Garden Safe Insecticidal Soap And It’s History
The idea of using a garden safe insecticidal soap has been around for hundreds of years when it comes to insect prevention. The reason is, that organic soap dehydrates insects by disrupting their cell membranes. The key is not to use too much soap, or you will also kill the vegetation around the insects. The foliage will be fine if you follow the proportions of soap to water in the liquid soap spray recipe below.
2 tbsp liquid dish soap (not detergent)
1-gallon fresh water
Combine all of the ingredients in some kind of a bucket, then easily transfer directly to a spray bottle as necessary.
Insecticidal Soap Spray
Garlic, onions, horseradish, ginger, rhubarb leaves, cayenne pepper, and other such hot peppers are all widely known to control insects.
1 cup herbs and spices
Boiling water
Pesticide Soap Spray (DIY Soap)
Fill the bottom of a mason jar halfway with the herbs and spices. Fill the remaining space with boiling hot water, twist the lid on, and set it aside overnight. The following day, strain and mix with the Soap Spray. Keep in mind that this will decompose and should be used up, or any leftovers are put in the freezer to be used at a later date.
To control pests, pour it into a spray bottle and apply it directly to the plants.
To create the perfect fertilizer and a garden-safe insecticidal soap, you do not have to buy commercially produced organic products for your garden. Many can be made with minimal effort by you. Of course, you’ll need to purchase the ingredients, but we can assure you that it will be substantially less expensive over time than purchasing those other products or services.
Organic Fertilizer
To make the fertilizer mix, measure out all materials by volume: scoop, bucketful, jarful, etc. Proportions that differ by 10% in either direction will suffice, but do not attempt to make this formula by weight. An old 5-gallon plastic bucket will hold approximately 14 quarts.
Mix in the following proportions:
4 parts seed meal
1/4 part ground agricultural lime
1/4 part anhydrite
1/2 part dolomitic lime
1 part bone meal
1 part rock phosphate
1 part organic manure
1 part kelp meal
Large bags of seed meal, which are typically found used to feed livestock, are best obtained from small farm feed and grain product dealers. The other ingredients are usually available at garden stores, though in smaller quantities or at higher prices per pound. The best prices can be found by mail order or on the internet these days.
Spray for Insect Control Using Garlic
Garlic, because when combined with mineral oil and soap, produces a highly effective and efficient pesticide. It is not, however, a selective insecticide when sprayed. It is effective against cabbageworm, leafhoppers, squash bugs, and whitefly. But will also harm beneficial insects, so use extra caution when using this product.
3 oz. finely chopped garlic2 tsp natural mineral oil
14 oz. liquid dish soap
2 cups of water
Allow the garlic to soak for 24 hours in mineral oil. Pour in the water and liquid dish soap. Stir thoroughly first before straining it into a glass jar for storage. This is your own concentrate. To make the spray, combine 2 tbsp of concentrate with 2 cups of water.
Take care not to over-strengthen the solution. Whereas garlic is safe for humans, when combined with oil and soap, this same mixture can cause leaves potential damage to more delicate plants. To begin, always test the lower leaves of plants to ensure they will not be harmed.
Dormancy Oil
The goal of an oily spray is to suffocate overwintering pests like aphids and mites. The majority of commercial products are made from kerosene or other petroleum oil. Using a renewable resource like vegetable oil is a much less toxic and more sustainable acceptable option.
1 cup vegetable oil
2 tbsp liquid dish soap
1 gallon of fresh water
Stir the soap and oil together thoroughly. Stir in the water a little at a time (water and oil don’t really mix well, but the soap will assist in the process). Fill a clean garden spray bottle halfway with the mixture. Spray the entire plant with the mixture. As you spray, shake the container frequently.
This recipe yields 1 gallon of liquid.
Insect Smoothie
Although it may appear morbid at first glance, seriously consider using an insect smoothie to battle pests. Also, some scientists believe that pheromones emitted by blended insects serve as a warning system to their living descendants. And while this approach has been proven to work, it is not without flaws, but it really is nice to have options!
1/2 cup troubling insects
2 cup water
Find an old blender from a thrift store or yard sale. Fill with 1 cup of water and add both the insects. Blend until smooth, then strain through a muslin cloth or a good fine mesh.
Mix 1/2 cup insect smoothie to 2 cups water, funnel into a spray bottle, and spray directly on plant leaves.