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Homemade bug spray for indoor plants


7 Homemade Bug Sprays For Indoor Plants

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Having a go to DIY homemade bug spray for indoor garden plants is a must in my house. Years ago people only thought about plants belonging in the vegetable garden and out in the sun. 

They were used to placing them away from homes and indoor spaces.  But today, that’s just not the case anymore.

We love having plants in our homes and offices.  It’s one of the simplest ways to bring nature inside.  Whether you live in an apartment or you work in a high rise, you can grow your own little garden indoors in boxes, pots, or hanging planters.  They help us relax and bring some of the outdoors inside.

Houseplants are the best natural air purifiers.  They cleanse the air from toxic chemicals and raise the air’s humidity to protect us from dry coughs, sore throat, and respiratory problems.

Plants have a wide verity of benefits so why not bring them inside

If you’re feeling stressed at work, having plants in your office or home can lower your blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration.   They help reduce your stress and anxiety.

However, one of the pest problems you can face when keeping plants indoors is different bugs and adult fungus gnats especially.  These little insects and natural predators live and feed on the leaves of your plants.  They are not only annoying — they can do serious damage to your plants, too.

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, that could be a sign you’ve got a pest you need to deal with.

However there are different ways you can get rid of these aphids, mites, and other creepy, crawly creatures, including beneficial insects.  You don’t have to use chemical pesticides, insecticidal soap, or even vegetable oil which large numbers of people used years ago to treat for bugs indoors but that made quite a mess. 

They are not only dangerous for you, your family, and your pets, chemical pesticides are also very expensive and do not always work.

Think smarter, not harder you don’t need a ton of money to treat your plans

But, we also want to be sure we use all natural pest control on the house plants and all natural garden pest control.  So if you’re looking for the best homemade insecticides, best indoor use bug spray, best organic common houseplant pest control, or just great natural pesticides and bug spray for your healthy plants, we have you covered. With these homemade sprays made, with more natural ingredients!

Instead of using store bought pesticides for chemical control with who knows what in them, (I mean, I know they print what’s in it on the product – but I am not a scientist, so I have NO idea what they are!) you can try these homemade bug spray recipes for your indoor plants. 

They are safer and more effective methods of getting rid of the indoor plant pests and indoor plant bugs your houseplants may encounter.  Most of the items to make these you might find you already have at home!

Let’s get started!

You don’t have to buy dangerous and expensive chemicals to treat your garden, you can use DIY sprays

1.

Soapy Water Homemade Bug Spray

Treating your infested plants with soapy water is one of the best recipes to use. Soap kills pests on contact. Soap will dehydrate the spider mites and aphids, and it won’t hurt your plants. However, always try a spot test to see how your plant responds. Make sure to get the whole infested plant, even the undersides of leaves to prevent severe infestations.

What You Need:

2 tablespoons mild liquid dish soap (be sure it’s a mild soap)
1 gallon water
Spray Bottle (always use a clean spray bottle)

What You Need To Do:

1. First step mix 2 tablespoons mild liquid soap for every 1 gallon of water in spray bottle.
2. Spray the mixture on the affected plants.  Use it about every 7 days until the problem is resolved.  Always try a spot test to see how your entire plant will respond.

2.

Neem Oil Spray

Neem oil is a natural and organic product like diatomaceous earth, which effectively controls and eliminates common houseplant pests. It works by messing with the brains of the plant pests, so they stop eating, mating, reproducing, and they’ll eventually die off. This will help you keep up new growth and get rid of serious infestations.

Neem oil also has a residual effect so you don’t need to treat the new plant every day.  You also don’t see them die right before your eyes, it takes some time.  Always try a spot test to see how your plant responds.

What You Need:

1/2 ounce high-quality pure neem oil
1/2 teaspoon mild liquid soap or pure castile soap
2 quart of water (warm)
Spray Bottle

What You Need To Do:
Garlic & Peppers together make a very effective spray and you can grow both yourself

3.

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 bad infestations.

It does this by keeping them from eating the plants.  Always try a spot test to see how your plant and plant leaves respond to any spray, even this garlic oil spray.

What You Need:

2 to 3 garlic cloves
6 large chili peppers
Cheesecloth or coffee filter
Blender
Spray Bottle

What You Need To Do:
You might also be interested in this:  7 Herbs That Grow Well Together In Pots And Containers

 

4.

Alcohol Homemade Insecticide

A rubbing alcohol solution is a great way to gain effective control over heavy infestations and for repelling insects from your houseplants.   Always try a spot test to see how your plant material responds.

What You Need:

1 or 2 cups of 70 percent isopropyl alcohol
1 quart water
Spray Bottle

What You Need To Do:

5.

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 deodorizer in your house or office.  Always try a spot test to see how your plant responds.

What You Need:

1/4 teaspoon Eucalyptus Oil (there are many essential oil bug spray uses)
1 cups 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 every 7-14 days until you don’t see them any more.

Peppers can make a very effective spray, plus you can grow them yourself!

6.

Pepper Spray

Black pepper, chili pepper, ginger or paprika — pests hate those.  All of them contain capsaicin which repels spider mites and other insects.  Always try a spot test to see how your host plant responds.

What You Need:

2 tablespoons red pepper
1 teaspoon mild liquid soap
1 gallon 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.

7.

Chrysanthemum Flower Tea

Chrysanthemum holds a powerful plant chemical component called pyrethrum which invades the nervous system of insects and renders them immobile.  You can add some organic essential oil for added scent.  Always try a spot test to see how your plant responds.

What You Need:

100 grams of dried flowers
1 liter water
Spray Bottle

What You Need To Do:

1. Boil the dried flowers in a liter of water for twenty minutes.
2. Strain, cool, and pour into a spray bottle.
3. Spray the mixture on the affected plants.  Repeat the spray every few days or as long as you can see the pests on your plants.

Stop insect invasions before they have a chance to multiply!  Make your home an unwelcome place for these indoor bugs by quickly spraying them with these homemade plant sprays.

What homemade plant sprays have you found effective?  Share your recipes in the comments below.

You can also find gardening products I use in my videos here

I now have an Amazon Influencer’s storefront. I put the products I use, in my posts and Youtube Gardening videos, there. Shopping there is free and the site gets a percentage of sales. Thanks!

You can go to my storefront using this secure link

If you need seeds, this is the company I use

You can also find gardening products I use in my videos here

I now have an Amazon Influencer’s storefront. I put the products I use, in my posts and Youtube Gardening videos, there. Shopping there is free and the site gets a percentage of sales. Thanks!

You can go to my storefront using this secure link

If you need seeds, this is the company I use

Natural Pest Control For Houseplants... Say NO To Toxic Pesticides!

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Read full disclosure here.

Using natural pest control for houseplants is much healthier for us and our plants. There are lots of home remedies that work great to kill bugs on houseplants! So skip the toxic chemical pesticides, and try these methods instead.


It can be frustrating to find bugs on a beloved houseplant. But if you have indoor plants, at some point you will likely have to deal with houseplant pests. It’s no fun – trust me, I know!

 

But there are lots of natural home remedies you can use to kill bugs on indoor plants, so you can skip the harmful chemical pesticides.

First, let’s talk about why it’s best to use natural methods rather than synthetic chemical pesticides on indoor plants.

Table of Contents

Why Use Natural Pesticides For Indoor Plants?

The obvious reason to use natural pesticides on indoor plants rather than synthetic ones is because they are much healthier for us. I mean, who wants to spray all those toxic chemicals inside of their house anyway. Not me.

But, not only are they dangerous to you, your family, and your pets, they’re expensive. Plus they don’t always work to kill bugs on indoor plants anyway.

Most common houseplant pests are resistant, or can quickly build up resistance to chemical pesticides. And using them will only make your problem much worse in the long run.

So, skip the synthetic chemical pesticides (also known as insecticides), and use these safer, more effective natural remedies for bugs on plants instead…

Houseplant scale infestation on an indoor plant

Natural Pest Control For Houseplants

Below you’ll find several remedies to try. Depending on the pest, and the size of the infestation, some will work better than others.

So, it’s best to know which type of houseplant bug you’re dealing with in order to choose the best method to get rid of it.

Also, you may find that combining a few of these methods will work the best. So be sure to experiment with the different remedies.

Whichever one you choose, you must be persistent with it. You can’t get rid of an infestation with only one or two treatments. It can take some time.

Soapy Water

Soap kills bugs on contact. It’s easy to make your own natural bug killer for indoor plants. My homemade bug spray recipe is one teaspoon mild liquid soap to one liter of water.

Use it in a spray bottle, or to wash the leaves of heavily infested plants (test it on a leaf first to make sure the plant isn’t sensitive to the mixture).

Organic insecticidal soap also works great as a natural insecticide for houseplants.

Insecticidal soap natural houseplant bug spray

Rubbing Alcohol

Use a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol to kill and remove insect pests from the plant.

This can be a bit tedious, but it works great to remove large clusters of pests like aphids, scale, or mealybugs from a plant.

Neem Oil

Organic neem oil is a natural pesticide for indoor plants, and it’s very effective for controlling and eliminating common houseplant pests.

It also has a residual effect, so you don’t have to treat the plant every day like you would with other methods.

If you have issues with recurring infestations, I highly recommend buying some. Learn how to use natural neem oil insecticide here.

Neem oil natural pesticide for houseplants

Soil Covers

Cover the soil of an infested houseplant with a gnat barrier top dressing, or a try sand soil cover to control fungus gnats.

Topping the soil with diatomaceous earth could also help control fungus gnats and other pests that live and breed in houseplant soil.

Yellow Sticky Traps

Yellow sticky traps are inexpensive, non-toxic, and work great to capture adult flying houseplant bugs like fungus gnats, aphids and whiteflies.

Non-toxic sticky traps kill flying houseplant bugs

It will take several treatments to eliminate any houseplant pest infestation, so persistence is key. Once you start treating a houseplant for bugs, continue to do so at least once a day until the infestation is under control. Don’t despair, we can win this battle and keep our houseplants naturally pest free.

Up next, learn exactly how to get rid of houseplant bugs naturally.

If you’re tired of battling bugs on your indoor plants, then you need a copy of my Houseplant Pest Control eBook. It has everything you need in order to get rid of those nasty bugs FOR GOOD! Download your copy today!

More Posts About Houseplant Pest Control

Leave a comment below and share your favorite home remedies and methods of natural pest control for houseplants!


Insecticides - Pest Control

These 8 DIY natural insecticides are extremely effective and will help you avoid chemicals and protect your plants as they are safe and won't poison you or your family.

1. Oil spray

Homemade insecticide made from vegetable oil mixed with mild soap can kill certain problematic insects such as aphids, thrips, mites, scale insects... To make this spray, 1 cup of vegetable oil with Close and shake well with 1 tablespoon of soap, then when ready to use, add 2 tablespoons of oil spray mixture to 1 liter of water, shake well and spray directly on the surface of the pest affected plants. The oil coats the insects' bodies, effectively suppressing them by blocking the pores through which they breathe.

2. Soap Spray

Very similar to homemade oil spray which is also effective against mites, aphids, beetles and other small hungry insects. To make a basic insecticide, mix 1/2 tablespoon of mild liquid soap with 1 quart of water and spray the mixture directly onto infested plant surfaces. Soap insecticide works like an oil pesticide and can be applied as needed (DO NOT use it on a hot sunny part of the day, preferably in the evening or early morning).

3. Neem oil insecticide

Neem tree is an ornamental tree growing on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. Oil extracted from the seeds of the Neem tree is a powerful natural insecticide that can disrupt the life cycle of insects in all phases (adults, larvae and eggs), making it an excellent resource for organic gardening.

Neem oil acts as a hormonal disruptor for insects that feed on leaves and other parts of the plant. It is biodegradable and non-toxic to pets, birds, fish and other wildlife, effective against a variety of garden pests, and a natural fungicide that can fight mold and other fungal infections on plants. It can be found in many health food stores and organic markets. To use Neem oil as an insecticide, follow the instructions on the bottle, or start with a basic mix of 2 teaspoons of Neem oil and 1 teaspoon of mild liquid soap mixed well with 1 quart of water. All this then spray on the affected herbs. Neem oil can be used prophylactically by spraying the leaves of plants.

4. Diatomaceous earth as a natural pesticide

Diatomaceous earth has many uses in and around the home, and its action as a natural insecticide is just one of them.

5. Garlic as an insecticide

Garlic is known for its pungent odor, which is pleasant to some and disgusting to others, and it is this strong odor that comes into play when used as a natural insecticide.

6. Chili pepper spray

Similar to garlic spray, chili is an excellent homemade natural insect repellent that can be used to control a variety of pests. Chili spray can be made from either fresh hot peppers or chili powder. To make the base mix, mix 1 tablespoon of chili powder with 1 quart of water and a few drops of mildly liquid soap.

This mixture is used on the writing of affected plants. To make a fresh chili pepper spray, mix 1/2 cup paprika with 1 cup water, then add 1 liter of water and boil. Leave to stand until it cools, then strain the mixture, add a few drops of liquid soap and spray as desired.

Caution: hot peppers can be very dangerous to humans so be sure to wear gloves when handling this product and keep it away from eyes, nose and mouth.

7. "All in One" - all natural repellents in one spray

To make this insecticide, you need to: crush a whole head of garlic, 1 small onion, 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper powder and leave to simmer for hours. Strain the mixture and add 1 tablespoon of liquid soap and mix well. To apply this homemade insecticide, spray it on the surface of the leaves as well as the underside, and keep the rest in the refrigerator for a week if needed.

8. Tomato leaf as a natural insecticide

You can also make a tomato leaf spray which is a natural aphid protection.

These homemade recipes should give you a good base for making your own. It seems every gardener has their own personal mix and ratio of ingredients, but you can modify these recipes to better control insects.

Natural insecticides - The Portugal News

Who doesn't want all the bugs to destroy your garden! Keeping these greedy critters from your plants and crops is a real nightmare, especially if you try to stick to organic protocols and avoid potentially harmful solutions like common pesticides.

Here are some homemade remedies you can try that won't break the bank or pose a risk to you or your animals.

Neem oil

I read a lot about this. Derived from the seeds of the neem tree, this oil is a powerful natural insecticide capable of disrupting the life cycle of insects at all stages (adults, larvae and eggs), making it an excellent tool for the organic gardener.

Neem oil acts as a hormone disruptor and as an "anti-feedant" for insects that feed on leaves and other plant parts. It is non-toxic to pets, birds, fish and other wildlife, effective against many common garden insects, and is a natural fungicide for controlling powdery mildew and other fungal infections on plants. Follow the directions on the bottle, or start with a base mixture of two teaspoons of neem oil and one teaspoon of mild liquid soap, shaken well with one quart of water, then spray on the affected plant leaves. This product can also be used as a preventative spray by spraying the leaves of plants that are often attacked by pests before they actually become infected.

Vegetable oil

Vegetable oil mixed with mild soap can be an effective insecticide for insects such as aphids, mites, thrips, etc. To make a basic oil spray, mix one cup of vegetable oil with one tablespoon of soap, then when ready to use, add two teaspoons of this mixture to a quart of water, shake well, and spray directly onto the surface of pest-infested plants.

The oil coats the insects' bodies, effectively suffocating them by blocking the pores through which they breathe.

Soap Spray

Homemade oil spray-like pesticide can help control mites, aphids, whiteflies, beetles, and other hungry insects. To make a basic soap spray, mix one and a half teaspoons of mild liquid soap with one quart of water and spray the mixture directly onto infected plant surfaces. This remedy works in the same way as an oily pesticide and can be applied as needed in the evenings or early mornings, but not during the heat of the day.

Garlic

Garlic is well known for its strong aroma and is used as a natural insecticide. In fact, it's not entirely clear whether garlic spray and chili spray (see below) are really insecticides or just insect repellants, but either way, these common kitchen ingredients can be used to beat down or even kill insect infestations in the garden. .

Take two whole onions (not just two cloves) and chop them in a blender or food processor with a little water. Leave the mixture overnight, strain out the solids, and add the resulting liquid to half a cup of vegetable oil (optional), one teaspoon of mild liquid soap, and enough water to fill a quart jar.

Learn more