8 Homemade Insecticides to Save Your Indoor Garden

Reader Contribution by Christine Rudolph
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Indoor plants bring life to your home; however, it is imperative that you take proper care of your favorite plants to ensure that they thrive. One of the biggest challenges that your garden faces is an infestation. While insecticides work miracles in relieving your plants of annoying pests, it is important for you to choose your options very carefully.

Harmful chemicals commonly sold at your local drug store not only kill pests but also harm the overall health of your family. Therefore, it is suggested that you choose a healthier alternative and rely on homemade insecticides that are safer, cheaper and, interestingly enough, more effective. Here are eight natural homemade insecticide sprays that you can use to make your indoor garden a bug-free zone.

Photo by Adobe Stock/Photographee.eu

Soap Spray

Soap spray is a very easy to create, yet a very effective insecticide for getting rid of beetles, whiteflies, mites, and aphids.

• 1-1/2 teaspoons of any mild liquid soap
• 4 cups of water

Mix the liquid soap with the water, pour in a spray bottle and spray the mixture directly on your indoor plants to keep them free of any hungry insects.

Oil Spray

The oil spray is very effective in taking down armies of insects such as mites, thrips, etc. by forming a thick coat on the bodies of the insect and causing them to die of suffocation.

• 1 cup of vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon of any mild liquid soap
• 4 cups of water

Mix the ingredients, pour in a spray bottle and shake well. Sprinkle the mixture on your plants and enjoy an insect free garden.

Rodale’s Organic Life’s Safe and Efficient Spray

• 1 bulb of garlic
• 1 onion (small)
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper powder
• 1 tablespoon of liquid soap
• 4 glasses of water

Chop, grind and puree the garlic and onion. Add the cayenne pepper and let the mixture steep for about an hour. Strain the mixture, add the liquid soap and mix. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and apply it on the upper surfaces and undersides of the leaves of your plants. Store the remainder of Rodale’s Organic Life Spray in the refrigerator. 

Neem Oil Spray

Apart from vegetable oil based sprays, neem oil spray works wonders in repelling aphids, mites, scale and other insects. Here is what you need to create your very own neem spray:

• 2 teaspoons neem oil
• 1 teaspoon mild liquid soap
• 4 glasses of water

Add the three ingredients, mix well and spray the mixture on affected plants or the entire garden as a precautionary measure to prevent your precious darlings from getting infested.

Pepper Spray

Pepper spray is an excellent insect repellent and is effective on wide range of pests. This spray can be made with a variety of peppers including black pepper, chili pepper, dill, ginger, and paprika to fight mites and other pests.

• 2 tablespoons red pepper
• 6 drops of mild dish soap
• 1 gallon of water

Mix the ingredients and sprinkle the solution on the plants as needed to get rid of unwanted insects.

Pyrethrum Spray

• Handful of dried chrysanthemum flowers
• 4 drops of mild dish soap
• 4 glasses of water

Grind the dried chrysanthemum flowers, add water and dish soap to create the mixture for the spray. Sprinkle the mixture on both the top and bottom surfaces of the leaves during the evening to ensure maximum efficiency. This late afternoon shower usually brings the insects out of the hiding and kills them.

Homemade Herbal Spray

• Handful of any heavily scented herb
• 1/2 gallon of water
• 3 drops of gentle dish soap

Crush your selected herb, and place it inside a mesh sack. Pour water into a bucket, put the mesh in it and leave the bucket out in the sun for around four to six days. Remove the herb pocket from the liquid and pour the mixture into a spray bottle and add the dish soap. Shake the bottle well before coating your houseplants generously with the mix.

Vinegar Spray

• 1 cup vinegar
• 3 cups water
• 4 drops of mild liquid soap

Start by combining the water and vinegar and then add in soap. Stir the mixture, pour in a plastic spray bottle and shake well. Spray well on your plants.

If you’re concerned about your family’s health, then chances are you only buy fruits and vegetables that haven’t been exposed to pesticides and other chemical applicators. The same ‘chemical free’ approach should be used for your home garden. These eight very easy to create homemade solutions protect your indoor plants from pests. They also ensure that your family remains safe from harm often caused by off-the-shelf insecticides that are not only expensive and ineffective, but also toxic to health.

  • Published on Oct 13, 2017
Tagged with: Reader Contributions
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