9 Recipes for Insecticides and Fungicide

Malay/English

"Garlic spray, chili spray and neem oil spray are suitable to be used as preventive measure whereas tomato leaf spray, baking soda spray, oil spray, soap spray neem oil spray  are suitable to address infestation"

Homemade insecticides and fungicide are getting more and more popular. I first heard about homemade insecticides and fungicide in 2016 and have been using them since then. 

My homemade insecticides.

Before that, just a few reminders;

Reminder #1: Before using any of the sprays, test it by spraying a little bit on a leaf and observe for 1-2 days; if there is no change on the leaf, that means the spray is safe to be used. However, if there's damage on the leaf, most probably the spray was too concentrated thus  it is better to dilute it so as not to harm the plant.

Reminder #2: Avoid spraying on a sunny day as the interaction with oil causing leaves to display signs of leaf burn.

Now that you've read the reminders, the following are the recipes how to make your own insecticides and fungicide. Pick one that suits you the best.

1) Tomato Leaf Spray

Tomato leaf releases an alkaloid called tomatine when cut/shredded; the alkaloid is deadly to insects but safe for plants and human.

Effective against; 

• aphids
• mites

How to make;

1. Soak 1-2 cups of tomato leaves that have been cut/shredded in 2 cups of water for one night.
2. Filter out the tomato leaves.
3. Add 1-2 cups of water into the tomato leaf water.
4. Store  tomato leaf spray in a bottle.
5. Spray tomato leaf spray on plant especially on the underside of leaf where aphids like to hang out.

Advantage: Tomato leaf spray has been reported as safe for beneficial insects.

2) Garlic Oil Spray

Garlic has been used by gardeners to fight against pests and fungi; garlic contains sulfur that is toxic to insects as well as has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties.

Effective against;

• whiteflies
• aphids
• most beetles.

A mixture of soap and oil is needed to assist in adhering components from garlic on the leaf surface. On the side note, soap also has other benefit for plant (refer no. 4).

How to make:

1. Mix 3-4 garlic cloves that have been cut/diced with 2 teaspoon of mineral oil/vegetable oil and leave it overnight.
2. Remove the garlic from the oil.
3. Add the oil into 500 ml of water, followed by 1 teaspoon of bio-degradable dish-washing detergent (avoid from using detergent containing bleach).
4. Keep the mixture in a bottle and use it when needed.

Disadvantage: This spray can become harmful to garden's beneficial insects. If you want to use it, please be sure that there is no beneficial insects around or during pollination.

3) Hot Pepper/Chili Spray

Chili contains capsaicin that gives the heat which could hurt insects such as ants.

Effective against;

• mites
• whiteflies 

How to make:

1. Add 2 tablespoon chili sauce (the spicier the better) or 4 tablespoon Tabasco sauce with 1 teaspoon bio-degradable dish-washing detergent (avoid from using detergent containing bleach) and 1 liter water.
2. Leave the mixture overnight.
3. Keep the mixture in a bottle and use it when needed.

Author's note: I've used cayenne pepper, jalapeno and ghost chili sauce 😈.

4) Soap Spray

Soap dissolves insect's exoskeleton which is fatal to the insect.

Effective against;

• aphids
• scale
• mites
• thrips
• whiteflies
• beetles
• soft-shell insects

How to make;

1. Add 1 tablespoon bio-degradable dish-washing detergent (avoid from using detergent containing bleach) into 3.8 liter water.
2. Keep the mixture in a bottle and use it when needed

Reminder: Avoid spraying at noon, or on a hot day. The best time to spray is early morning or at dusk.

5) Baking Soda Spray

Baking soda (natrium bikarbonat) is effective against powdery mildew fungal attack on plants by inhibiting the spores from germinating (4).

Effective against;

• Powdery mildew. 

How to make;

1. Add 1 tablespoon baking soda with 1 tablespoon vegetable oil and 1 tablespoon bio-degradable dish-washing detergent (avoid from using detergent containing bleach) into 3.8 liter water. 
2. Keep the mixture in a bottle and spray it every week when plant is showing sign of the disease.

A mixture of soap and oil is needed to assist in adhering baking soda on the leaf surface.

Caution: High concentration of baking soda can cause leaf burn i.e black spots on leaf surface as if it was burnt. Add more water to the mixture to dilute it.

6) Oil Spray

Effective against;

• aphids
• mites
• thrips

How to make;

1. Add 1 cup vegetable oil with 1 tablespoon bio-degradable dish-washing detergent (avoid from using detergent containing bleach). Shake it well.
2. To use it, take 2 teaspoon of oil+soap and add it into 3.8 liter water. Spray it on the affected leaf area (that was attacked by insects).

Oil covers the insect's exoskeleton thus preventing them from breathing.

7) Neem Oil Spray.

Oil extract from Neem seeds is an effective insecticide and fungicide; it disrupts the life cycle of insects at all stages.

Neem oil spray is a suitable selection for organic farming; it is bio-degradable and non-toxic to pets, birds, fishes and wildlife. It is available in Malaysia.

An example of Neem Spray available in Malaysia

How to make;

1. Add 2 teaspoon Neem oil with 1 tablespoon bio-degradable dish-washing detergent (avoid from using detergent containing bleach) into 3.8 liter water.
2. Spray on weekly basis on affected plants. Neem oil spray can also be used as preventive measure against insect or fungal attacks.

Author's note: Waiting for my Neem to grow. Neem oil spray is reported to be harmful to bees, if you want to use it, spray at dusk, once the bees have returned to their hives.

8) Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous earth is sedimentary rock formed from fossilized algae. Diatomaceous earth absorbed lipid in the exoskeletons of insects thus causing them to die from dehydration.

Effective against;

• Snails
• Slugs
• Crawling insects
• Ants

How to use;

1. Scatter diatomaceous earth on the soil surface, around your plants or even on the leaf surface to prevent attacks.

Reminder: It is best to wear mask as diatomaceous earth can cause discomfort in your respiratory system if inhaled by accident. Too much inhalation can cause breathing difficulty, irritation in the eyes as well as skin.

Artikel berkaitan;

13 Cara Mengatasi Masalah Siput pada Tanaman.

Elakkan Semut dengan Serbuk Kayu Manis.

Kucing Kencing pada Tanah.

9) All-in-one Spray

This is a mixture of garlic and chili spray and my favourite.

How to make;

1. Blend/diced 1 bulb garlic and 1 small bulb onion.
2. Add 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper into no. (1) and leave it overnight.
3. The paste is added with 1 tablespoon bio-degradable dish-washing detergent (avoid from using detergent containing bleach) and 3.8 liter water.
4. Filter out the waster and store the mixture in a bottle.
5. Spray on affected plants.

Author's Note

1. Almost all of the spray are water soluble, meaning they will be dissolved by rain.
2. Be certain that only liquid goes inside your spray bottle, residual plant waste can clog up your spray bottle and render it unusable; sometimes it can be fixed, sometimes cannot.
3. Be moderate in spraying.
4. Not all insects are damaging to your plants, some are beneficial for your garden.

Reference:

1. 15 Homemade Organic Gardening Sprays and Concoctions That Actually Work. 

2. Homemade Sprays for Fighting Aphids

3. Natural Home Pesticides: Organic Garden Pest Control.

4. Sodium Bicarbonate In Gardens: Using Baking Soda On Plants.

5. 8 natural and homemade insecticides.

6. How To Make A Natural Pest Spray That's Safe And Effective.

7. How to Get Rid of Ants in Your Yard, Naturally