As houseplant addicts and gardeners, you may be searching for ways to control pests without using chemical sprays. By choosing alternatives, you can grow organic produce and keep your houseplants free of toxic chemicals and to avoid the use of chemical pesticides. 

Perhaps you’ve heard whispers of how effective neem oil is on indoor plants and garden pests, but aren’t exactly sure what to do with it. Don’t worry! We’re here to tell you that neem oil can actually be really useful for your houseplants and outdoor vegetables alike.

As houseplant addicts and gardeners, you may be searching for ways to control pests without using chemical sprays. By choosing alternatives, you can grow organic produce and keep your houseplants free of toxic chemicals and to avoid the use of chemical pesticides. 

For those readers who are not familiar with neem oil, it is a natural remedy that controls many pests. It also works well on fungal problems (mildew) and bacterial disease (for example, soap scum and algae). It can also be combined with other organic products for a knock-down punch against bugs.

Although it takes a whole week or more to see results, here are a few ways to use neem oil with plants.

First, you can add a few drops of neem oil to a water-filled spray bottle and mist the leaves if needed. For indoor plants, we recommend applying this remedy as often as necessary to avoid the pests from attacking again. This is especially useful for outdoor pests like aphids, scale or mites. For indoor pests, we recommend spraying the leaves every 7-10 days and for outdoor pests, spray once a week.

A second option is to use neem oil as an insecticidal soap that will leave your plants pest free. If you are not familiar with this product, here’s how it works: combine two tablespoons of neem oil (or more if necessary) with one or two cups of liquid soap. This is especially useful for aphids, whiteflies and other soft-bodied insects. You can make this solution in your spray bottle and then apply it to the plants.

For indoor pests, mist every 7-10 days and an outdoor plant spray once a week.

The third option is to combine neem oil with another organic additive like cayenne pepper. This is especially helpful for fungal problems and bacterial diseases, such as soap scum and algae.

The fourth tip is to combine neem oil with apple cider vinegar which can provide extra control for certain pests like spider mites and thrips. Although this combination takes two or three weeks before you can see results, it does work well.

For best results, you can combine the neem oil with other organic products for a knock-down punch against specific pests. For example, combine it with pyrethrins (commonly found in many pest control products) and/or soap shavings to help kill spider mites. Combine it with cinnamon and other spices (such as bay leaves or cloves) to control aphids. Or you can combine neem oil with products like insecticidal soap, garlic, hot peppers or chives for ants.

Natural Insecticide

Neem oil is a natural insecticide for plants and is derived from the fruit and seed kernels of the neem tree. The beneficial insecticidal qualities are found in both the fruit kernel and its oil, but it should not be confused with tea made from neem leaves – this creates a different product that has little effect on insects.

Neem seed oil contains about 40% fatty acids including linoleic acid and oleic acid. The seed oil is stored in the inner shell of the fruit, which is where it attracts insects. Once they consume this oil, the insect’s nervous system becomes disrupted, causing them to lose motor functions and eventually die.

Neem also contains azadirachtin, a chemical that can inhibit growth of many species of insects. The oil is an active ingredient as well, but it is not the primary ingredient that kills pests. Like most effective organic products, neem oils work in a synergistic way with two or more ingredients to achieve maximum results against common garden and household pests.

Use on soil and leaves

It can be applied to the soil or sprayed on the leaves or stems of plants and can be used to control a very wide range of pests including mites, aphids, beetles, caterpillars, whiteflies and many other insects.

It is also a good remedy for fungal problems like powdery mildew, leaf spot and rust. It may help prevent diseases too such as Fusarium wilt in tomatoes and curly top virus in cucumbers.

Neem oil is not a cure-all for all pests, but it does work well against many of the common garden problems that may attack your plants – especially if you combine it with other organic remedies.

Although neem sprays do not kill all insects it is less toxic to humans than other insecticides.

Since neem oil is a natural product, many people prefer it over chemical sprays that have petroleum-based ingredients and may contaminate the soil and groundwater with dangerous chemicals. Neem oil is also biodegradable which means it breaks down into harmless substances when sprayed on plants.

Spray on the undersides of leaves and stems (especially for insects hiding there) as well as on fruits, flowers or wherever you see pests. If applying to flowers or fruit, be careful not to spray the product directly onto the blossoms or it may cause staining.

Use in early morning or late evening

The best time to spray it is in early morning or late evening when insects are less active. Neem oil can remain active on plants for a long time, so it is important to make sure the spray is dry before nightfall.

It helps to use plastic gloves and safety glasses when applying neem oil because if it splashes into your face or eyes you will not be happy about it! If you think this product may irritate your skin, it is a good idea to test it on a small patch of skin in an inconspicuous place before spraying the entire plant.

Bottom Line

Neem oil is a natural pesticide that can be used to help control pests and fungus on your plants. It’s also great for repelling insects, so if you have any bugs in your garden or around the house, neem oil will take care of them before they do damage to anything. If you’re interested in using this product with your plant life, here are some things you should know about it!