How To Make and Use Neem Oil Spray For Plants | Homemade Neem Oil Spray

The neem tree, its leaves and fruit have antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties.

In India, the paste of neem leaves has been traditionally used as a dressing for healing wounds in people and animals. Neem leaf tea is used for stomach infections. Neem stem are used as toothbrush.

How Does Neem Oil Work?

Neem oil rapidly breaks down in soils, water and on plant tissues. It can be used for a wide variety of plants like vegetables, herbs, fruits, houseplants and ornamental plants. It can be used as a insect repellent, fungal disease control and soil drench.

Avoid neem oil for recently transplanted plants, seedlings, leafy greens and plants under stress, since they can be sensitive to the oil.

Insect Repellent

The compond, azadirachtin in neem is mainly responsible pest control. When you spray neem oil on insects and mites, it suffocates them and kill them like other repellents. The neem oil also effective in disrupting the growth and development of immature insects or in the larva stage,and also the adult insects as well.

The neem oil spray is effective against aphids, mealybugs, whiteflies, thrips, caterpillars, spider mites, and scales.

The neem oil does not affect the pollinators like honey bees and flies.

Fungal Disease Control

Neem oil can be effective to control some fungal diseases and powdery mildew. It will not cure already infected plant tissues but will prevent spread of the problem.

It will help limit the spread of fungal disease, although it will not cure already infected the part of the plants.

Soil Drench

You can use neem oil as a soil drench to manage and treat certain pests, such as root nematodes and fungus gnat larvae. It does not affect earthworms in soil.

To use neem oil as a soil drench, pour some diluted solution on the soil. When applied as a soil drench, the compound azadirachtin is also taken up by roots and works as a mild systemic pesticide against certain insects.

Neem Oil Leaf Shine

Diluted neem oil can be used to shine leaves of indoor plants like rubber plant. Spray on leaves and wipe with a soft cloth. This will not only shine the leaves but also protect them from insects.

How To Make Neem Oil Spray

The neem oil you buy is in vey concentrated form, so if you use directly on plants, the plants will burn. It should always be diluted before application. You cam make your own neem oil spray at home quite easily. Buy some neem oil from the market and use it as mentioned below.

As we know, oil and water does not mix, so we need some emulsifier to mix them. We use dishwashing liquid soap to mix oil in water. Take the following ingredients to prepare spray:

Neem Oil Spray Recipe for Organic Pest Control

   5 liter water
   1-2 tablespoons of concentrated, cold-pressed neem oil
   1-3 teaspoons dishwashing liquid soap

If you wish to make 1 liter spray, then reduce the ingredients to one fifth. So you will need 3 ml neem oil per liter of water. You can use neem oil water ratio up to 1:100, depending on severity of problem.

How to Mix Neem Oil

Neem oil Soap Solution

1. In a small bottle, take 1 tablespoon of neem oil with 1 teaspoon of liquid soap and stir vigorously to combine them. This will create a creamy thick yellowish liquid.
2. Now take a jar, fill it half with warm water, the warm water helps in mixing. Now pour in your neem soap solution. Close the lid and shake the bottle until you do not see oil droplets on the surface. if you still see some oil droplets on the surface, then add some more liquid soap.
3. Now add water to make it 5 liter.

It is better to make the fresh spray each time you need it. Because, the neem oil will try to separate from the water with time. You should ensure to shake it thoroughly prior to use. If you spray solution having floating oil drops, then it will increase the risk of damaging the areas of the plants that come in direct contact with neem. Strong neem can cause leaves to sunburn.

Essential Oil Additions

You can make spray more effective by adding a few drops of essential oil in the neem oil spray. The essential oils like peppermint, lavender, tea tree, orange and eucalyptus act as natural insect repellents.

Just add 10-20 drops in 5 liter neem oil solution.

How to Use Neem Oil to Control Pests

1. Neem oil breaks down quickly, so do not mix more than a single application. Do not store unused solution. Mix afresh for repeat applications.
2. Spray neem oil on both sides of leaves as well as stems. Ensure to spray the bottom of leaves thoroughly, as pests hide there.
3. You may first try your neem oil spray on a small area of the tree to see its adverse effects, if any.
4. After 24 hours after application, look for signs of damage like any discoloration of leaves or leaf burn. if everything is okay, then you can treat the entire plant.
5. Repeat the neem oil spray after 7 to 10 days. For neem oil drench, reapply a week later if you're dealing with a current infestation, or every three weeks to prevent insects.

When to Spray Neem Oil?

Though neem oil has very low toxicity to beneficial insects, it is best to spray it or any other pesticide early in the day or late in evening when bees and other pollinators are less active.

Never spray neem oil during sunny conditions, it can cause sunburn on the leaves.

Neem Oil Safety

Neem is considered safe to use, but when ingested in concentrated form may irritate stomach. Some people are sensitive to direct contact, may also cause eye irritation. It is better to wear gloves and a mask to protect sensitive skin and lungs.