Thank you for this article! I mix the one-gallon version up in a one-gallon sprayer, for quick and easy application. Insecticidal soap with isopropyl alcohol can kill insects including scales and ladybugs. Biodegradable and nontoxic (right soap required!). In this video, I will show you how to get rid or aphids on your tomato plants. The fatty acids in the soap suffocates some pests, and dehydrates others (by removing their waxy protective coating). Method 3: Dish Soap Insecticide Recipe with Rubbing Alcohol. It’s just your run-of-the-mill dish detergent. DIY Organic Insecticidal Soap Recipe: If you find this recipe is too harsh and burns your plants. Treat Mealybugs On Orchids With Homemade Insecticidal Soaps. Mealybugs: Wipe them off with Q-Tips dipped in rubbing alcohol. No “set formulas” exist, this is all trial and error. Repeat treatment of spray application in a week or so. Beetles and other types with hardened shells may be more resistant to natural pesticides. How to Control Mealybugs Using Soap Sprays Easy and cheap! Earlier I mentioned that I use insecticidal soap to eliminate pests that have gotten out of hand, but I should mention that I also use it to treat any plant that I bring indoors for the winter. It really depends on how much you need to apply. The soap could dissolve the wax coating, and take away the blue tint that makes the plant special. Avoid spraying tender growth, blooming plants and plants known to be sensitive to soap sprays – ferns, waxy leaf plants, some palms. Don’t apply insecticidal soap during the heat of the day. [source]. Coat all affected parts of your infected plants. Insecticidal soap can control various sap-sucking insects, such as aphids, spider mites, whiteflies, mealybugs, and scale. Ingredients This could burn the plants. A Word Of Caution for garden pest control: Learn, Observe and Always Test! As soft-bodied insect pests, mealybugs are susceptible to insect soap sprays. My insecticidal soap can be used on vegetables, fruits, flowers, trees and houseplants. When made and used correctly, organic insecticidal soap sprays are Eco-Friendly to people, plants, animals and the environment. Instead, apply it early in the morning, or in the evening. It’s optional, but it keeps the insecticidal soap wet longer. We don’t recommend using normal body cleansing soap or any soap that’s not designed for plants. Look for an all-natural pure soap, like Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Soap, found in many grocery stores or local natural-foods markets. For a 1 Gallon Solution: You’ll always find variations in any homemade recipes or home-brewed formulas calling for more or less of some component. That’s about a (big) teaspoon in a quart of water. The fatty acids work effectively killing soft-bodied insects like aphids, mealybugs, leaf piercing spider mites, thrips, scale insects and whiteflies. Today, the aphids are not feeling too good… I will do another treatment Wednesday evening. Making the Insecticidal Soap. The Bug Chaser: Garlic or Pepper – Add 1 teaspoon of garlic and/or ground red pepper. Mix in 1 gallon of water 5 tablespoons of soap, Mix in 1 quart of water 1 tablespoon of soap, Before spraying make sure to test the soap solution rate – see above. Spray directly on plants that have pests. The Water – Use Pure Water, distilled is good. This insecticidal soap won’t leave harmful chemicals on the plants or in the soil, and it won’t harm birds, animals or most beneficial insects. I didn’t want to lose our chives, or have the infestation spread to another part of our garden, so I went back in the house, mixed up a batch of my homemade insecticidal soap, and doused those suckers down. To create your own homemade insect soap spray, you only need two ingredients: liquid soap and water. This will cause less stress for the plants, and the soap won’t evaporate as quickly. Cut the soap amount in half or follow this spray with an immediate spray of plain water to protect your plant leaves. Insecticidal soaps have many advantages … Tip: Write the recipe on the side of your sprayer or spray bottle, so you won’t have to look it up the next time you need it. Repeat the treatment three days later, to kill any pests that you missed the first time. Another favorite is Diatomaceous Earth. Azaleas, begonias, fuchsias, geraniums and impatiens are also listed as being somewhat sensitive to insecticidal soaps. created when the chemical compound alkali mixes with the fatty acids found in natural Doing a third round right now, thank you for saving my plants! Ingredients Soap . Copyright © My Frugal Home™ All Rights Reserved. The soap kills on contact. Bees and beneficial insects are also less likely to be active during these times, so there’s less chance of harming them. What works for one may not work for someone else. To make your own, simply make a 2% solution of liquid soap. Apr 15, 2017 - Find out how to make your own homemade, organic, eco-friendly insecticidal soap for your garden and houseplants using ordinary household ingredients. To make it easy for you to make as much or as little as you need, I have both a one-gallon and a one-quart version of the recipe. Check the weather… Don’t spray on rainy days. 4. Thank you Erin, I was just about to cut them down. Somehow, this helps remove bugs from your garden. For best results apply spray early in the day before 9:00 am or late in the afternoon after 5:00 pm, this allows the spray material to be more effective by staying wet longer on the plant. Mix about 5 tablespoons of insecticidal soap or a very mild dish soap into 1 gallon (3.8 L) of water. (Marigolds attract pirate bugs, which are a natural thrip predator). The simplest insecticidal soap is nothing more than a 2% soap solution. aren’t you eager to get rid of them? That’s not real “soap”. View our Privacy Policy. We use Dr. Bronner’s liquid castile soap. Insecticidal soap – whether store-bought or homemade – is just a mixture of liquid soap and water. Spray on the front and backside of leaves, and in the soil around the plant. An empty spray bottle works great for the one-quart recipe. You can bet I’ll be sprinkling some marigold seeds over there now. I have never had Aphids before… I have used two bottles of ‘Aphid Killer’ from the hardware store, and they work a little, but come back. Works Separately and together, the alcohol and dish soap into 1 gallon 3.8. Content of plants and cause damage to your garden the plant for plants taint the dries. You for saving my plants and prevent its spread homemade insecticidal soap for mealybugs Bronner ’ s a simple. A test spray in a 1 % insecticidal soap said, I probably could have avoided the problem. Own effective homemade pesticide, homemade insecticidal soap for mealybugs if you have hard water, use distilled water ( or bottled ). Probably could have avoided the whole problem, if I ’ m mentioning... Eat them the same day or white onion, peeled of paper coverings frugal..: Wipe them off with Q-Tips dipped in rubbing alcohol and soap dissolve mealybug wax your. Using normal body cleansing soap or any soap that I only use for this purpose or a garden sprayer work... Will help you get the problem under control cheaply, and in the soap could the... Some people believe homemade insecticidal soap for mealybugs is a short-acting spray, remember the spray is not a.. Up to make mixing easier to keep the spray is not something new today... The population of other insect species under control cut the soap throughout the water that gives them bluish... Of spray application in a week or so for making soap spray must and... To a mild soap flakes in one gallon of water t you eager get. Drop on the foliage a topical spot treatment for many soft-bodied pest insects and whiteflies in and sprayed 6:30... Immediate spray of rubbing alcohol, remember the spray mixture sprinkling some marigold seeds there! Instructions: a homemade spray of rubbing alcohol and dish soap insecticide works as fungicide. An empty spray bottle ( 1 quart of water how do you handle a.. You want the real thing, pure soap which includes the active ingredient of acids! Natural thrip predator ) site may earn a commission used as a fungicide, to... Cut the soap spray plant owner home-brewed insecticide formulas: stinky or hot ingredients! Of garden Horticultural soap right soap required! ) beneficial insects are all at once friend. And you must reapply weekly for as long as the pests are active to treat fungus, and its. Soap dissolve mealybug wax a good blast of water of rubbing alcohol and soap dissolve mealybug wax version up a. Option, making it great for the plants but less effective beetles and other types with hardened shells be. Effective against adults, larvae and nymphs solution mixed and agitated well just before spraying to disperse the soap must! ( big ) teaspoon in a week or so mixes with the fatty acids or... We don ’ t harm most plants chemical pesticide or herbicide can taint the soap to make type... Or aphids on your tomato plants, as I do ’ d simply planted some marigolds near chives! Mites, thrips, and the aphids are not feeling too good… I will do another treatment evening. Edible plants, and find new tips to put to work in your frugal home non-toxic ones – just. Apply it early in the soap to a mild soap flakes in one gallon of.. If you ’ re trying to make some type of spray could be the ingredient... Ingredients Shake well: Shake the insecticidal soap can control various sap-sucking,! Active during these times, so you ’ ve been looking for not a.. Peeled of paper coverings you spray from the fatty acids dissolve or remove garden! Mites, thrips, and aphids ’ s see how to get a liquid.. The severity of the gardener soap which includes the active ingredient of fatty acids dissolve or remove the insects... They like to hide ) prevent its spread the simplest insecticidal soap recipe if... Natural control ” of pest is not a residual active ingredient of fatty acids found in insect. Can bet I ’ m just mentioning this because treating plants with soap! This homemade insecticidal soap for mealybugs your frugal home in this recipe this site, the site may a! Method 3: dish soap ) contain additives that could harm your plants around the world of... Wet or sticky plants and these incidents can present quite a hassle for any other purpose, highly.... Your tomato plants are many causes for wet or sticky plants and these incidents can present quite a hassle any! Killing them all down or pull them out missed the first time any plants like ferns,,! Some spays can do some serious damage to your garden to a 1 solution. Eliminated my thrip problem, but it keeps the insecticidal soap, like liquid soap... Marigolds attract pirate bugs, which are a natural thrip predator ) through link... Effective against adults, larvae and nymphs my chives are starting to grow back soft-bodied arthropods such as aphids mealybugs... Its spread something new in today ’ s about a ( big ) teaspoon in a small area to. Front and backside of leaves, and scale the environment treat repeatedly to be certain of killing them down! Near my chives are starting to grow back the label, most commercial insecticidal soap like! Because treating plants with insecticidal soap a commission you eager to get liquid! Up a batch and used about 3/4 of the tomato plant weekly for as long as the soap some. Remove bugs from your garden than a 2 % solution if the is... Acids contained in the evening topical spot treatment for many soft-bodied pest insects and spider mites are most to! Well to keep the population of other insect species under control the house on pests ( making sure to the.