Your Guide To Using Neem Oil On Plants
Your Guide To Using Neem Oil On Plants
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What makes Neem Oil an Organic Fungicide/Pesticide?
Why growers use Neem Oil on plants?
What bugs is Neem Oil effectiveon ?
Best Time of the Day to Use Neem Oil on Plants
How frequently should you use Neem Oil on plants?
Safety while using garden care products
Preventing Pests with Neem Oil
How To Use of Neem Oil on Plants To Solve a Pest infestation Conclusion
There is a reason why plantation is not an easy task. Planting a seed in the soil is certainly very easy, but seeing that seed grow into a full-sized plant requires a lot of effort, determination, and constant observation. Many plants fall victim to pests, insects, and plant diseases. Therefore, it is important to look after a plantâs growth to prevent it from falling prey to such events.
The use of neem oil on plants is one of the most naturally effective methods of preventing them from falling victim to pests and insect invasion. However, learning when and how to use neem oil on plants is necessary.
If it werenât for all this extra care, all growers would have enjoyed having full-grown plants in their nurseries. However, that is not the case. Plants do need their due share of attention. The best growers need to know about the techniques, strategies, and products vital for plantsâ healthy growth in a garden and its overall productivity.
Here are discussed the few best ways in which neem oil can be used on plants, tips about its proper application, and how to use it for garden care.
Before we jump on to the details, letâs find out more about the neem oil and its benefits.
What is Neem Oil?
â Neemoilâ is extracted from Azadirachtaindicaâsfruits and seeds. Green thumbs have used it for centuries as a garden remedy. After pressing it, the oil extracted from this plant is then further diluted before using it to improve crop health. Neem oil can be found in brown, red, and yellow colors and has an aroma similar to a combination of peanuts and garlic. Its aroma and composition help you get rid of all diseases and pests from your garden.
What Makes Neem Oil an Organic Fungicide/Pesticide?
Azadirachtin, a compound responsible for Neem Oilâs amazing potency, can be found in it till as much as twenty-five hundred ppm.Itâs saturation, however, depends on how the plant was pressed and the oil extracted. This compound causes pests species to cease their reproductive processes due to a loss in their appetite.
Why growers use Neem Oil on plants?
Neem Oil is biodegradable, so it doesnât harm soil or the consumers of those plants on which it is used. Due to its biodegradability, growers love using Neem Oil on plants to combat problems created by pests and insects.
Not everything that is in that soil is harmful to plants. There are microbes, bacteria, and earthworms that are good for a plantâs health. Neem Oil doesnât harm those insects, microbes, and even the beneficial pollinators.
What Bugs isNeem Oil effective on?
Neem Oil is naturally filled with compounds that are effective on more than two hundred different insects. The number also includes some of the â mostcommon garden pestsâ. It is more effective on an infestation and kills insects in their larval and adult stage. Neem Oil can kill mites, caterpillars, thrips, aphids, grasshoppers, whiteflies, and scale insects.
Its indoor and outdoor use makes it best for houseplants, and it can also be used around people. Its use is also compatible with the greenhouse environment and can be used as a fungicide. Fungal infections like rust, scab, and â powdery mildew â can be treated via Neem Oil , including a few types of bacteria as well.
Best Time of the day to use Neem Oil on Plants
The early morning time of an overcast day is the ideal time to apply Neem Oil on plants. The major reason for choosing this time is as the sun isnât up by then, the product stays on the plant for a longer time for a detailed action. The other reason could be a possible burn arising from the droplets acting as a prism.
It should be used as soon as it is mixed as the compounds lose their touch within a day or two, and the overall solution becomes inactive.
How frequently should you use Neem Oil on plants?
Its ideal usage frequency is once in two weeks; however, you may use it as you see fit. It can be used as a holistic soak or a foliar spray. You can also apply it to your plants during the winter season to get rid of the dormant pests that can survive tough climates.
Neem Oil may irritate the eyes of whoever applies it to the plants. It can also cause irritations to someoneâs stomach if they accidentally ingest it. However, if applied under the standard procedure and necessary precautions like masks, protective eyewear, and usage of PPE gloves are taken, such events can be avoided.
Even though it is not toxic, you should avoid spraying it on windy days to prevent it from getting in someoneâs eyes. Its excessive use can also kill the insects necessary for plantsâ health. It indicates to the userâs following aâ integratedpest managementâ strategy that they must exercise it with extra caution to prevent it from harming beneficial bugs.
However, supposing you use Neem Oil moderately on your plants. In that case, the bees, ladybugs, butterflies and other âbeneficialinsectsâ are safe. It also boosts earthworm activity, making it a beneficial compound for your garden.
How to Prevent Pests with Neem Oil
Neem Oil cannot be mixed with water which is something that must be considered before its use. However, its combination with a surfactant makes it usable and also works fine as a preventive measure.While considering its preventive measures, one thing that must be noted is that preventions offset its impact on pests. If you plan to use is prophylactically, you must use it once every ten days to stop pest infestation.
You can purchase a premixed spray, or you can also make your own composition. You will need to add a teaspoon of Neem Oil to a quart of warm water, and a three-quarter teaspoon of insecticidalsoap for best results.
To make a larger batch, you will need to mix the insecticidal soap with water first and then slowly add the oil. It would help if you mixed the solution well to avoid separation. You must use a â gardensprayerâ to apply it to ensure its evenly spread. While using a hand pressure sprayer, you must set it to the finest possible mist setting to ensure all the leaves receive an even spread.
How to Use Neem Oil on plants to Solve a Pest Infestation
The ideal frequency of Neem Oilâs usage under the conditions of pest infestations is once every week or more. However, you must test your product first. You must limit your exposure to a section of the infected plant to test the effectiveness of your solution. It will also help you check for your productâs possible adverse reactions. Before using it, ensure that your plants arenât stressed by other conditions like extreme temperatures, â poor wateringâ, or a â nutrientissueâ.
Conclusion
Neem Oil is an amazing natural product that keeps your plants safe from pest infestations and other harmful bacterial invasions. It is a perfect solution for your garden if applied as per the usage guidelines. Its biodegradability makes it less harmful while usage. However, still, one must take proper preventive measures while using it on their plants.