How To Use Neem Oil On Indoor Plants

Do you know that Neem oil, which is extracted from the Neem fruits, is one of the best natural ingredients to mix your own natural insecticide and fungicide spray for plants? This is the only pesticide I use in my organic home vegetable garden. Let me explain how Neem oil works on insects and fungus and how to mix Neem Oil for plants for pest control and disease prevention in the vegetable garden. Neem oil spray works great for controlling insects and black spots on Rose plants as well.

Neem Oil As A Natural Insecticide:

Neem seeds contain a substance called 'Azadirachtin'. Different insects react to Azadirachtin differently. After coming in contact with Azadirachtin, some insects lose the instinct to feed and cannot eat. At the same time, some cannot lay eggs or reproduce. In both ways, they cannot survive and grow, thus gradually reducing the infestation.

What bugs does Neem Oil kill?

The 'Azadirachtin' found in neem oil is been known to kill Spider mites, Aphids, White flies, Cabbage worms, Mealybugs, Fungus Gnats, Moths, Nematodes, Scales, Flea Beetles, Squash bugs, Stink Bugs and Caterpillars. It is also useful in controlling Japanese beetles, Mosquitoes, Grubs, Slugs, Snails, and Crickets.

It's believed that more than 400 bug species in all don't like neem oil. If you're having a bug problem in your garden that isn't on the list above, it won't hurt to try the neem oil spray on them to find out!

What you need for making Neem oil spray for plants:

#1 A good quality Neem Oil:

I choose to buy Organic, cold press, 100% pure Neem oil, because it can be used not only in making a plant sprays, but also be used for cosmetic purposes and in household remedies.

Here are my recommendations for the best Neem oil to use in your garden:

Best Neem Oil For Plants

#2 Dish Soap or Castile Soap:

Neem oil does not dissolve in the water by itself. When added alone, it will float on the water surface. It is essential to use an emulsifier (dish soap or Castile soap) that bonds with neem oil droplets, and distributes the molecules in the water evenly.

If using dish soap, use a mild or natural dish soap.

I prefer to use Castile soap, which is a natural product and reduces the risk of plant burn.

Here are some of the Castile soaps I have used with great success for insect control:

Best Castile Soap For Plants

Neem Oil Spray Recipe#1: Insecticide For Plants

How to mix Neem Oil for plants:

Step 1: Fill a spray bottle with warm water.

Step 2: Add Liquid dish soap to the spray bottle. Gently stir to mix the soap.

Step 3: Add neem Oil to the mixture.

Step 4: Close the bottle and shake the mixture until oil is well combined with the soap mixture.

Step 5: Spray the mixture on the top and bottom of the leaves, shaking the bottle frequently between the sprays.

When and how to apply insecticide on plants

Does your squash or eggplant have holes on the leaves? Do you see small insects crawling on the tomato plants in garden? Or are you annoyed by the fungus gnats flying over the seedlings that you started indoors? If you answered 'Yes' to any of the questions or to control any pests that damage your vegetable garden, you need to use neem Oil spray on the infested plants.

Here are some tips for applying the insecticide in your garden.

Some bugs hide the underside of the leaves. Thoroughly wet both sides of leaves with the spray.
Neem oil spray should be applied in the morning or evening. Avoid spraying the plants in the afternoon hours and when the temperature is above 80F.
Oil should have a chance to come in contact with the insect to be able to kill them. Avoid spraying when the rain is expected shortly.
Don't store the neem oil mixture as its effectiveness will reduce after 40 minutes of mixing with the water and soap. Discard the remaining oil spray mixture when done spraying.
Don't forget to clean the spray bottle or sprayer before storing it. The neem oil residue can clog up the nozzle when dried.
Start with the above recipe. If there is no improvement after a couple of applications, increase neem oil amount to 1.5 times.
As a pesticide: To control an infestation, apply the neem Oil spray every 7 days until the bugs are gone. Remember, neem oil is an organic, natural product. It takes time to completely get rid of the bugs. Be patient and continue application every 7 days. Consistency is the key here!
As a preventative spray: To prevent attacks from pests on your plants, be proactive in applying the neem oil spray. Soak the plants with neem oil spray at every 14 days interval. Avoid the high-temperature days of summer.

Neem oil's key ingredient, 'Azadirachtin', is an excellent insect repellent, but does it work on controlling fungus?

Neem Oil As Fungicide

Is Neem oil a fungicide? Yes, Neem oil has excellent anti-fungal characteristics. It can help control many fungal problems in the garden, including powdery mildew, blight, rust, Scab, and black spots. When applied as a preventative measure before the plant is infected, neem oil can protect the plant from the fungal diseases for the entire season.

Is neem oil a fungicide? Yes, an excellent one!

Neem Oil Spray Recipe#2: Fungicide For Plant

How to make Neem Oil Fungicide:

Step 1: Fill a garden sprayer with warm water.

Step 2: Add liquid dish soap to the sprayer. Gently stir to mix the soap.

Step 3: Measure and add rosemary oil, peppermint oil, neem oil, and olive oils to the mixture.

Step 4: Close the bottle and shake the mixture until oil is well combined.

Step 5: Spray the mixture on the top and bottom of the leaves, shaking the bottle frequently between the sprays.

When and How to Apply Neem Oil Fungicide on Plants

Here are some pointers for applying neem oil on your garden as a fungicide:

Apply on a mild, cloudy day to avoid burning the leaves.
Don't use the spray if rain is predicted in the near future.
Spray both the side of the leaves for total coverage.
To manage an existing condition: Promptly remove heavily infected leaves from the plant and discard in the garbage. To manage a fungal infection, apply the neem Oil spray every 7 days until the color of the leaves changes back to normal.
As a preventative spray: To prevent the fungal problems like black spots, powdery mildew, and rust to occur, soak the plants with neem oil spray at every 14 days interval. Avoid the days when the temperature is predicted to go beyond 80F.

Can Neem oil be used as a soil drench?

Yes, Neem oil is a systemic pesticide that works effectively in controlling sucking or piercing bugs when used as a soil drench. When diluted Neem oil is poured at the base of the plant, Neem oil is sucked up by the plant roots and enters into the plant's vascular system. If any sucking or piercing insects like an aphid, mealybug, or squash bug bites into the plant's tissue or leaves, Azadirachtin enters the bug's body. It reacts to the bug's feeding, reproductive and growth hormones, eventually killing the insect.

Neem Oil Recipe#3: Soil Drench

For neem oil soil drench, you need the same ingredients as the insecticide spray recipe but in the larger quantity.

To make 1 Gallon Neem Oil Soil Drench, you will need:

2 tablespoons Neem oil (100% Cold Press)
1 teaspoon liquid dish soap (Castile soap is preferred)
1 Gallon Warm Water
Bucket
Measuring spoons
Wooden stirrer

Method:

Step 1: Add dish soap to the gallon of warm water in the bucket. Stir to dissolve and distribute the soap.

Step 2: Pour in the neem oil into the soapy water. Mix thoroughly.

Step 3: Depending upon the size of the plant, pour 2 to 3 cups of this mixture at the base of the plant. If using for a shrub or tree, pour more quantity.

Step 4: Do not water the same day of the application. Water normally starting the next day.

Step 5: As a preventative remedy, repeat the application every 2 to 3 weeks.

Tips For Handling Neem Oil:

There are some things you need to be aware of when using neem oil in your garden:

Treat neem oil like you would commercial products. Neem oil has some potent components in it, so you want to handle the spray bottle carefully. Avoid getting it in your eyes or ingesting it.
Watch the weather: If there's any wet weather on the forecast, plan your neem oil application for another day. The water will wash away the oil, and your plant won't get the full benefit of the spray.
Keep the bottle somewhere secure: When combined with water and soap, neem oil will start breaking down after an hour. So, it is advisable to mix the amount as much as you can use during one application. If you have to store the spray, tightly screw on the top of your neem oil insecticide/fungicide bottle. Put it in a dry, room temperature environment away from kids and pets.

Conclusion

Neem oil is a handy, natural ingredient for homemade organic insecticides and fungicides. Both can benefit your garden, leaving it healthier and pest-free. Just combine Neem oil with a few other ingredients around the house, and your plants will thank you for it!

Question? Comment? Want to help?

If you have any question or suggestion regarding applying neem oil for plants, please leave a comment below.

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Last updated: 1/18/2021

Neem oil spray for plants