CATERING

Easy Recipe For Making Your Own Organic Insect Killer Soap for Your Garden

Many home plant pest problems can be easily solved by using a little insecticidal soap.  It is easy and inexpensive to mix up your own organic insect killer at home.  You will be saving money on pesticides and won’t have to worry about dangerous chemicals on your food.

This recipe works best on soft-bodied pests like aphids, thrips, white flies and spider mites.  These are among the most common garden pests.  Insecticidal soaps kill insects by entering the pest’s respiratory system and breaking down internal cell membranes.  It is only effective when it is wet, so aim well.  After it is dry it will not harm your beneficial insects.  For heavy insect infestations, it is best to spray your plants again in a few days.

Here’s a really simple recipe for insecticidal soap.

1 tablespoon of soap

2 cups water

Mix thoroughly and add to spray bottle.  Spray directly onto the insects on your plants.

Be sure to check the label on your soap first.  The key to this recipe is to use regular dish soap, not detergent or anything anti-bacterial. You can also use pure liquid castile soap.

You can super-charge your organic insecticidal soap to make it stick to hard-bodied pests like fleas. It also damages the protective waxy coating on insects.  Add either one tablespoon of mineral oil or a vegetable oil to your mixture.  Sunflower or olive oil will work well, any vegetable-based oil will break down faster in your soil.  Oil will help the mixture stay on these pests so the soap has a chance to begin working. But it will also stick to your ladybug beetles so be careful where you are aiming.

Some plants (especially ferns) are sensitive to soaps.  Do not use a soap mixture on ferns. New growth on plants may be too tender for soap, so apply sparingly art first. Plants under stress may have a bad reaction to any insecticide.  Plants that are under stress from drought should be soaked with water the day before you treat them.  You should always test your mixture first on just one leaf on your plant.  If it is fine the next day, your solution should be OK to use.  It is better not to spray your plants in the middle of the day.  Full sun (especially on hairy plants) can turn the water droplets into little magnifying glasses which can burn the leaves.

Many garden pests like to hide underneath the leaves of plants.  For best results aim upwards and get under that foliage.  Aim directly at those bugs.  You may need to spray your organic pesticide again in a few days if you have a heavy infestation of pests.

Making your own insecticidal soap is a great way to save money on your landscaping budget and keep your vegetable garden organic at the same time.  Visit http://www.thegardenpages.com for more organic gardening tips.

About the Author

Laura Zinkan is a writer in California. She cultivates a gardening site at http://www.theGardenPages.com with plant profiles, growing tips about succulents and native plants. Or visit the new garden blog at http://thegardenpages.blogspot.com for up-to-date seasonal information. 2009 by Laura Zinkan. Article may be reprinted if author credit is given with a website link. All rights reserved.

Essential Wholesale Kitchen Chemistry: Dish Soap DIY

LADYBUG SOAP/SCOUR PAD DISH~SPOON REST TRAY~deluxe~NEW IN BOX $9.99

Dish Queen Soap Vintage Metal Art Kitchen Retro Tin Sign $21.99

The Flintstones Vinyl Figural Soap Dish $9.99

Avon Decorator Collectible Soap Dish 1971-73 $0.99

Betty Boop Soap Dish and 4 Pinback Buttons-Westland Giftware 2001 $12.00

Blue and white Soap Dish/Gold trimmed $4.99

Ames Footed Soap Dish $0.49

VINTAGE SOAP DISH $10.00

Avon 1972 Avonshire Soap Dish $0.99

VINTAGE SOAP DISH $10.00

Kohler K-11280-BN Forte Soap Dish Brushed Nickel $52.84

Kohler K-11280-G Forte Soap Dish Brushed Chrome $44.07

Kohler K-11280-CP Forte Soap Dish Polished Chrome $35.26

Ceramic Soap Dish &Toothbrush Holder Set NIP’s VTG-Blue $24.95

Clinique Facial Soap with Dish 3 x 1.7oz/ 3 x 50g Skincare Cleansers Mild #3695 $22.90

Vintage United States of America 1776-1976 Bicentennial Avon Soap Plate Dish $12.00

Pottery Barn Frog Soap Dish $2.98

AVON TUBBO THE HIPPO SOAP DISH & SOAP BOXED NEW/ VINTAGE $9.95

Dish soap bottle handmade doll…buy for the dress! $5.00

POTTERY BARN KIDS BUTTERFLY SOAP DISH PINK BATHROOM ACCESSORIES $13.75

ORIGINAL HENN WORKSHOPS SOAP DISH ROSE PINK CERAMIC POTTERY SPONGEWARE $13.99

POTTERY BARN KIDS TURTLE SOAP DISH BLUE BATHROOM ACCESSORIES $13.99

OLD FASHIONED PEDESTAL SINK SOAP DISH ~ PINK AND BLACK ~ TWO LIPS BATH FIZZIES $2.99

GOLD CHERUB PEDESTAL MILK GLASS SOAP DISH/ASHTRAY W/ITALY MARBLE BASE $9.99

Vintage T & V Limoges France Handpainted Soap/Candy Dish $9.99

New Soap Dish Holder Hardware Wall Iron and Ceramic Kitchen Bathroom Home Decor $11.99

New Wall Soap Dish Holder Hardware Iron and Ceramic Bathroom Kitchen Home Decor $11.99

Beautiful Soap Dish Design Hook Hanger Coat Hat Hardware Iron Home Decor New $11.99

Wall Soap Dish Holder Hardware Iron and Ceramic Bathroom Kitchen Home Decor New $11.99

Vintage 1956 Fine Ent. Inc. Boxing Kangaroo Soap Dish or Dresser Valet – As Is $7.50

Clinique Facial Soap Oily Skin Formula With Dish 150g $29.64

T&H Athena Roses On White Porcelain Soap Dish Made in USA $4.99

New Steve Madden Juliet SOAP DISH Bath Accessory Black White Vines Hot Pink $14.99

Tom Turner TT Pottery Stoneware South Carolina Dish Soap Candle Holder EUC $12.99

Clinique Facial Soap Mild With Dish 100g $24.70

Rubbermaid Antimicrobial Dish Drainers Rubbermaid is the first to market sinkware products with lifelong antimicrobial protection which inhibits the growth of bacteria that can cause stains and odors. The Rubbermaid Antimicrobial Small Dish Drainer features a detachable silverware holder and scratch resistant feet….

Rubbermaid #2951-AR BISQUE 11.4 QT Bisque Dish Pan $3.77 Dishpan fits standard twin or single sinks. Molded in grip areas provide portability. Dishpan is great for washing dishes, soaking laundry, and other tasks….

Rubbermaid Antimicrobial Drain Boards Rubbermaid is the first to market sinkware products with lifelong antimicrobial protection which inhibits the growth of bacteria that can cause stains and odors. The Rubbermaid Antimicrobial Small Drain Board features a sloped design that directs water to the sink – keeping your counter dry! Works with small dish drainers….

Soapdish: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack $11.98 …

Because I Love You $8.00 Music…

GINGER CHELSEA FLAT SOAP DISH $130.00 GINGER CHELSEA FLAT SOAP DISH…

Soapdish [VHS] $4.35 Though this movie did decent box-office business, it was never as funny as it should have been or as clever as it thought it was. The film is set behind the scenes at The Sun Also Sets, a soap opera starring Sally Field that is suffering a ratings slump. To lure the audience back, the producers resurrect a dead character, played by Kevin Kline, with whom Field was once a lover of but is now at odd…

Splashes of Joy In The Cesspool of Life $19.95 In her inimitable way, Barbara Johnson provides an invigorating spurt of encouragement and a gentle reminder to splatter joy into the lives of others as well. “Almost everyone needs a splash of joy to get through the mess”, she says. Video is a literary presentation of the best-selling book by the same author….

3M Command 17603B Large Shower Caddy with Water-Resistant Strips $10.49 3M Command, Water Resistant Strips & Shower Caddy, Mounting Solution Holds Firmly & Removes Cleanly, Leaves No Surface Damage, Creating An Easy & Affordable Way To Organize & Decorate, Each Caddy Holds Up To 7.5 LB With 2 Large Command Strips Per Pack….

Rubbermaid Antimicrobial Large Dish Drainer, Black $8.67 17.6″L x 13.8″D x 5.9″W, Large, Black, Wire Dish Drainer, Antimicrobial Product Protection Treated With Microban To Inhibit Growth Of Stain & Odor Causing Bacteria, Large Plastic Coated Wire Dish Drainer 2, Extra Deep For Maximum Capacity, Use With Dish Drainer Tray #1182, Coated Wire Cushions & Protects Dishes….