Organic Forums: Homemade

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Aphids - Alcohol spray, Nicotine spray, Garlic spray, Tomato Leaf spray, Potato Leaf spray, Hot spray
Mealybugs - Alcohol
Scale - Alcohol, Nicotine (soft/young scale only)
Thrips - Alcohol, Nicotine
Whitefly - Alcohol, garlic, hot
Fungus gnats - Nicotine
Leafhoppers - Nicotine, Garlic
Leafminers - Nicotine
Earwigs - Garlic
Earworm - Tomato Leaf / Potato Leaf
Spidermite - Hot
Caterpillar - Hot

Alcohol spray

Use 1-2 cups of rubbing alcohol (70%) to 1L of water. Test the spray on some bottom leaves of your plants first to make sure it's safe and doesn't burn the foliage. Sometimes Alcohol spray can cause leaf damage on Violets or Apple Trees. Works well on many types of plants, including house plants and tropical plants.

Nicotine spray

Nicotine spray is extremely toxic to insects. You can make it by either soaking 1 cup of tobacco leaves (of the tobacco plant), cigarette butts, or rolling tobacco in 4L of warm water. Add a couple of drops of dishwashing liquid to bind it all together, and act as a foliage sticker + spreader. Strain the liquid after it has soaked for an hour or so. Spray the foliage thoroughly underneath and on the top. Nicotine spray acts as a systemic pesticide, and remains active for several weeks. Be careful with your vegetables, and don't spray them when you're planning on harvesting the vegetables within the month.

Garlic spray

Garlic spray works wonders as insecticide and has been proven to work against fungi as well. Mince 10 cloves of garlic in some vegetable oil for at least a whole day. Once it has soaked, add some dishwashing liquid and ½ L of water. The dishwashing liquid helps the oil mix with the water. Stir well and strain. Use 2 tblsp of the garlic mix per 1/2 L of water, and spray plants thoroughly.

Hot spray

Mix 1 teaspoon of Tabasco Sauce with 4 cloves of garlic and 1L of water. Let is soak for at least a day, before straining it.

Tomato Leaf spray / Potato Leaf spray

Both tomato plants and potato plants are members of the nightshade family, which have a toxic, water soluble substance in their foliage. You make this homemade insect spray by soaking 2 cups of chopped tomato leaves, or potato leaves (whichever you prefer or is more readily available) in 2 cups of water for a day, before straining the liquid. Spray both top and bottom of the leaves of your plants for protection.

El Meager is the Owner Manager of National Tropical Plants, one of Australia's leading online nurseries. National Tropicals Online Nursery specialises mainly in rare, exotic, native and general tropical garden plants for Australia. El has written 100's of articles on the subjects of gardening, plants and nurseries and is an avid supporter of the preservation of natural habitat for wildlife and nature. El is also a fanatic gardener herself together with husband Dan. All growing and plant information can be found on the website http://www.nationaltropicals.com.au

How would you like to know a few homemade pesticide recipes that are not only safe, but will cost you next to nothing? It's still possible to keep your garden free from pests without toxins and harmful chemicals.

Most chemical pesticides are toxic to humans as well as pets and small animals that may enter your yard or garden. That's why homemade pesticides make a lot more sense.

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Here are a few of the most common homemade pesticide recipes for your houseplants, yard and garden.

Homemade Pesticide For Snails and Slugs
Diatomaceous earth is a powder-like dust made of tiny marine organisms called diatoms. It is effective on soft-bodied insects as well as snails and slugs. Just spread it on top of the soil and it works by cutting and irritating these soft organisms yet is harmless to other organisms. You can also put out shallow dishes of beer to trap snails and slugs.

To Keep Bugs Away From Houseplants
This is the safest natural pesticide for any home gardener and is effective on a variety of bugs and insects. Mix 3 tablespoons of liquid detergent into a gallon of water. Use in a sprayer bottle for houseplants.

Another Bugs Away From Houseplants Mix
To keep bugs away from houseplants, mix 1 clove garlic, 1 small hot pepper and 1 quart water in a blender. Pour into a spray bottle and apply to plants. Putting hot sauce on a cotton ball in a house plant pot will also repel pests.

Cabbage worms and Spider Mites Mix
For garden pests like cabbage worms and spider mites, mix 2 tablespoons of salt in 1 gallon of water and use in a sprayer bottle.

To Control Garden Pests
Gather together a collection of dead bugs, crush them up and mix with water. Strain the mix until it will come out of a spray bottle. Only use this mix outside.

Spearmint Hot Pepper Horseradish Spray
This is effective on many different kinds of outside bugs and insects and should be an outside spray.

1/4 cup of hot red peppers

1/2 gallon water

1/4 cup of fresh spearmint

1/4 cup horseradish, both root and leaves

1 tablespoons of liquid detergent

1/4 cup green onion tops

Mix the spearmint leaves, horseradish, onion tops and peppers together with enough water to cover everything. Then strain the solution. Add a half-gallon of water and the detergent. You can use this to spray almost any plant safely. Store the mixture for a few days in a cool place.

Natural Pesticide for Aphids and Whiteflies
Mix a few drops of dishwashing detergent with water and spray on plants leaves. This is extremely effective in controlling many soft-bodied insects such as aphids and whiteflies.

Homemade Pesticide For Roses
In your blender make a solution of leaves from a tomato plant 4 pints of water and a tablespoon of cornstarch. Strain the mix and spray on roses as a natural pesticide. Keep any unused spray refrigerated.

Natural pesticides can work well for any home gardener and are much safer for you and your family. After you try a few of these recipes you'll understand that they really work. If you want to control pests naturally instead of chemically, homemade pesticides may be the ideal choice.

Homemade Pesticide Recipes

Gary Gresham writes for 1stopshoppingonline.com where you will discover hundreds of garden and outdoor products to create the perfect garden.

Homemade Pest Sprays - Creating Your Own Organic Insecticide

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Homemade Pesticide Recipes

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