5 Home-Made Insecticide Recipes

Having plants in our home is one of the simplest ways to bring nature inside.  Whether you live in a cosy apartment or you work in a high rise, you can grow your own little garden indoors. But having your plants inside comes with its own set of problems: bugs. These little insects and natural predators live and feed on the leaves of your plants, which makes them not only annoying but also dangerous to the health of your plants. Which is why a home-made insecticide is a must for any plant parent. 

 

Tip: Do the Check

 

Make sure to do a closer inspection of your plant every now and then to check for signs of pests. If there is a sticky substance or black spots on your plant, bad news - that could be a sign you’ve got a pest you need to deal with. 

 

But don’t worry, there are different ways you can get rid of these little pests.

 

Remember: 

 

Always use a clean spray bottle 

 

Always try a spot test to see how your entire plant will respond.

Here are 5 home-made pesticide recipes for you to try:

Eucalyptus Essential Oils

 

Eucalyptus Oil is a good option for a natural pesticide for honey bees, wasps, fruit flies, and flies.  It also leaves a minty smell that works as a natural deodoriser in your house or office.

What You Need:

1/4 teaspoon Eucalyptus Oil 

1 cup of water

Spray Bottle

 

What You Need To Do:

1. Mix the water and oil in a spray bottle.
2. Spray the mixture on the affected plants.
3. Use it once every 1 to 2 weeks until you don’t see them any more.

 

Garlic And Hot Pepper Spray  

 

If you don’t mind the smell, a hot pepper and garlic spray is effective in getting rid of aphids on your plants.  It stops and prevents bad infestations, by keeping them from eating the plants. 

 

What You Need:

2 to 3 garlic cloves

6 large chilli peppers

Cheesecloth or coffee filter

Blender

Spray Bottle

 

What You Need To Do:

1. First thing, put the garlic cloves and chilli peppers in a blender and puree them (this helps release the garlic oil, too).
2. Strain the mixture through cheesecloth or a coffee filter.
3. Pour the mixture into the spray bottle.
4. Spray plants with mixture. Repeat the spray every few days or as long as you can see the common pests in your plants.

 

Soapy Water Bug Spray

 

Treating your infested plants with soapy water is one of the best and easiest recipes to use. Soap kills pests on contact and will dehydrate the spider mites and aphids, but  won’t hurt your plants. Make sure to get the whole infested plant, even the undersides of leaves to prevent severe infestations.

 

What You Need:

1 tablespoon mild liquid dish soap (be sure it’s a mild soap)

1 litre of water

Spray Bottle 

 

What You Need To Do:

1. First step mix 1 tablespoon mild liquid soap for every 1 litre of water in a spray bottle.
2. Spray the mixture on affected plants.  Use it about once a week until the problem is resolved.  Always try a spot test to see how your entire plant will respond.

 

Pepper Spray

 

Black pepper, chilli pepper, ginger or paprika — pests hate those.  All of them contain capsaicin which repels spider mites and other insects. 

 

What You Need:

2 tablespoons red pepper

1 teaspoon mild liquid soap

1 litre water

Spray Bottle

 

What You Need To Do:

1. Place all the ingredients together in a mixing bowl.  Stir slowly.  Add the mixture in the spray bottle.
2. Spray the mixture on the affected plants.  Repeat the spray every few days or as long as you can see the pests in your plants.

 

Diatomaceous Earth a.k.a DE

 

For the unfamiliar, diatomaceous earth is a powdery “soil” that’s made up of ancient fossilised algae plants called diatoms. Diatomaceous earth is mined from sediment deposits of streams, rivers, lakes and oceans and is extremely common. It’s also extremely effective at killing indoor insect pests.

 

While diatomaceous earth feels like baby powder to human hands, the tiny granules actually have jagged edges that are razor sharp to insects. The abrasive particles nick the insects’ bodies at the same time as the absorbent dust soaks up the oils in their exoskeletons, killing them by dehydration.

Simply sprinkle the powder on top of the soil in your planter. 

 

For best results, do this when the soil’s surface is dry to the touch, but before your plant is in dire need of watering, since soaking up water will make it ineffective.

 

Happy bug-free planting!