What Is Neem Oil?
Derived from the neem tree, neem oil has been used for centuries to control pests, as well as in medicinal and beauty products. Some neem oil products you’ll find for sale work on disease-causing fungi and insect pests, while other neem-based pesticides only control insects. Check the product label carefully to ensure you get a product that’ll be effective on your specific pest problem.
How and When to Use Neem Oil on Plants
Neem oil is labeled for use on all types of plants, from houseplants to flowering landscape plants to vegetables and herbs. How to use neem oil as a pesticide depends on how it’s formulated for application.
Some neem products are labeled “ready to use” and often come in a spray bottle you can use to apply them. Other neem oil products are labeled “concentrate” and require some prep before using them on your plants. Concentrated products must be mixed with water and ordinary dish soap, then poured into a spray bottle before application. Ready-to-use formulations are quick and easy to use; concentrated products are generally less expensive than their grab-and-go counterparts.
It’s important to identify the insect, mite, or fungal disease you’re battling. Pesticides are labeled with specific pests they control. Neem oil is labeled for soft-bodied pests such as aphids, beetle larvae, caterpillars, leafhoppers, mealybugs, thrips, spider mites, and whiteflies.
Some neem oil products control fungal diseases such as powdery mildew and blackspot. It combats fungi by preventing new spores from germinating. Neem oil won’t completely eliminate these diseases, but it can reduce the spread enough that your plants can continue growing.
You can use neem oil any time of year, whenever pest problems appear. It’s particularly useful in winter for controlling houseplant pests such as whiteflies. In summer, you can use neem oil on veggie and herb crops up to the day of harvest. Just make sure to wash produce thoroughly before eating.
Post time: Jan-11-2024