Sasha CampbellYou can get rid of many common garden pests like aphids, mites, thrips, caterpillars, squash bugs, and whiteflies by using natural and homemade pesticides.
One of the best things about making your own insecticides and pesticides is that you can be sure of what goes into them. Moreover, you may already have most of the ingredients in your kitchen.
Natural DIY Pesticides for Plants at Home
Below are recipes for homemade pesticides. However, always test sprays on a small part of the plant first and avoid spraying during hot sunlight to prevent leaf burn.
1. Neem Oil
Among the natural pesticides for plants, neem oil kills and repels many harmful insects and related pests.
To make a basic, all-purpose neem oil spray for plants, combine 2 teaspoons of neem oil with 1 teaspoon of liquid soap and 1 liter of water.
You can also buy a neem oil concentrate from trusted online stores or your nearby garden shop. Follow the directions on the bottle for using it.
This solution is not just an organic bug spray for plants. It also works as a natural fungicide for different fungal diseases.
2. Vegetable Oil Spray
A mixture of vegetable oil, soap, and water suffocates and kills pests such as mites, aphids, and scale insects.
Mix 1 cup of vegetable oil with 1 tablespoon of liquid soap, then shake well to make a DIY bug spray.
When ready to apply, add two tablespoons of the oil solution to a quart of water. Next, stir well and pour it into a spray container.
Spray plants and pests.
3. Beer
To avoid the horrible sight of having your plants eaten away by slugs and snails, drown them in beer.
Place bowls of beer near plants at night. However, ensure they are shallow enough for the pests to crawl in and deep enough to prevent their escape.
Slugs and snails are attracted to the yeast in beer, so they’ll climb in to get it and eventually drown. Finally, remove the dead pests in the morning.
4. Soap Spray
This method has a similar effect to the oil spray above. However, you will need two tablespoons of organic liquid soap and a gallon of water.
Combine in a spray container and mix thoroughly. Next, spray the plants and pests. Be sure to coat both the top and underside of the leaves.
Also, use mild liquid soap (not detergent) and always test on a small area first.
This DIY soap spray works great as an organic pesticide for tomatoes and other crops in your vegetable garden.
Use it to control aphids, whiteflies, thrips, mealybugs, and other insect pests. You can also use it as an indoor plant spray.
5. Diatomaceous Earth (DE)
Diatomaceous earth is one of the best insecticides for organic vegetable gardens. The product is abrasive and will cut into the pests’ bodies. This results in dehydration, followed by death.
DE is easy to apply. Dust it on and around plants, but cover your nose so you don’t inhale it.
Also, you may need to reapply after watering or rainfall. DE is most effective when used dry. Wet applications only work after the residue dries on the plant’s surface.
Use food-grade DE only.
6. Cinnamon Spray
Cinnamon has natural antifungal and insect-repelling properties [1]. These properties may help deter ants, fungus gnats, and some plant diseases.
To make a cinnamon spray, mix 2 tablespoons of ground cinnamon with 4 cups of warm water. Let the mixture steep overnight, then strain it through a fine mesh strainer or a coffee filter.
Add a few drops of mild liquid soap and pour the solution into a spray bottle.
Use it on plant leaves, soil surfaces, and around pots to help discourage pests and fungal problems.
7. Garlic Spray
The potent smell of garlic naturally repels many insects and related pests.
To make a simple homemade organic pesticide at home, purée a whole garlic bulb in 2 cups of water. Leave it to steep overnight.
Next, strain it and add a little liquid soap to the solution, then add more water (a quart or so). Finally, this DIY pesticide can be used to spray the affected plants.
8. Hot Pepper Spray
If using fresh hot peppers for this method, wear protective gloves and avoid contact with the skin and eyes.
To make a homemade garden bug spray, purée 1/2 cup of hot peppers with 1 cup of water.
Next, add a quart more of water and bring it to a boil. Strain when cool, add a teaspoon of liquid soap, and spray where needed.
Alternatively, use a tablespoon of chili powder to make a spray by adding it to a quart of water. You can also use cayenne pepper powder.
Also, avoid spraying when the sun is hot. Choose early morning or evening instead. This DIY spray works great on budworms and other moth caterpillars.
9. Tomato Leaf Spray
Tomato plant leaves contain compounds that may help repel aphids and some soft-bodied insects [2]. Therefore, you can use them to make a homemade bug spray for your vegetable plants and flowers.
Just steep 2 cups of chopped tomato leaves in a quart of water.
Leave it to sit overnight. Afterward, strain it and use it to spray your plants.
10. Milk Spray
Another homemade plant spray that may help discourage some soft-bodied pests is milk spray. It also controls powdery mildew on cucumbers and pumpkins.
Just mix a 40/60 solution of milk and water, then spray crops as needed. Use it to spray all plant surfaces, including the undersides of leaves.
11. Peppermint Oil Spray
Peppermint oil also has a strong scent that may help repel ants, aphids, fleas, beetles, and other garden pests.
To make a homemade peppermint oil spray, combine 10 to 15 drops of peppermint essential oil with 2 cups of water and a few drops of mild liquid soap.
Shake well before use, then spray around plant leaves, pots, garden borders, and other affected areas.
However, avoid spraying delicate plants directly in strong sunlight. Also, always test the solution on a small area first to check for plant sensitivity.
12. Sticky Traps
The colors yellow and blue seem particularly attractive to certain harmful insects.
On pieces of cardboard, apply some sticky glue to both sides. Next, punch holes, thread them with wire or string, and hang them above or near the plants.
Yellow traps attract fungus gnats, whiteflies, aphids, and psyllids [3], but blue traps attract thrips and leaf miners.
Yellow sticky traps work well for many flying insect pests. However, be careful with these; they may also trap and kill beneficial insects you want to keep.
13. Rubbing Alcohol Spray
Rubbing alcohol spray can help control soft-bodied pests such as aphids, mealybugs, whiteflies, and spider mites.
To make this homemade pest spray, combine 1 cup of rubbing alcohol with 4 cups of water. Also, add a few drops of mild liquid soap.
Shake well, then spray directly onto affected plants, especially under the leaves.
Always test the spray on a small section of the plant first and wait 24 hours before treating the entire plant. Some plants may be sensitive to alcohol sprays.
14. Horticultural Mineral Oil
Some of the most destructive garden pests, such as mealybugs, mites, whiteflies, and aphids, can be controlled with this method.
You’ll need 1 cup of horticultural mineral oil and 1/4 cup of liquid soap. Mix thoroughly to make a potent concentrate.
Next, store it in a sealed jar. However, use it all up within three months.
When ready to apply, dilute 1 tablespoon of the concentrate in 4 cups of water, then spray your plants. Use this measurement as a guide for larger spray batches.
15. Eucalyptus Oil
Eucalyptus oil may help repel flies, mosquitoes, cockroaches, earwigs, and other pests.
Mix 1 teaspoon of eucalyptus oil with 1/2 teaspoon of liquid soap in 2 cups of water. Stir well and coat your plants with the solution.
Additionally, try soaking cotton wool balls in the oil and placing them where rodents, such as mice or rats, frequent. Put them in cabinets, drawers, and other places inside your house.
16. Epsom Salt Solution
This product is a garden supplement sometimes believed to deter pests. Make a DIY pest control spray by adding 1 cup of Epsom salt to 5 gallons of water.
Mix it in a large enough container, then pour it into a sprayer. Apply it to the foliage to deter beetles and other garden pests.
Some gardeners also sprinkle Epsom salt around plants to deter slugs and snails, though evidence of its effectiveness is limited.
17. Citrus Peel Water
Take the peels of oranges or lemons (about a cupful) and boil them in 4 cups of water for about 10 minutes. Allow the solution to cool.
Next, strain the citrus peel water and use it as an insect spray.
Important Tips When Using Homemade Pesticides
- Spray in the early morning or evening.
- Reapply after heavy rain.
- Avoid spraying beneficial insects like bees.
- Test sprays on a few leaves first.
- Store homemade sprays for only short periods.
Natural pesticides can still harm plants and beneficial insects if overused, so apply them carefully and only when needed.
Takeaway
There are many natural methods available to help control pests in agriculture. The above natural and homemade pest control remedies will help you get rid of the most common pests in your garden.
See also: 15 Natural and Homemade Fungicides for Indoor and Outdoor Plants.
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