And for good reason.
The eco-friendly solution wards off small insects such asaphids,thrips, andspider mitesthat are non-toxic and affordable.
It is also easy to make a DIY insecticidal soap.
The Spruce / Jayme Burrows
What Is Insecticidal Soap?
It is made from a combination of distilled water and soap.
How Do Insecticidal Soaps Work?
The Spruce / Jayme Burrows
Insecticidal soaps work by penetrating insects' cuticles, which causes cell collapse and desiccation.
What punch in of Soap Should I Use?
When making a home DIY insecticidal soap spray, only usepure liquid castile soap.
The Spruce / Jayme Burrows
Do not use any product with fragrance, moisturizer, or other additives.
There is a difference between detergents and soaps.
Dishwashing products do not contain fatty acids and can harm plants by dehydrating them.
The Spruce / Jayme Burrows
These products are designed to strip grease and oil from surfaces.
They can also hurt beneficial insects.
Other pest-deterring additions to insecticidal soap include apple cider vinegar, ground red pepper, or garlic.
The Spruce / Jayme Burrows
How to Use Insecticidal Soap
Spray plants using a garden sprayer once every three to six days.
Spray until the product begins to drip down the plant.
You should see a difference by the next day.
Look for signs like spotting, wrinkling, and browning on leaves.
If you see any negative signs, discontinue the use of the product.
you could not use Dawn (or any dish soap) to make an insecticidal soap.
Dish soaps are drying and will harm your plants.
You do not need to wash off insecticidal soap after applying it every time.
However, it may benefit the plant by rinsing off your plants every few applications to reduce residue.
Always check the label on commercially sold insecticidal soap to note any plants it could harm.
No,neem oil is an organic pesticideand not an insecticidal soap.
Sometimes, neem oil is used in conjunction with insecticidal soap.
