Homemade remedies
Insects are one of life’s greatest nuisances and when it comes to repelling them from your garden, prevention is often the best remedy. However, it isn’t uncommon to find that the majority of insect repellant’s contain harmful chemicals that make them unsuitable for use, as well as dangerous for the environment. There are a number of pests that may try to make your new garden their home, however it’s often desirable to encourage friendly pests and critters to reside in your garden as well. Some of the most common garden pests include: aphids, borers, earworms, maggots, mites, whiteflies, moths, and beetles. Using homemade insecticidal soap allows the gardener to control where the soap is sprayed, without placing other plants or insects in harm’s way. Also, the insceticidal soaps are often less toxic than commercially prepared insecticides.
Insecticidal soap
Dissolve 5 ml (1 tsp) of liquid dish soap in 1 litre (4 cups) of water. Spray on plants infested with spider mites, whiteflies, aphids or thrips.
NB: Insecticidal soap is not a preventative. It acts on contact, which means that it must touch the insect pest in order to be effective.
Garlic-based insecticide
Place a clove of garlic in a blender and add 500 ml (2 cups) of water. Blend until smooth. Pour the liquid into a container, cover and let sit for 24 hours. Filter through cheese cloth or a strainer. Dilute with 4 litres (12 cups) of water and add one or two drops of insecticidal soap to make the mixture adhere to plant leaves. Spray on plants infested with spider mites, whiteflies, aphids or thrips.
NB: Garlic-based insecticide is not a preventative. It acts on contact, which means that it must touch the insect pest in order to be effective.
Baking soda solution
Dissolve 5 ml (1 tsp) of baking soda in 1 litre (4 cups) of water and add a few drops of liquid dish soap to make the mixture adhere to plant leaves. Spray on as a preventative against powdery mildew, rust and blackspot. Repeat every 7 to 14 days or after a rain.
Horsetail decoction
Fill a pot with fresh horsetail and cover it with water. Bring to the boil and let simmer for 45 to 60 minutes. Let cool and strain. Dilute the mixture with 9 times as much water. Add 2 ml (1/2 tsp) of insecticidal soap per litre of diluted extract. Spray it on as a preventative, every two weeks, against powdery mildew, downy mildew and rust. Apply every other day to plants that are already showing symptoms.
NB: If the decoction is prepared with dried horsetail, use only half the suggested amount.
Chamomile flower infusion
Steep 7 g of dried chamomile flowers (about 5 Tbsp) in 1 litre (4 cups) of boiling water. Cool the infusion and spray it on seedlings to prevent or control damping off.
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Thanks! are very useful it will be necessary to try baking soda
ok. nice
Great information. This will come in very handy.