Neem oil is a natural insecticide, derived from the neem tree.
Insect killing substances, also known as insecticides, provide helpful protection for growing many plants otherwise susceptible to insect pests. When selecting an insecticide, note the substance's ingredients and any potential hazards it may pose to the immediately surrounding environment. Depending on the severity of the insect infestation, you may adopt a gentle approach with a natural insecticide product. Does this Spark an idea?
Insecticidal Soaps
Many soaps and detergents serve to kill off insects without harming plant growth. Typically, you apply insecticidal soap in a diluted water-based solution, with around 2 percent soap. Soaps are most potent against small, soft-bodied insects such as spider mites and aphids. Usually soaps serve to kill off insects quickly, sometimes taking just a few minutes. Most soaps do not kill beneficial insects, such as pollinators. Besides their relative efficiency and selectivity in killing off insect pests, insecticidal soaps are typically non-polluting. Be cautious using soaps on delicate plants, as they may cause leaf burn in some cases. While some gardeners use common dish detergents as insecticides, it's best to check that a soap is approved for use outdoors before applying it.
Horticultural Oils
Horticultural oils come in two grades: heavy-duty "dormant" oil and lighter "summer" oil. Dormant oil is intended for application to pests during the winter months, while they are in dormant phases of their life cycles. By contrast, you can apply the summer oil on plants liberally during summer months, killing off insects in their more active developmental phases. Oils may be either petroleum or vegetable oil-based. In either case, they essentially cause suffocation, blocking off the insects' access to oxygen.
Botanicals
The active ingredients of several common insecticides come from plant material. For example, neem is an insecticide derived from the oil of the neem tree (Azadirachta indica). One advantage of neem is its harmlessness against humans and animals, evidenced by its use in toothpaste. Sabadilla is another botanical insecticide, which comes from the seeds of the sabadilla plant (Schoenocaulon officinale). Sabadilla is among the least harmful of any insecticides to humans; however, inhaling large amounts of its airborne dust can cause respiratory problems. Wear a mask when applying it.
Chemical Pesticides
Should you decide to use chemical-based pesticides, follow all of the manufacturer's instructions to avoid polluting runoff water. A few major categories of chemical pesticides dominate the market: organophosphates, carbamates and pyrethroids. Organophosphates and carbamates attack insects' nervous systems. Pyrethroids replicate the effects of pyrethin, a natural substance found in chrysanthemums. Another class of pesticides, organochlorines, are less common than the others due to their toxicity, with many bans limiting their use, as in the case of DDT.
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