Homemade plant bug killer
6 bug sprays for plants |
While insects are a valuable part of our gardens' ecosystems, sometimes they end up tucking into our vegetable harvests or eating their way through our flower buds before they bloom.
These moments can have us reaching for the insecticides. However, filled with toxic chemicals, commercial insecticides often stand at odds with the sustainable garden ideas that we want our plots to embody.
This is where homemade insect sprays and deterrents come into their own. Created from items you would find in your store cupboard, they are quick and effective ways to ward bugs off your prized plants.
‘Homemade garlic, nettle, soap, tomato and basil sprays are effective against aphids, mites and thrips. The aim is not to kill off all the insects in your garden, but rather aim for a healthy ecosystem,’ says garden expert Leigh Clapp.
Bug sprays – 6 homemade recipes for plants
Homemade bug sprays should only be used as a short term solution – at the same time as treating pests, think of adding other plants to your garden that will encourage insects and animals that prey on the problem bug.
‘Disaster-proof your garden through plant diversity. The wider the range of plants, the less they are plagued by pests, so that if a disease or pest occurs only a limited number of susceptible plants will be affected,’ continues Leigh.
For example, if you want to get rid of slugs, can you attract more birds? If you need to get rid of aphids, could you plant angelica, fennel and dill nearby to attract ladybirds? There are lots of different companion planting ideas that will help you to reduce pests in your plot. By creating a balanced garden, you will find that you have less and less need for bug sprays.
Before using any of these bug sprays on your plants, always do a patch-test. Spray a small amount onto a few leaves of the plant and wait 24 hours to see if there is any damage. Avoid using any foliar sprays during the heat of the day as the exposure to the sun can cause leaf burn.
1. Insecticidal soap
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A popular bug spray for treating a wide range of pests, homemade insecticidal soap, consists of soap, oil and water.
Homemade insecticidal soap is often the first port of call for many gardeners as the ingredients are all store cupboard essentials.
To create insecticidal soap combine one cup of vegetable oil with one tablespoon of dishwashing soap or pure Castile liquid soap. For this method, as well as any others that call for dishwashing soap, avoid those that contain a degreaser or bleach as these can cause more harm than good. Use this oil and soap mixture as a concentrate and dilute one teaspoon with two cups of warm water into a spray bottle. Once mixed with water, the solution’s efficacy will only last for a day.
Insecticidal soap is one of the best ways of getting rid of aphids, as well as lacebugs, leafhoppers, mealybugs and thrips.
2. Neem oil bug spray
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An organic insecticide, neem oil has seen a rise in popularity as a method to treat everything from insects through to fungi.
‘Neem oil has been used in India for thousands of years and is a trusted method to keep on top of pests, without any of the nasties,’ explains John Maree, co-owner of OxyPlants .
‘A spray of Neem oil on the tops and undersides of your plant’s leaves will help remove several pests, including mites, whitefly, aphids, thrip, and mealybugs, at every stage in their life cycle. Using neem oil also helps to get rid of powdery mildew, too.’
To use neem oil as a homemade bug spray mix one to two tablespoons of pure, cold-pressed neem oil with a gallon of water. You can also add one to two teaspoons of dish soap to the mix to help the neem oil adhere to the plants.
Alternatively, you can use neem oil as a root soak to treat root rot. Mix one gallon of water with two tablespoons of neem oil and one teaspoons of pure Castile liquid soap (to help the neem oil adhere). Apply a small amount as a test and wait 24 hours. If all is well, then apply two or three cups to the soil around the plant, then continue the treatment as a replacement to the watering cycle.
A benefit of using neem oil over other pesticides is that it doesn't harm birds, pets or beneficial insects.
This is because neem oil gets absorbed into the plant’s tissue rather than just sitting on the surface and so only affects any insects that ingest the plant.
3. Vinegar spray
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It seems that there is no end to the abilities of vinegar, especially when you take into account the numerous ways of cleaning with vinegar, but did you know that it can also be used as a bug spray?
One of the easiest homemade bug sprays, simply mix one cup of white vinegar with three cups of water. You can also add half a teaspoon of dishwashing soap to help the solution adhere. Shake thoroughly and apply to the affected areas.
The acetic acid in the vinegar will treat a wide range of garden pests but it requires contact. If you have whitefly eggs be sure to spray under the leaves. Furthermore, white vinegar has a strong odor which has been reported to repel ants and other scent driven pests.
'If you are wanting to treat houseplants with a vinegar spray, try adding a few drops of essential oil or some slices of lemon peel or rosemary sprigs to help temper the vinegar smell,' advises Period Living editor Melanie Griffiths.
4. Garlic spray
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You may have heard that onions and garlic make good companion plants as the scent of their foliage helps to repel aphids, slugs and carrot fly. This spray takes it to the next level.
‘Puree two garlic bulbs with one tablespoon of vegetable oil, let it sit overnight, strain, add one teaspoon of mild liquid soap and four cups of water to fill the spray container,’ recommends Leigh Clapp.
Store this mixture in the fridge until needed. In the evening, spray both sides of the leaves with the spray and then reapply every few days when your plants are suffering with infestation. Alternatively, use every one to two weeks as a deterrent.
If you want to be even more sustainable, why not learn how to grow garlic so that you can have an endless supply of garlic spray – plus extra cloves that you can add to your favorite meals?
5. Tomato leaf spray
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If you’ve ever tried growing tomatoes, you will be familiar with the characteristic scent of their leaves, but did you know that these leaves contain a compound called alkaloid which can be used to create a spray that is toxic to aphids and mites? To make a tomato leaf spray, mix equal quantities of chopped up tomato leaf with water and leave to steep overnight.
Let this steep overnight, before straining into a spray bottle and applying to the plant’s leaves.
This is a great way to recycle tomato leaves once you've pruned them – you can learn how to prune tomato plants for a maximum yield.
6. Cinnamon spray
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If you’ve ever grown plants in pots, you’ll be familiar with the problem of stray mushrooms. However, this can be easily resolve with a simple cinnamon spray. Mix two teaspoons cinnamon powder into four cups of warm water. Allow this to steep overnight and then strain through a coffee filter and then pour into a spray bottle. Mist the potting soil and plants.
Cinnamon spray is also reported to be an effective treatment to get rid of ants. If you have an ant problem in your pots or want to keep ants away from dining or patio areas, try applying cinnamon oil or powdered cinnamon to create an effective barrier.
What is a natural bug killer for plants?
Vinegar is a really effective natural bug killer for plants.
Dilute it 1:1 with water in a spray bottle and spray it over and under the leaves of affected plants. You can also use it around the house to deter bugs inside; the vinegary smell will quickly dissipate.
You can also use a hydrogen peroxide and water solution, which is great when trying to get rid of bugs from houseplant soil.
Which homemade bug spray is best for repelling mosquitoes?
The best homemade bug sprays for repelling mosquitoes are those with a strong smell that mosquitoes hate. Other than citronella, which you are probably already familiar with as a mosquito repellent, they include the following essential oils:
- Catnip
- Cinnamon bark
- Geranium
- Lavender
- Lemon eucalyptus
- Peppermint
- Pine
- Rosemary
5 Homemade Pesticides: Soap Sprays for Plants
There is no magic bullet for keeping your garden and indoor plants free from insect pests. Some tricks I have learned over the years are ways to cope with bugs without resorting to nasty chemicals.
Here are my tips, including homemade insecticidal sprays (soap sprays).
Pay Attention to Your Plants
Before resorting to using pesticides (even organic ones), consider the following techniques to discourage insect pests from attacking your plants:
- Nourish your plants with organic amendments such as aged compost. Strong plants don't attract as many insects and can withstand their assault better than weak ones. If you're using fertilizer, follow instructions closely. Over-fertilized plants will attract pests to eat their lush new growth.
- Use companion planting to repel insects naturally. Some plants thrive together; some do not. See our Companion Planting Guide.
- Use barriers like row covers to block pests from attacking your plants, especially tender transplants. (Remove the covers when plants are established and in bloom to allow for insect pollination.) Additionally, "collars" (paper towel or toilet paper cardboard rolls) inserted around the small transplants (1 to 2 inches into the soil) will prevent insects such as cutworms from eating the young stems.
- Time plantings to avoid peak insect populations. For example, plant squash as early as possible to avoid squash vine borers, which lay eggs in early to mid-summer. Plant carrots after June 1 and harvest by early September to avoid the carrot fly.
- Select varieties that are naturally resistant to some pests. I grow a lot of butternut squash because it is highly resistant to attack from the squash vine borer.
- Make your garden welcoming to beneficial insects and they will do a lot of the work for you by keeping the bugs they feed on in check. For example, lady beetles are an effective biological control of many insect pests. If you see a tomato hornworm with white cocoons on his back (above photo), leave him alone. A parasitic wasp has laid her eggs on him and soon her babies will eat him from the inside out. A fitting death for such a gruesome pest!
- Learn to identify the bugs in your garden. You can't beat them if you don't know who is friend and who is foe.
Learn what their larvae and eggs look like to head them off before they become adults.
These aphids have done some damage, but don't spray if you see the black and orange alligator-like ladybug larvae attacking them. He will do the dirty work for you by eating up to 50 aphids a day!
5 Organic Pesticide Sprays for Insects
If you have exhausted all these methods and feel you must resort to using a spray, don't reach for harsh chemicals. They will do more harm than good by polluting the watershed, killing good and bad bugs alike, and eventually the insects you are trying to kill may grow resistant to those chemicals requiring you to use even stronger ones! They can also harm birds, animals, you, and your children!
Try a more natural approach by making one of these homemade insecticidal sprays. Bear in mind that although they are less toxic they are not totally harmless. Keep them away from kids and pets. Test them on a few leaves before you go all in to make sure they won't injure your plants.
Be sure never to spray them on your plants during the sunny, hot part of the day or they will definitely cause foliar damage. Spray in the evening, when bees and other pollinators are not active.
- Dish Soap Spray: Dissolve 1 tablespoon of a mild liquid soap such as a pure dish soap (no bleach, degreaser, or detergents added) or castile soap in 1 quart of water. Dr. Bronner's soap may be expensive, but it uses no animal fats, which makes it a good choice for vegans. Insecticidal soaps are good for killing soft-bodied insects. Be sure to cover the whole plant—both sides of the leaves and on the stems. Soap sprays only work when wet, so they will need to be reapplied every 4-7 days or until you notice that populations have decreased. After a few applications, if rain hasn't done this for you, spray the plants with plain water to rinse off any soapy residue.
- Oil Spray: Mix 1 cup of vegetable oil with 1 tablespoon of mild liquid soap.
Add 2-8 teaspoons of this mixture to 1 quart of water and spray your plants as above. The oil in this spray smothers the insects so it is effective on aphids, thrips, mites, and scale.
- Tomato Leaves Insecticide: The leaves of tomatoes contain solanine and tomatine and can be used as an insecticide. Soak 2 cups of fresh leaves in 1 quart of water overnight. Strain and spray. It kills aphids and many types of chewing insects, but also attracts beneficials. Don't use it on other nightshades like eggplants, peppers, or potatoes because it could spread disease from plant to plant.
- Garlic Repellent Spray: Despite all you've read, garlic acts as more of a repellent than a killer. Puree 2 bulbs of garlic with 1 cup of water and let sit overnight. Strain the liquid into a quart jar, add 1/2 cup vegetable oil, 1 teaspoon liquid soap, and fill the jar the rest of the way with water. Put one cup in a 1 quart sprayer, fill with water and apply to your affected plants.
It is good for repelling aphids, cabbage worms, leaf hoppers, squash bugs, and whiteflies.
- Hot Pepper Repellent Spray: Hot pepper is also a good repellent and works on rabbits and deer as well as many insects. Mix 1 tablespoon dried chile powder, 1 quart of water, and 1 teaspoon of mild soap. Spray full strength on the plants under attack.
If you have lots of hot peppers growing in your garden, you can make a fresh concoction from 1/2 cup chopped peppers pureed in 1 cup of water. Add the puree to 1 quart of water and bring to a boil. Let sit until cool and then strain. Add 1 teaspoon mild soap and spray full strength on plants. You might want to wear gloves when working with this spray and be sure not to get it into your eyes!
Many other plants have been reported to have insecticidal qualities, including hyssop, lettuce leaves, onions, pennyroyal, peppermint, and radish leaves.
There is no one-size fits all when it comes to pest management.
At best we can try to maintain a healthy balance of good guys and bad guys and still get some decent produce for us!
Now that we've learned how to minimize insect pests, let's tackle weeds. Here are tips on coping with weeds, including 5 Homemade Herbicides.
How to deal with indoor plant pests
Types of indoor plant pests
Among the types of indoor plant pests, there are those that live in the soil and those that settle on the plants themselves. Soil worms and insects damage roots, gnaw stems and leaves. Pests on the plants themselves damage the leaves by eating them and sucking out the juice. Depending on where the pest is localized, methods of control and prevention are selected.
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Prevention of indoor plant pests
First of all, you need to avoid the occurrence of pests in the soil and on the indoor plants themselves.
Therefore, to combat indoor pests, be sure to use timely preventive measures:
- regular inspection,0076
- timely transplanting into quality soil,
- access to fresh air,
- prevention of plant crowding.
These simple rules will help you avoid indoor plant pests.
Prevention of indoor pests begins with the purchase of flowers. Buy only healthy plants, be sure to quarantine the new plant, no matter how healthy it may seem. Remember that at first the pests may not be visible, and when they enter the home, they may begin to multiply.
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POST-PURCHASE TREATMENT
Houseplant Soil Pests
Houseplant soil pests are caused by the use of untreated soil and overflowing of flowers.
To prevent indoor pests in the ground, it is recommended:
- use proven quality soils in home floriculture,
- conduct heat or chemical treatment of the soil mixture when it is prepared independently,
- observe the irrigation regime.
Podura in houseplants
Very small white insects that jump on the surface of the soil. Plants are not harmed. But with an increase in the population, they go into the stage of active reproduction, and then they become a problem.
Measures to combat podurs:
- reduce watering,
- change the soil to less moisture-intensive,
- apply bottom watering,
- from chemical preparations: Grom-2, Bazudin.
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Nematode in indoor plants
Roundworms that live in the root part of plants, leaves and stem. It's hard to fight.
- With the root nematode, the root ends become swollen, yellow galls are formed.
- The roots stop nourishing the plant and it dies.
The process is sluggish and long, and the plant may remain healthy, and then die abruptly.
Measures to combat the nematode:
- Isolate the affected plant from others and destroy it together with the soil.
- It is possible to shed the soil with special means "Nemaphos", "Nematofagin".
- Conduct thermal soil treatment.
Earthworm in houseplants
May be introduced into houseplants through untreated soil.
- Damages the roots, which can cause death of the plant.
- There is also a positive moment - it processes the soil, improves its organic properties.
- But in the small space of a pot, the earthworm begins to undermine the roots of the plant.
Control measures:
- Irrigation with hot water with a weak pale pink solution of potassium permanganate.
- Hand picking at transplanting.
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Earwig in houseplants
The most unpleasant guest who settles in houseplants.
- Usually found in outdoor conditions.
- Feeds on all parts of plants.
Measures against earwig:
- baits with preparations,
- treatment with Phosbecid, Karbofos, Antizhuk, Raptor according to the instructions.
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Millipede in houseplants
Unpleasant appearance, thin long body and many legs.
- Damage roots, prevent root growth.
- They also feed on soil flies.
Measures to combat the centipede:
- drying of the soil,
- collection by hand,
- use of baits, "Intavir", "Aktellik" according to the instructions with a mandatory repetition.
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Soil flies in houseplants
Soil (flower) flies, mushroom mosquito, sciarids are small flying insects that live in the upper layer of soil soil of a houseplant.
- Spread infection among plants, love moisture.
- The larvae eat up the organic remains of the soil; if there is a lack of food, they can eat up the roots and stems of plants.
Measures against soil flies:
- replace the top of the soil,
- sprinkle with sand,
- forget about watering from above for 2 weeks,
- water in the pan.
- As for chemicals, Grom-2 can be added to the soil.
During this time, the midge larvae will dry out and no longer appear. In the future, avoid excessive watering.
Pests on indoor plants
Of the indoor pests that live on the plants themselves and affect leaves and stems, the most common and dangerous are various types of aphids, spider mites, thrips, whiteflies and mealybugs. The most effective pest control and prevention measures will be regular spraying, washing, warm showers and spatial isolation.
The regular warm shower for plants such as:
- Aroid,
- Orchid,
- Ficuses,
- Kutovoye,
- Marante crotons,
- Dracins,
- Paporotniki,
- Palm.
Spider mites on houseplants
A common pest of houseplants. Lives on leaves (their reverse side), usually goes unnoticed for a long time.
- In conditions of dry air and high temperatures, it multiplies rapidly.
- The leaves are covered with cobwebs and become as if punctured, spots appear.
- A strongly neglected plant has a gray color, the leaves fall off and the plant gradually withers and dies.
Indoor control measures for spider mites and aphids are the same (see below). The main thing is to create conditions that are uncomfortable for the tick:
- increased humidity,
- spray the underside of the leaf,
- observe the spatial isolation of plants.
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HOW TO FIGHT SPIDER MITE ON CUCUMBERS IN THE GREENHOUSE
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Aphids on houseplants
Slow crawling green and gray insects.
- They feed on the juices of the leaves, so they curl up and dry out.
- Aphids live in colonies and constantly multiply.
- They spread a viral disease, the leaves mutate and lose their original color.
Particularly love:
- indoor roses,
- chrysanthemums,
- fuchsia,
- Marante,
- Palm,
- Crotons and other species of plants.
Measures to combat aphids (and spider mites):
- create a humid atmosphere,
- periodically arrange a warm shower with obligatory rinsing of the underside of the leaves,
- regularly use the tablets in the ground "Golden Iskra" throughout the year .
- You can use "Fufanon", "Oberon", "Omite", "Sunmite" with mandatory re-processing according to the scheme according to the instructions.
If preventive measures are followed, the risk of aphids and spider mites is reduced.
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Thrips on indoor plants
The most dangerous pest of indoor plants.
- They develop very quickly and are difficult to excrete.
- Corroded silver-coloured burrows, sticky dark secretions and blotches appear on the underside of the sheet.
Measures to combat thrips:
- A warm shower and regular spraying will help,
- Wiping the leaves with a weak solution of vinegar or citric acid,
- Treating and watering with Intavir-M full propagation is required soil replacement
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Scale insects and false scale insects on indoor plants
They are brown, leathery outgrowths ranging in size from 1 to 7 mm.
- Settling on the leaves and stems of plants.
- In the places of damage, the leaves turn yellow, the plant dies due to a constant lack of nutrition.
Scale insect control measures:
- Insecticides are effective control measures.
- Prevention requires quarantine of new plants, regular spraying and monthly warm showers.
Mealybugs on houseplants
White insects covered with a powdery wax coating.
- They live on the underside of leaves, on stems.
- When they multiply, white cotton-like eggs are found in the axils of the leaves.
- They spread a sooty fungus that severely poisons plants.
Scale insects , scale insects are easily removed when using insecticidal preparations "Golden Iskra", "Fitoverm".
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FIGHT AGAINST MEATERY bug ON ORCHID
Whitefly on indoor plants
The most dangerous pest of indoor plants. Small insect from 2 mm long, yellowish in color and with two pairs of white wings. Actively breeds throughout the year.
It affects almost all plants, but
- fuchsias,
- royal pelargoniums,
- abutilones are especially susceptible.
The fight against whiteflies is extremely difficult and it is impossible to do without the use of chemicals.
Control measures:
- At the initial stage, you can catch them with yellow sticky traps.
- Aktara, Konfidor, Fitoverm, Aktellik, Mospilan have proven themselves well.
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HOW TO FIGHT WHITEFLY ON INDOOR PLANTS
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Caterpillars, slugs on indoor plants
Mostly garden - get from outdoor plants and soil. They eat leaves and flowers.
They are controlled by manual collection, dusting with ash, setting traps with adhesive tape.
Folk remedies against houseplant pests
- Spillage of soil with a weak pale pink solution of potassium permanganate.
- Dandelion leaves together with roots 50 g grind, pour 1 liter of water and infuse during the day, strain and spray with whiteflies.
- Leaves and flowers Infusions and decoctions help in the form of spraying on the leaf with aphids , spider mites.
- Spraying on the leaf with infusion of garlic. Grind 50-100 g of garlic , insist for 3 days, dilute with 0.5-1.0 l of water.
- Treatment of leaves with soap solution using laundry soap and any dishwashing detergent such as Fairy, pet shampoo. Let dry, then rinse with warm water;
- Dilute colloidal sulfur 5 g per 1 liter of water, spray on foliage. Helps with spider mites , mealybug , scale insect and powdery mildew. Processing should be carried out with care, always in a protective mask and gloves, and only in the fresh air and in calm weather;
- Dusting with smoking tobacco , ash , cinnamon.
Folk pest control methods
Note to gardeners and gardeners.
Summer heat is not always good for plants. But the insect pests of the garden and vegetable garden are expanse. During this period, they strive to feast on seedlings and sprouts of future vegetables. Insects can not only bite a plant, but cause irreparable harm, which means leaving gardeners and gardeners without a crop.
Of course, parasites must be fought. To do this, you can use both chemical agents and folk remedies.
Insect pests
We have already written about insects that can harm fruit plants and vegetable seedlings. Let's see what harm insects can do to a future crop. And, most importantly, how to defeat the uninvited guests of the beds.
- There are several types of damage to plants by those insects that have gnawing mouthparts. These are mining (only a stalk remains from the leaf), gnawing (holes of various sizes are visible), skeletonization (the tissue of the leaf is completely eaten away) and ulceration (looks like a lot of sores). But insects with piercing-sucking mouthparts are able to deform leaves and change their color. Ticks suck the juice from the underside of the leaves, enveloping them with a thin cobweb. Light dots appear on the damaged leaves, then some areas become discolored and the leaves dry up. All this leads to premature death of leaves and flowers, delayed plant growth and fruiting, or even death of plants - told us the head of the Directorate of Horticulture and Land Use of the State Budgetary Institution "Agency for the Development of Rural Territories" of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources of the Ulyanovsk Region, Candidate of Agricultural Sciences Nailya Fedorycheva.
By the way, every year pests and diseases caused by them destroy up to 50% of the potential yield of vegetable and fruit crops.
There are more and more of them
Hot and dry weather does not benefit plants at all, but bugs and pests become more active at this time. In hot weather, insects multiply faster, and therefore the risk of crop loss becomes even greater. Therefore, you need to think in advance about how to protect your garden from aphids, ticks, fleas, thrips and weevils.
Folk wrestling
To get rid of pests, you can use not only chemical agents, but also folk methods. For example, some wild and cultivated plants that have poison in their composition can help in the fight against insects.
But it is worth remembering that plants are still poisonous and when harvesting, processing and using them, you need to remember about safety measures.
Be sure to wash your hands and the utensils in which the solution was prepared after working with such plants. Of course, it is better not to use the dishes for something else and put them in the far corner. Waste from infusions and decoctions must be buried in the ground, but deeper.
By the way, such products are not harmful to people, animals and vegetables, but insects will disappear after their use.
Tobacco dust and lime
Onions and garlic usually damage onion fly larvae. To get rid of it in advance, even in the spring months - before the cherry and dandelion blossoms, you need to sprinkle the soil along the rows with a mixture of tobacco dust and lime. The calculation should be taken as follows: one or two kilograms per 100 square meters. You can also use wood ash. It is necessary to process the beds two or three times with a break of eight days.
Chicory and marigold
Onions and garlic can be damaged by the onion nematode. The leaves of plants turn white, wither and gradually begin to dry out. On the bulbs themselves, many small larvae breed, which can be seen with the naked eye. To get rid of such a misfortune, it is recommended to plant chicory or marigolds (calendula) between the beds. These plants are able to repel pests and help plants recover.
Potato tops
Aphids and spider mites harm vegetables and gourds - cabbage, cucumbers, watermelons, melons. By the way, when the fruits of plants are formed, it is impossible to use chemicals, so these crops are sprayed with infusion of potato tops. To prepare the infusion, you need to take two kilograms of fresh potato tops and grind it. Tops are poured with ten liters of water and insisted for two to three hours. Then you need to strain the infusion and spray the vegetables. The mites usually disappear within a few hours.
Gorchak decoction
Gorchak is a weed that grows almost everywhere. The main thing is to have time to prepare it while it blooms. Most often it is used to combat aphids and mites. For one kilogram of bitter gourd, ten liters of water are taken and boiled for half an hour. After the broth has cooled, it is filtered, mixed with 30 grams of soap and sprayed on the plants.
Infusion of horse sorrel and dandelion
Aphids and mites often damage vegetables and to get rid of intrusive insects, horse sorrel roots and dandelion leaves are used. The infusion is prepared as follows: take 300 grams of chopped horse sorrel root or 400 grams of chopped dandelion leaves. Then pour 10 liters of warm water and leave for two to three hours.
Tomato broth
Extra shoots and tops of tomatoes can not be thrown away, but used as a folk remedy for pest control. The tops with leaves should be washed well from the ground and finely chopped. You need to take at the rate of 400 grams of green mass per ten liters of water. For half an hour, the broth should be boiled over low heat. To get rid of aphids, mites and caterpillars, they take only two liters of decoction, 10 liters of water and 30 grams of soap.
By the way, a decoction can also be made from already dried tops, which remains after harvesting tomatoes.
Garlic infusion
Take 30-50 grams of garlic for 10 liters of water. True, before this, the garlic needs to be chopped (you can pass it through a meat grinder or garlic crusher). You need to insist water with garlic for a day. It can be used on potatoes - at the beginning of flowering and fruit set. Usually the garden is processed two to three times in 10-14 days. In addition to potatoes, they can process cucumbers, cabbage and other vegetables. Effectively helps to get rid of ticks, aphids and other pests.
Onion infusion
Pour a bucket of onion peel with two buckets of hot water (60-70 degrees) and incubate for a day or two. Then you need to strain the solution and dilute twice with water. Helps to get rid of spider mites, thrips and aphids.
Burdock infusion
Finely cut burdock leaves, fill a bucket with them one third and fill with water. After three days, cabbage can be sprayed against caterpillars with a solution. You need to spray three times with an interval of 6-8 days.
Wormwood decoction
One kilogram of wormwood is boiled for 10-15 minutes in a small amount of water. When the solution has cooled, ten liters of water are added to it. It helps well against leaf-eating caterpillars, which disappear after 2-3 days after spraying.
Tobacco infusion
One part of tobacco is poured into ten parts of water and infused for a day. Then the solution must be diluted two to three times with water and soap added at the rate of 40 grams per 10 liters of infusion. Helps to get rid of aphids.
Chamomile infusion
One part of dried and crushed leaves and flowers of chamomile is taken for 10 parts of water. You need to insist 12 hours, stirring occasionally. After the time has passed, the solution must be diluted five times with water, add soap at the rate of 50 grams per 10 liters of infusion. Use infusion against caterpillars and pest larvae.
Celandine powder
Celandine must be dried and ground into dust, and then dusted on top of the plant. Helps against fleas.
