How to Make Your Own Natural Insect Sprays

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Organic homemade pesticide can be made from natural products such as vegetables, herbs or other natural materials.

Walk into any garden center and you will be bombarded with all sorts of chemical warfare to take home to unleash on the bugs living in your garden!

When we destroy the bad insects we inadvertently destroy the good ones. In addition, many pests become immune to the chemicals and in order to control these pests, we have to use stronger and stronger chemicals to get rid of them. Toxic pesticides and herbicides are harmful to the environment, to plant and animal life, and to natures food chain.

Organic materials which are available around your home such as garlic or pepper, and using a base of dish soap and/or vegetable oil. This kind of organic or natural pesticide can repel and may even kill the pest.

Unlike chemical pesticides, the home made versions break down quickly. They may not be as effective as chemical pest control sprays, but are much kinder to your garden, the planet and your wallet!

Just like chemical pesticides, these organic pesticides won’t distinguish between a pest insect and a beneficial insect, and can be harmful to people and pets, so be careful where you spray these pesticides, even though they are homemade.

Precautions before using natural pesticides

  1. Any spray can be harmful so when making these sprays don’t use everyday cooking pots, wear gloves while preparing and using sprays, and they must only be prepared and used by adults.
  2. The shelf life of home made sprays is limited and they are most effective when used fresh. If storing, label all jars and store in a cool dark, safe place well out of reach of children and pets.
  3. Avoid using any dish soap that contains bleach property. This bleach property can harm your plants.
  4. You need to test a small portion contact with your plant and make sure that the spray you made will not harm your plant.
  5. Like other pesticides, do not apply the organic homemade pesticides on your plant in a bright or hot sunny day. This sunlight will promote burning of the plants that already contacted with pesticides.

4 Organic Homemade Pesticide Recipes

The following sprays will repel, and in many cases kill pests, but remember, they are all contact sprays so need to be applied regularly, especially after rain, to be effective and all parts of the plant, especially under the leaves, need to be covered with the spray.

1. Pepper Insect Spray

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup chopped hot peppers (the hotter the better)
  • 2 cups water
  • 2 tablespoons dish soap

Directions

  1. Mix the peppers and water (in a non-food container) and allow the mixture to sit overnight.
  2. Strain the mixture, wear waterproof gloves and be very careful – it could burn your skin.
  3. Mix the solution with dish soap.
  4. Pour this organic homemade pesticide into a sprayer bottle and use it to repel the bugs on your plants.

2. Garlic Insect Spray

Ingredients

  • 1 bulb garlic
  • 1 tablespoon liquid dish soap
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 2 cups water

Directions

  1. Peel the garlic and puree the garlic along with the water and oil in a bucket (or other non-food container). Leave it to sit overnight.
  2. Then strain the mixture and add the dish soap, mix well.
  3. Pour the organic homemade pesticide into a sprayer bottle and use it when the plants are under insects attack.

3. Marigold Spray

Ingredients

  • Marigolds
  • Boiling water

Directions

  1. Fill a heatproof (non-food) container with marigold flowers,
  2. Cover with boiling water and leave to stand overnight.
  3. Strain and spray.

4. Baking soda spray

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 2 tablespoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon liquid dish soap
  • 2 quarts water

Directions

  1. Mix the ingredients well in a non food container
  2. Pour the mixture into a sprayer bottle.
  3. Spray plant liberally to repel bugs.