Natural Pesticides

-
No one likes the thoughts of putting harmful chemicals near children or pets. Pesticides can be toxic but are necessary to protect the plant just like we receive vaccines. Thankfully, there are better pesticides that are naturally occurring so that there is little to no risk of harming children or pets.

Image result for house plant fertilizers and pesticides

Prevention
Starting off, the best way to get rid of pests is to not have them at all. How is that accomplished? Keeping plants healthy is the best way. This is done with proper watering, fertilizing, and cleaning of the foliage. Of course it will not prevent every little pest. When this happens, there are options to help take care of those little buggers.

Image result for insecticidal soap

Insecticidal Soaps
Insecticidal soaps are a more natural way of removing pests. They are considered a safer and more popular way to remove insects. This soap is sprayed directly on the plant but only functions if it directly touches the insects. So remember when spraying insecticidal soaps, you must coat the plant completely and do not wash it off.

Here is a link for a homemade insecticidal soap
https://www.todayshomeowner.com/how-to-make-homemade-insecticidal-soap-for-plants/

Image result for natural oils

Oils
Oils are a great way to get rid of pests. The oils have two ways of working: either it affects the growth of the insect so it never reaches adulthood or it blocks the insect's air intake. Common oils used are Neem, sage, thyme, basil, rosemary, mint, rue and lavender.

Here are some more links for natural pesticides.

https://www.angieslist.com/articles/insects-bugging-your-plants-try-these-10-natural-insecticides.htm

http://homeguides.sfgate.com/homemade-bug-spray-houseplants-41029.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlVwZVFZQnI

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Color and Their Effects on People

-
Image
Color, just like plants, can effect people, their emotions, and their responses. Color can be added to an interior not just in the paint on the walls. Plants are an excellent way of bringing color into the room whether it be the color of the foliage, the flowers, the pot it is in, or accessories with the plants. Black Black technically is not a color but a shade that can deepen the hue of a color. It is believed to make an item or a room look classier depending on the use. It defines the form of an object making it more desirable. Blue Blue has a calming effect on people and can even help with focusing. It is the most popular color in the world. If over used, blue can make people feel "blue" or low. A splash of blue in a room can make things pop. Brown Brown is a great neutralizer and a softer tone than black. When people think of brown in a room, they think of a very naturalistic feeling room. It can make an interior feel inviting and homey. Brown can also comb...
Read more

How to Properly Leech a Plant

-
Image
Back in the olden days, when people were sick with a blood disease, blood was sucked out by leaches. With the advancement of medical science, that is no longer needed. Plants are similar to humans where sometimes they need to be leeched once in a while to clean the soil. There is a proper way to do this to help the plant grow healthy. Why should I do it? The reason why plants have to be leached is because salts (minerals) in the water build up on the surface of the soil and make it difficult for plants to uptake the water. The salts fill in the little gaps between the particles of soils. It is like when you have a milkshake with cookie pieces. As you suck, the pieces slowly gather around the base of the straw, making it difficult for the milkshake to move through the straw. How do I recognize that my plant needs to be leeched? The plant will start to wither and show signs of not getting enough water (limp leaves). On the surface of the soil, there will be a white residue ...
Read more

My Dream Job... and a Back Up Plan...

-
Image
Everyone has a dream. A goal that they are aspiring to. A change they want to make in their life. College students especially have dreams about what they want to do with their lives and how they can change other people's lives. I am no different than the rest of them. My dream is to share with others my love of plants. Plants are my passion and have been a part of my whole life. I always find my way back to plants and the beauty they bring to this world. My parents taught me to enjoy the living world around me.  Ever since I was little, I gardened with my parents. We planted peas, carrots, corn, and other vegetables.  Meticulously, we would plant our garden and clean up the backyard, ripping out sod, pruning shrubs, and other various landscaping. I have fond memories of being outside and beautifying our backyard. As time went on and I grew up, I needed to pick a career path. Three options intrigued me:  culinary, medicine, and horticulture. I quickly ruled out culi...
Read more