Make a Natural Insecticide

Natural insecticides can be non-toxic to humans and pets and safe for the environment. The simplest homemade insecticide combines water and liquid soap. You can also base a natural insecticide on neem oil, or on painted daisies grown in your garden. You can make a natural insecticide with ingredients you buy at local stores or markets, the garden store or herb shop.

Steps

Soap Insecticide

  1. Make a basic homemade bug killer by mixing 2 tbsp. (29.6 ml) of liquid soap with 1 quart (.946 liter) of water.
  2. Mix a stronger soap insecticide by adding 1 bulb of garlic, 1 small onion, 1 tbsp. (14.8 ml) of red cayenne pepper, the liquid soap and water.
    • Mince the onion and garlic and mix with the water.
    • Add the cayenne pepper and allow the solution to sit for 1 hour.
    • Add the soap and mix the solution well.
    • When the suds subside strain the solution into a spray bottle. Refrigerate the solution with the spices for up to 2 weeks.
  3. Sprinkle either mixture on your plants or put the mixture in a spray bottle and spray your plants. Spray evenly. Spray the natural bug killer directly onto insects when you see bugs.

Neem Insecticide

  1. Make a mixture of neem oil, essential oils of rosemary and lavender, and water for a natural insect killer that may also kill fungi and mites. Neem oil, made from seeds of the neem tree, is available online or at garden nursery stores and some discount department stores.
    • Take 1 gallon of water and add 2 tablespoons (29.6 ml) of neem oil.
    • Add 1/2 tsp. (2.46 ml) each of rosemary and lavender essential oils. Essential oils can be purchased online, at local health food stores or co-ops, herb shops, vitamin stores or farmer's markets.
    • Add 2 tbsp. (29.6 ml) of liquid detergent to make the insecticide more effective.
    • Mix thoroughly and pour into a spray bottle.
  2. Spray your plants, mixing the solution frequently as you spray because oil and water separate.

Pyrethrum Insecticide

  1. Grow perennial painted daisies in your garden so you have the main insecticide ingredient -- pyrethrins, which degrade quickly. Pyrethrins have been used in commercial insecticides for years. Painted daisies are also known as pyrethrum daisies.
    • Pick the daisies when they are in full bloom.
    • Hang the daisies to dry in a dark, dry place.
    • Pulverize the flowers in a blender or using a mortar and pestle. The insecticide will be more effective the finer it is crushed.
  2. Apply on your plants using an insecticide duster.
    • Or, make a solution of .35 oz. (10 grams) of crushed pyrethrins in 3 quarts (2.84 liters) of warm water. Allow the solution to sit for 3 hours.
    • To increase the power, add 1 tsp. (4.92 ml) of sesame seed oil or liquid dish detergent.
  3. Spray the upper and lower parts of the leaves on your plants because the pyrethrins must come in contact with the insects. Spraying may excite the pests, so spray the bugs again if you see them moving around.
    • Spray when it is cooler outside because pyrethrins are most effective at lower temperatures.

Ammonia Sulphate Insecticide

  1. Add 1 tablespoon of ammonia sulphate per liter of water.
  2. Add 1 tablespoon of detergent (per litre of water).
  3. Mix to combine.
  4. Transfer to a sprayer or spray bottle. Label to remind you of the contents.
  5. Spray on stems and leaves. Ammonia sulphate is a very good low cost fertilizer and is harmless to plants. It is also non-toxic to mammals and safe in an aquatic environment.

Warnings

  • In some countries, states and provinces laws forbid producing or using homemade insecticides. Check the laws of your state or country before you make insecticide.

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Sources and Citations

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