Kill Houseplant Pests with Neem Oil (Organic)

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Today, I am going to talk about neem oil. This is a wonder cure for many pests and diseases that houseplants get. Some of those pests and diseases that can be treated with neem oil include scale. I’m going to be doing a video in a bit on that as well and how to treat the scale. Also, aphids—though aphids don’t get indoors too often, they will occasionally. Thrips are a problem indoors. Whiteflies can also be a problem indoors, especially in greenhouse situations. Neem oil can also help control mealybugs.

So those are some of the pests that you can treat with neem oil. As I mentioned, neem oil is very powerful and it is also organic. Its active ingredient is azadirachtin, which is pressed from the seeds of the neem tree, Azadirachta indica. It is native to Eastern India and Burma. For centuries, neem leaves, stems, seeds, and oil have been used for medicinal purposes and pest control in India.

Many tests have found neem oil to be an effective insecticide, miticide, and fungicide. It is also an appetite suppressant that discourages insects from feeding on plants. It inhibits insect mating and reduces female fertility, so it affects pests in a lot of different ways, right?

Perhaps best of all, neem doesn’t usually harm beneficial insects. If you have any beneficials in your indoor garden—I’ll be doing some videos on those—there are certain beneficial insects, including the mealybug destroyer, which is a ladybird beetle that you can have indoors. The good news is even if you use neem oil on your indoor plants or in your greenhouse plants, those indoor biological pest controls won’t be harmed. The same goes for outdoor plants. You’re not going to be hurting bees, which is really important, as well as other beneficial insects.

Neem generally only affects those insects that feed on the sprayed plants. Most beneficial insects are feeding on the pests, not on the plants, because they’re doing the good work, right?

Neem oil comes in an ultra-fine form. It’s also been shown to effectively fight foliar fungal infections and suffocate spider mites in their eggs. That’s another pest that neem oil will hit and destroy, which is great because spider mites can be a real problem indoors as well.

As mentioned, neem oil also causes appetite suppression in insects and contains a growth regulator. It makes pests such as aphids, thrips, and whiteflies stop producing. Not only do they stop producing eggs and creating more babies, but they will also stop feeding and starve to death. So it is a really good all-around pest control that is organic and won’t harm the good guys but will help get rid of infestations of the bad guys.

You do want to mix neem oil with warm water when using it, and use a surfactant as well. A surfactant will help the neem stick to the plant leaves. I suggest using a surfactant—I’ll put a link below—rather than using a bit of dish soap as is sometimes advised. Unfortunately, using dish soap can create a lot of other problems, such as too much soap residue when you’re spraying. Surfactants are just better—they’re made for this purpose and last longer. Just get some, and make sure to mix it with your neem oil.

Using warm water is important because neem oil tends to separate, and warm water will help prevent the separation from the water itself. Mix it really well, shake it before spraying, and then go ahead and spray the plant thoroughly—spray the underside and the top. Let the neem oil do its work.

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Neem Oil for Houseplant Care FAQ

What is neem oil and how is it used for houseplants?

Neem oil is a powerful organic treatment for many pests and diseases that affect houseplants. Its active ingredient, azadirachtin, is extracted from the seeds of the neem tree (Azadirachta indica), which is native to Eastern India and Burma. Neem oil works as an insecticide, miticide, and fungicide.

What pests can neem oil treat?

Neem oil is effective against various pests including scale, aphids, thrips, whiteflies, mealybugs, and spider mites. It works by discouraging pests from feeding, inhibiting their mating, and reducing female fertility, eventually causing the pests to starve.

Is neem oil safe for beneficial insects?

Yes, neem oil generally does not harm beneficial insects. It targets pests that feed on the plants, while beneficial insects like ladybugs or bees, which feed on pests, remain unaffected.

Can neem oil help with fungal infections?

Yes, neem oil has been shown to be effective in fighting foliar fungal infections and can also suffocate spider mites and their eggs.

How do I mix neem oil for use on houseplants?

Mix neem oil with warm water and use a surfactant to help it adhere to the plant leaves. A surfactant is better than using dish soap, as dish soap can cause other issues. Warm water helps prevent the neem oil from separating from the water.

How do I apply neem oil to my houseplants?

Once mixed, shake the solution well and spray thoroughly on the plant, including both the tops and undersides of the leaves. Neem oil will begin working to control pests and diseases after application.

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As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I may earn commissions for purchases made through the links below.

Neem Oil: https://amzn.to/3yau552

Surfactant which helps neem oil to stick to plant leaves: https://amzn.to/3kvU4yQ

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