One day you may walk out to your garden and see aphids sucking the life out of your plants or cabbage worms chewing holes in your crops. When this happens, it’s hard to know what to do. Maybe you don’t want to spray synthetic pesticides because you know they can harm your health and environment, but you need to get these pests under control - cue neem oil for plants.
Now not all insects are harmful, but for the bad ones neem is a great option. As a natural pesticide, this product can help you control pest populations without causing harm to your body or the environment. It’s easy to apply and effective on a variety of common garden insect pests.
What is Neem Oil?
Neem oil is derived from the seeds of a type of Asian mahogany tree called a neem tree (Azadirachta Indica). Different components of neem oil are used in a variety of products including toothpaste, soap, and skincare products.
The compound that works as a pesticide is called azadirachtin. Since different products contain different components and concentrations of neem oil, don’t switch out one product for another.
How Does it Work?
Neem oil works as a pesticide in a number of different ways, depending on the pest at hand. This natural pesticide repels some pests so they don’t land on or attack your plant. However, the main mode of action is through hormone disruption.
When plants feed on neem oil, their hormone production is disrupted. This can cause the insects to stop eating, eventually leading to starvation. Hormone disruption can also inhibit proper development by prohibiting juveniles from entering the adult stage. One more way neem oil impacts insects is by preventing proper reproduction. Since neem oil works through these mechanisms, it does take a few days to see results.
The same products can be used as neem oil fungicides to control fungi including downy mildew and black spot.
How is it Applied?
Neem oil for plants is most frequently applied as a spray. To start, look at the product instructions and dilute if necessary. Spray all surfaces of your infected plants, making sure to coat the undersides of leaves. Avoid spraying during a sunny morning or afternoon since neem oil can burn plants if it’s applied in direct sunlight. For best results, respray every seven days or after a heavy rain.
Although proper neem oil applications won’t harm plants, improper applications can. Before spraying your whole garden, it’s smart to spray one or two test plants. If the plants look okay the next day, go ahead and spray your whole garden. If not, try diluting a little more before trying again.
What Kind Should I Use?
There are lots of different types of neem oil available, with varying purity and concentration. For the best bet, look for a product that contains pure neem oil, rather than a number of other ingredients.
Plantonix Organic Neem Oil contains 100% cold-pressed neem oil. To use on plants, dilute the oil with water and spray following the instructions mentioned above. Since this oil is pure neem oil, it can be used for other purposes besides pest control. Try mixing a few drops into your shampoo or lotion.
Verdana Cold-Pressed Neem Oil is another brand that contains 100% cold-pressed neem oil. With no added ingredients, you don’t have to worry about product safety.
To conclude
When pests strike your garden, don’t panic. Spray some neem oil, and your crops will be on their way to winning the fight against pests. To learn more about other natural pest control methods check out or article on 5 Natural Pest Control Methods
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