Natural Pesticides for Plants Will Solve Your Bug Problems
A lot of people think of pest control as a way to protect our homes from invaders like cockroaches that carry disease or nuisances like bed bugs that feed on us at night. It isn’t only about us or even our pets, though. Instead, it’s often about protection of the plants found both inside and outside our homes.
Whether you have bushes outside, houseplants inside, or a vegetable garden in your backyard, this is just another reason why organic pest control should really be your only option. The best way to get rid of any type of pest is by hiring a pest control expert, but we’re going to briefly discuss some natural pesticides for plants that you can use between professional visits.
The Dangers of Insects to Your Plants
Many types of insects, from beetles to aphids, love to feast on vegetation. Even if the number of bugs doesn’t turn into a full infestation, your plants are very likely to wither and die before too long. At the very least, your outdoor vegetation and household plants will lose their beautiful and healthy appearance. If you have a vegetable garden, it’ll be more difficult for your vegetables to grow or they could be eaten or contaminated by bugs once they do.
The Benefits of Natural Pesticides for Plants
Regardless of the type of pests you have in your home, you should only be using organic methods for their elimination. Not only is this better for the environment because there’s no chemicals involved, but it also won’t be a detriment to your home’s air quality or cause a child or pet to become sick. Natural pesticides for plants are effective and safe, making them the right choice every time.
The Types of Natural Pesticides for Plants
Natural pesticides for plants consist of a variety of soaps and oils, along with other methods, all of which are an effective means of controlling pests and keeping your vegetation safe between professional pest control visits. There are many different types of methods available and here are several of our favorites:
Soapy Water Spray
One of the easiest ways to control insects that love to dine on your plants is to mix 1.5 teaspoons of a mild liquid soap and a quart of water. Then, simply put some of it into a spray bottle and apply it to infected areas of your vegetation.
Neem Oil Spray
This natural insecticide disrupts an insect’s life cycle at all stages, which makes it the perfect solution for your home. Simply mix together two teaspoons of neem oil and one teaspoon of mild liquid soap into one quart of water. This spray allows you to be proactive because you can treat the leaves prior to them being infected.
Diatomaceous Earth
Often seen as a godsend to many homeowners, Diatomaceous earth can be spread on the ground around your vegetation and on the foliage itself. It works by absorbing lipids from an insect’s exoskeleton, which effectively eliminates it through dehydration.
Garlic Cloves/Spray
Puree two whole garlic bulbs in a blender or food processor with a quart of water. Let it sit overnight, strain it into a quart jar, and mix in one teaspoon of mild liquid soap and enough water to fill the jar.
Then, take one cup of this mixture and add it to a quart of water. Another option is to set garlic cloves into the soil around your plants. Both of these methods are meant to repel insects.
Chili Pepper Spray
Another insect repellent method uses either chili powder or fresh hot peppers. Chili powder is the easiest way, because all you need to do is mix one teaspoon of powder into a quart of water along with several drops of mild liquid soap.
If you’re using fresh peppers, either blend or puree half a cup of peppers in one cup of water. Then, add one quart of water, bring it to a boil, strain it once it’s cooled, add several drops of mild liquid soap, and spray away.
Vegetable Oil Spray
Another useful homemade insecticide is made by mixing one cup of vegetable oil and one tablespoon of mild liquid soap. When you’re ready to use the spray, add two teaspoons of the mixture with one quart of water, shake it up, and use it directly on each plant’s surface. This will clog an insect’s pores, thereby suffocating them.
Contact ProHealth for Residential and Commercial Organic Pest Control
As you can see, there are several different types of natural pesticides for plants that will keep your indoor and outdoor vegetation healthy. ProHealth Pest Control can help you maintain the safety of your household and plants with our organic methods for ant control, termite control, cockroach control, spider control, bed bug control, rodent control, and all other pest elimination needs.
If you have any questions or would like a no-obligation estimate for our services, call (727) 310-0521.