this article, answering the question, what type of pest control uses pesticides and herbicides

 

6 Natural Insecticides You Can Use To Save Your Garden

Spraying insecticides indiscriminately can be detrimental to your local garden. Before going all out with your insecticide, make sure to do your homework and select the option that is effective and not dangerous to the environment. 

 

1. Vegetable oil spray

A homemade insecticide composed of vegetable oil mixed with a mild soap can have a destructive effect on certain insects such as mites, aphids, and thrips. To make an oil spray insecticide, mix one tablespoon of soap with one cup of vegetable oil. 

Add two teaspoons of the oil soap mix with one quart of water, shake thoroughly, and spray it on surfaces of plants affected by pests. The oil covers the bodies of insects, causing them to suffocate since it blocks the spot where they breathe.

 

2. Soap spray

To make your soap spray insecticide, mix one and one-half teaspoons of a light liquid soap with one quart of water and spray the mixture on the surfaces of pest-infested plants. 

A soap spray works in the same way as an oil spray pesticide and can be sprayed as necessary. It is advisable to spray it in the evenings or early mornings rather than the hot sunny part of the day. 

 

3. Neem oil

It is a type of oil extracted from the seeds of the neem tree. It has a natural insecticide component that can disrupt the life cycle of insects at all stages (adult, larvae, and egg), making it a great insecticide for any gardener. 

Neem oil serves as an antifeedant for insects that feed on leaves and other plant parts. It is biodegradable, non-toxic to living organisms, and works against various common garden insect pests. 

To use neem oil as an insecticide, start with a mixture of two teaspoons of neem oil and one teaspoon of light liquid soap. Put a quart of water on the mixture and shake it thoroughly. 

Neem oil can also be used as a natural fungicide capable of combating powdery mildew and other fungal infections found on plants. Neem oil can also be sprayed on leaves to prevent plants from being ravaged by pests before they get infested.  

Are you having a mildew problem in your garden? Here’s a guide on how to identify powdery mildew

 

4. Garlic spray

Garlic is popular for its pungent aroma, which is delicious to some and yet repellent to others. It is the strong scent that serves as the natural insecticide. 

It’s not clear if garlic spray is an insecticide or insect repellent, but either way, this kitchen ingredient can be used to repel and eliminate insect infestation in the garden. 

To use garlic as an insecticide, take two whole garlic bulbs (not cloves) and put them in a blender with a small amount of water. Let the mixture sit overnight, strain it into a jar, then add a one-half cup of vegetable oil, one teaspoon of liquid soap, and enough water.

To use this insecticide, use one cup of the spray mixture with one quart of water and spray it on pest-infested plants. 

 

5. Chilli pepper spray

Like garlic spray, chili pepper spray is a great homemade insecticide that can be used to ward off a variety of pests. It can be made from either fresh chili peppers or chili pepper powder. 

To make a chili pepper spray from pepper powder, mix a tablespoon of chili pepper with one quart of water and several drops of liquid soap. 

To use fresh chili pepper as an insecticide, blend a one-half cup of fresh peppers with one cup of water, then add one quart of water and boil the mixture. Let sit until cooled, then strain out the chili mixture, add drops of liquid soap to it, and spray the mixture on plants harboring pests. 

 

6. Tomato leaf spray

Tomato plants are a member of the nightshade family and contain alkaloids such as tomatine, which effectively eliminates pests.

To make a tomato leaf spray insecticide, slice two cups of fresh tomato leaves and put them into a quart of water. Strain out the plant materials and spray as desired. 

 

Conclusion

This article details what can be sprayed on plants to prevent pests. You may spray natural insecticides in preventing pests from plants. 

Examples of natural insecticides include vegetable oil spray, neem spray, soap spray, garlic spray, chili pepper spray, and many more. Natural insecticides are better than synthetic insecticides because, unlike synthetic insecticides, they don’t use substances that can be harmful to the environment.

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