Insecticide For Outdoor Plants

Insecticides used to treat house plants and indoor flowers also work on outdoor plants. Whether it’s attracting pollinators, herbs, or just adding coolness to your front porch, a well-treated plant won’t attract foliage-eating insects. Using insecticides outdoors doesn’t have to be complicated: mix it up with water, spray the parts of the plant you want to keep untouched by pests, and get back to catching some rays.

Insecticide For Outdoor Plants

It’s important to note that just because these are “natural” or homemade insecticides, that doesn’t imply that they can’t harm your soil, your garden, or your person. An insecticide, which is a pesticide, is defined by the EPA as “any chemical used to prevent, destroy, repel, or mitigate pests,” and as such, they have the potential to be “harmful to people, animals, or the environment.” And of course, not all insects are harmful. Applying insecticides indiscriminately, especially harsh pesticides that affect even the beneficial insects, can have a detrimental effect on your local garden ecosystem.

Before going all out with any pesticide or insecticide, be sure to do your homework and choose the option that is both most effective and least harmful to you and your garden.

1. Vegetable Oil Spray

A homemade insecticide made from vegetable oil mixed with a mild soap (such as Dr. Bronner’s castile soap) can have a devastating effect on certain troublesome insects, such as aphids, mites, thrips, etc.

To make a basic oil spray insecticide, mix one cup of vegetable oil with one tablespoon of soap (cover and shake thoroughly), and then when ready to apply, add two teaspoons of the oil spray mix with one quart of water, shake thoroughly, and spray directly on the surfaces of the plants which are being affected by the little pests.

The oil coats the bodies of the insects, effectively suffocating them,1 as it blocks the pores through which they breathe.

2. Soap Spray

A very similar homemade pesticide to the oil spray is a soap spray, which is also effective for controlling mites, aphids, whiteflies, beetles, and other hungry little insects.

To make a basic soap spray insecticide, mix one and one-half teaspoons of a mild liquid soap (such as castile soap) with one quart of water, and spray the mixture directly on the infected surfaces of the plants.

A soap spray insecticide works in a similar fashion as an oil spray pesticide, and can be applied as necessary (though it is always recommended to NOT apply it during the hot sunny part of the day, but rather in the evenings or early mornings).2

3. Neem Oil Spray

An oil extracted from the seeds of the neem tree is a powerful natural insecticide, capable of disrupting the life cycle of insects at all stages (adult, larvae, and egg), making it a great resource for the organic gardener.

Neem oil acts as a hormone disruptor and as an “antifeedant” for insects that feed on leaves and other plant parts. Neem oil is biodegradable and is nontoxic to pets, birds, fish, and other wildlife, and is effective against a variety of common garden insect pests, as well as being a natural fungicide that can combat powder mildew and other fungal infections on plants.3 It can be found at many garden stores or natural foods markets.

To use neem oil as an insecticide, either follow the instructions on the bottle, or start out with a basic mixture of two teaspoons neem oil and one teaspoon of mild liquid soap shaken thoroughly with one quart of water, and then sprayed on the affected plant foliage. Neem oil can also be used preventatively by spraying the leaves of plants that are often ravaged by pests, before they’re actually infested.

4. Diatomaceous Earth

This natural substance with a somewhat unwieldy name is made from a sedimentary rock created by fossilized algae (diatoms), and which is a rather abundant resource (diatomaceous earth is said to make up 26 percent of the earth’s crust by weight).4

Diatomaceous earth has a number of uses in and around the home, and acting as a natural insecticide is just one of them. This material works not by poisoning or smothering the insects, but instead by virtue of its abrasive qualities and its affinity for absorbing the lipids (a waxy substance) from insects’ exoskeleton, which then dehydrates them to death.

Diatomaceous earth is often available at garden stores, although many times only in large bags, so if you’ve got a small yard, consider splitting it with a neighbor. To apply, simply dust the ground around your plants, or even sprinkle it on the foliage, where it will help control snails and slugs as well as other crawling insects. Due to its dried nature, in order to be an effective natural pesticide, diatomaceous earth needs to be reapplied after every rain.

5. Garlic Spray

Garlic is well-known for its pungent aroma, which is delectable to some and yet repellent to others, and it is this strong scent that comes into play when used as a natural insecticide. Actually, it’s not really clear if garlic spray and chile spray (below) are actually insecticides or are more likely insect repellents, but either way, these common kitchen ingredients can be used to knock down, or even knock out, insect infestations in the garden.

To make a basic garlic spray, take two whole bulbs (not just two cloves) and puree them in a blender or food processor with a small amount of water. Let the mixture sit overnight, then strain it into a quart jar, adding one-half cup of vegetable oil (optional), one teaspoon of mild liquid soap, and enough water to fill the jar. To use this homemade insecticide, use one cup of mixture with one quart of water and spray liberally on infested plants.

6. Chile Pepper Spray

Similar to garlic spray, chile pepper spray is a great homemade natural insect repellent that can be used for a variety of different pests. Chile spray can be made from either fresh hot peppers or chile pepper powder.

To make a basic chile spray from pepper powder, mix one tablespoon of chile powder with one quart of water and several drops of mild liquid soap. This mixture can be used full-strength on the leaves of affected plants. To make chile spray from fresh chile peppers, blend or puree one-half cup of peppers with one cup of water, then add one quart of water and bring to a boil. Let sit until cooled, then strain out the chile material, add several drops of liquid soap to it and spray as desired.

Insecticide For Outdoor Plants

 

– An insecticide can be used to kill insects or other arthropods and is defined as a chemical substance that is used to kill insects. Most insecticides are designed to act through contact, inhalation, or ingestion by a pest. Contact insecticides remain on the surface of plants and are absorbed through the leaves or needles. Inhalation insecticides are taken up into the respiratory system; ingestion insecticides are ingested by mouth parts.

– Insects have been around since the beginning of time and they will continue to be around as long as there is life on this planet. They serve an important purpose in our environment, but they also cause damage to crops and plants every day. If you want to keep your garden free of these pests, then you need an effective way to get rid of them before they do any major damage. This can be done with an insecticide for outdoor plants like

. This product works by killing all types of bugs that could potentially harm your garden or yard without harming yourself or your family members in any way!

List Of Insecticide For Outdoor Plants