get wind the most effective method for applying neem oil to your landscape or houseplants .

Scan the pesticide gangway of your local garden marrow , and you ’ll likely see several products containing neem oil . Unlike synthetic chemical , they ’ll usually be label safe fororganic gardening . Using neem oil for plant can be anenvironmentally friendlyway to egest many garden gadfly on indoor and outdoor plant . However , like any pesticide , it can have harmful core if used incorrectly . There are a few neem rock oil products , so it ’s of import to recognize their dispute to choose the safe one for your needs .

Learn how to expend neem oil on plants to get rid of pestilence in your garden safely and efficaciously .

using neem oil on plants to control pests

Credit:BHG / Adrienne Legault

BHG / Adrienne Legault

What Is Neem Oil for Plants?

Derived from the neem tree , neem oil color has been used for century to check plague . It has also been used in medicinal and beauty products . Some neem rock oil products for sale piece of work on disease - make fungi and dirt ball pestilence , while other neem - based pesticides only ascendence dirt ball . Check the mathematical product label cautiously to insure you get an in force neem oil for works for your specific pest problem .

Neem crude is not harmful to use around darling and farm animal , but it should not be ingested . It is potentially toxic to fish , amphibians , and other aquatic organisms , so exert forethought when using it around pool , lakes , and other trunk of water . Neem oil is also conceive moderately harmful to bees , butterfly stroke , and otherbeneficial bugs . To protect them , obviate spray near know hives and only spray at dusk or in the very early dawning before the pollinators are participating . Be aware that bees will sometimes nap inside flowers so take a quick look before spraying neem oil color onpollinator - well-disposed blooms .

How and When to Use Neem Oil for Plants

Neem oil is labeled for use on all types of vegetation , from houseplant to flowering landscape painting plant to comestible plant like veg and herbs . Whether it can be used as a pesticide depend on how it ’s explicate for program .

Some neem rock oil products are labeled " ready to use " and often come in a spraying nursing bottle you may use to apply them . Other neem rock oil products are mark " concentrate " and need some preparation before being used on your plant . hard intersection must be integrate with water andordinary dish soapand poured into a atomizer bottle before program . Ready - to - use formulations are quick and well-situated to expend ; concentrated product are generally less expensive than their grab - and - go counterparts .

Identifying the insect , mite , or fungal disease you ’re battling is all-important . Pesticides are labeled with specific pests they hold in . Neem vegetable oil is tag forsoft - bodied pests such as aphid , mallet larvae , caterpillars , leafhoppers , mealybugs , thrips , spider mite , and whiteflies .

spider mites on a plant

Credit:BHG / Adrienne Legault

Neem oil works by choke insects or disrupting how they feed . Toeffectively dominance pest , the pest must be present when the oil is sprayed on the plant .

Some neem oils for plantscontrol fungal diseasessuch aspowdery mildewand blackspot . Neem oil armed combat fungi by prevent new spore from germinating . It wo n’t all rid of these disease , but it can reduce their spread enough that your plants can remain spring up .

You canuse neem oil any time of class , whenever pest problems appear . It ’s beneficial in wintertime for controllinghouseplant pestssuch as whiteflies . In summer , you may use neem rock oil on veggie and herbaceous plant crops up to the Clarence Day of harvest .

spraying plant with neem oil

Credit:BHG / Adrienne Legault

Wash Produce Sprayed with Neem Oil

Make indisputable towash producethoroughly before eating , either by running it under warm water , scour hard - skinned fruits like squeeze with a scrub brush , or soaking rough veggie like cauliflower and Brassica oleracea italica in water for a few minutes to eject any neem oil take in in the nook and crannies .

It ’s not necessary to use scoop when washing vegetable plants or fruit .

Steps for Applying Neem Oil

Neem oil does n’t discriminate betweenaphidsand bee , butterfly larva , or other good hombre . ward off harming beneficial insects andwater habitatsby go for the spray cautiously and follow all label directions for practical app .

Tips for Applying Neem Oil

Frequently Asked Questions

You ’ll need enough neem oil color ( ready - to - use or motley ) to souse all of the plant , including the leaves and stem , and the smother soil . While applying the neem crude , be certain to surface the undersides of the leaves ( where many gadfly wish to cluster and lay their egg ) .

A twinkle misting will take about 45 second to an hour to dry . Since neem crude oil has little to no essence after it dries , it may take several applications to see any noticeable effect .

Yes , rainfall will lap aside neem oil , which is why you should check the weather condition before program . Avoid using neem oil before rain is expected in the area to check that it is effective .

rinsing neem oil bottle

Credit:BHG / Adrienne Legault

Neem petroleum typically hold out 2 - 5 years after purchase the nursing bottle . However , once you mix neem oil with water , it will only last for about 8 more minute and should be used straightaway .

Yes , neem crude works as both an insecticide to combat common lawn pest like Japanese mallet and antifungal to guard off diseases like rust or red thread . It ’s easiest to apply as a diluted spray .

Pesticide Product Label : Neem vegetable oil . U.S. Environmental Protection Agency .