Organic Pest control is the way to go when trying to protect our veggies from pest attack. Natural pest remedies are healthier for the plant, us who consume the produce and long term for the environment!
These 3 homemade organic pest control remedies are some more natural products you can try. You can also try out the other homemade pest control methods covered in our post 4 Homemade Organic Pesticide Alternatives.
Garlic Based Organic Pest Control
This organic pest control method is less of an insecticide and more an insect repellant. The pungent nature of garlic makes it an ideal ingredient for this purpose.
It is very easy to make this insect repellant. You will need the following ingredients:
- 2 whole garlic bulbs – not just 2 cloves, entire bulbs – the aroma needs to be strong.
- 1 quart (1 litre) of water
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon mild liquid soap (liquid Castile soap is a good choice)
Method
Blend the garlic bulbs in a food processor or blender with a little water until it is a smooth paste. Mix the paste into the rest of the water and let the mixture steep overnight. Strain the mixture into another jar and mix in the ½ cup of vegetable oil and the Liquid Soap.
To use, mix this mixture with 1 quart (1 litre) of water and spray liberally onto the insect infested plants. You may have to repeat the treatment several times and particularly after rain.
Chili Pepper Organic Pest Control
Like the garlic spray, this chili remedy is rather a repellant than an insecticide. You can use either fresh chilies or chili powder to make this solution. Using the powder is a bit quicker. Gather together the following ingredients.
- 1 tablespoon of chili powder or ½ cup of fresh chilies.
- Water
- mild liquid soap
Chili Powder Method
Mix 1 tablespoon of chili powder with 1 quart of water. Add several drops of mild liquid soap. This mixture can be used at full-strength directly on the leaves of your plants.
Fresh Chili Method
Blend the fresh chili peppers with 1 cup of water. Add this puree to 1 quart (1 litre) of water and bring to the boil on the stove. Once the mixture is boiling, switch the stove off and let the mixture cool.
Strain out the chili pulp and add several drops of liquid soap. To use, simply decant the mixture into a spray bottle and spray onto the plants as required.
A word of caution would be wise here. Chili peppers can burn human skin and eyes. It is advisable to wear gloves when working with the chili peppers. Do not spray the final mixture near your eyes, nose or mouth.
Orange Peel Organic Pest Control
This organic pest control mixture is effective against soft bodied pests such as slugs, snails, aphids, gnats and mealybugs. It is, however, also effective when sprayed directly on to ants and cockroaches.
To make this mixture, you will need the following.
- Either 1 fresh orange, or 1.5 teaspoons (7.4 ml) of dried citrus peels or 1/2 ounce (15 ml) of orange oil.
- Castile Soap (if peppermint scented, even better!)
- 2 cups (500ml) water
Method
Peel the orange and place the peels in a glass container. Pour 2 cups, about 500ml, of boiling water onto the peels. Allow the mixture to steep for 24 hours in a warm spot.
Strain the solution into another jar, discarding the orange skin. Add a few drops of castile soap and shake thoroughly to combine. Pour the resulting mixture into a spray bottle.
How To Use
You can spray the entire plant with the mixture to ward off soft-bodied pests and deter fungal growth. Spray directly onto ants and cockroaches for best effect.
Test Your Organic Pest Control Mixture First
Test the mix by spraying it onto a small portion of your plant. This step allows you to make sure that the mix will not cause more harm than good. If the section of the plant you test the spray on wilts or changes color, try using a more dilute solution or another type of organic pest control.
The post 3 More Homemade Remedies For Organic Pest Control appeared first on MyGreenTerra - Let Your Lifestyle Heal the Planet.
