Home Remedies For Insect and Disease Control on Plants
Home-made soap solution for insect control on plants
Mix 2 tbsp baby shampoo in 1 gal. water.
Note: Maximum of 6 tbsp. per gallon of water. Thorough coverage of the pest is necessary. Avoid using soaps on plants with hairy leaves or with very thin waxy coverings on the leaves. Test the spray on a small area of the plant. Wait 2-3 days and check for any damage. Reduce potential injury by rinsing plant with fresh water a few hours after the soap spray application. Water the plants the day before the soap spray application.
Home-made oil spray for insect control on plants
Mix 2 tbsp cooking oil, and 2 tbsp baby shampoo in 1 gallon of water
Controls: aphids, spider mites, thrips, whitefly, lacebugs, scale and mealybugs
Note: DO NOT SPRAY IN SUN ! Also, this may injure hairy or waxy-leaved plants like squash and other crucifers. DO NOT use oil on orchids. Thorough coverage of the pest is necessary so spray both sides of the foliage until it drips from the leaves. Test spray on a small area of the plant, wait 2-3 days and check for damage. It's always a good idea to water the plant the day before you spray. Spray every 5-7 days as needed.
If a fungus is also present then add to the above formula 2 tbsp of baking soda and shake well before and during the application.
If the weather is humid or the threat of disease is high, spray every five to seven days. Spray both sides of the leaves thoroughly at the first sign of disease. Always test any spray on a small area of the plant. This solution can be used against blackspot and mildew on roses, powdery mildew on summer squash, early blight on tomatoes, and alternaria leaf blight on melons.
Home Remedy - All Purpose Bug Spray
Combine the following ingredients in a handheld sprayer and mist-spray your plants until they are dripping wet. Best done in the early evening to avoid burning leaves: in 2 gallons of warm water, mix in two tablespoons of each, vinegar, canola oil and murphy's oils soap, along with 3 tablespoons of baking soda. (courtesy of Adrian Hunsberger, Miami-Dade County Extension Office)
Disease Control on Orchids
Single plants with fungus problems can be treated with ground cinnamon. The orchid leaves must be damp enough for the cinnamon to stick to the leaves. Sprinkle cinnamon on affected area, allow leaves to dry for approximately one week, drying out the affected area.
Mosquito Repellent
1 cup lemon scented dish soap
1 cup lemon scented ammonia
Set hose end sprayer to 20 gallons, spray three times a week. Avoid
smelling ammonia fumes
Mosquito breeding in rain barrels
Prevent mosquitoes from breeding in rain barrels by applying 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the water's surface.
Pepper Spray (insect repellent around plants)
2 tablespoons red pepper
6 drops dish soap
1 gallon water
Red pepper from your local grocery spice section will do. Mix all
ingredients, let sit overnight and stir to dissolve as much of the
pepper as possible. Spray mixture weekly to repel insect pests.
Powdery Mildew Spray
1 part milk with up to 9 parts water. Spray.
Rose Spray for Black Spot
In a sprayer add 4-5 gallons water, 1/2 cup baking soda. If severe add 5 tablespoons of copper hydroxide. May also add insecticidal soap or Neem. Spray.
Slugs and Snails
Place beer in a shallow pan/saucer with edges even with the ground. Snails and slugs will crawl in for a taste, and drown.
Organic Fertilizer
16 oz. Karo light corn syrup
16 oz. Water
1 tablespoon boric acid
2 oz. Seaweed extract
Mix above and store in refrigerator. To use: add 4 tablespoons mix
to 1 gallon of water. Add 1 tablespoon of ivory liquid. Spray every
2 weeks, coating leaves and stems.
Weed Killer
Vinegar
1 part apple or grain vinegar
5-20 parts water
A weak solution (5%) of vinegar and water is as effective at killing
many common weeds, especially young weeds.
Boiling Water
Boiling water will kill any plant and seed it touches. Using a funnel, just pour it on the plant, being careful not to splash any desirable plants. Also use care to not burn yourself.
Alcohol
Mix 1 tablespoon rubbing alcohol with 1 litre of water. Spray the mixture on the weeds thoroughly but lightly. This will kill everything, so be careful of where you spray it. For tougher weeds, you may need to increase the amount of alcohol you use.
Whiteflies
Trap them with yellow index cards, or yellow plastic containers, coated with petroleum jelly. Whiteflies are attracted to the yellow, will stick to the petroleum jelly and die.
Attractant for Ladybugs and Other Beneficial Insects
5 oz. sugar
1 quart of water
Mix thoroughly, and apply with watering can around plants where aphids
are a problem.