FEATURESTORY
by Ray Barkalow
Home Remedies from Pest Control to Leaf
Shine for Houseplants
A
lot of folks are big believers in trying to
be as “organic” as possible when control-
ling ailments in their plant collections, or
just trying to spruce them up. We strongly
recommend against preventive use of insecticides
and fungicides, as there is a fairly strong tendency to
breed resistant strains. Instead, we suggest that you
take the time to carefully inspect your collection, and
treat problems as soon as they arise.
Below are a number of home remedies – concoc-
tions that come highly recommended, but please re-
member that you’re using them at your own risk, and
that of your plants, and that I can take no responsibil-
ity for the outcome.
Insecticides
Your choice of home-made insecticide should be
based upon what you’re trying to eliminate.
Soft-Bodied Bugs like Aphids & Mealybugs
◆ ◆ Straight 70% or 90% isopropyl rubbing alcohol –
touch the insects with a soaked cotton swab, or
for larger infestations, spray the en-
tire affected plant, being sure to thor-
oughly wet all surfaces. Repeat every
3 days for about 2 weeks. (I have
never experienced any problems
with buds, flowers, or any part of the
plant when using an alcohol spray.)
◆ ◆ Garlic/pepper spray – liquefy 2
bulbs of garlic and 2 hot peppers in
a blender 1/2 to 2/3 full of water.
Strain to remove the solids and add
enough water to the garlic/pepper
juice to make one gallon of concen-
trate. Add 1/4 cup of concentrate to
each gallon of spray. To make gar-
lic tea, simply omit the pepper and
add another bulb of garlic. Add two
tablespoons of blackstrap molasses
for more control.
Hard Shell Insects like Scale and
Thrips
Mix one teaspoon (5 ml) each of
cooking oil and liquid dishwashing
soap or detergent in a quart (liter) of
28
water. Concentrations are not critical – some recipes
also recommend a tablespoon (15 ml) of oil be used.
Shake well, and spray the plant, being sure to thor-
oughly wet all surfaces. Repeat every 3 days for about
2 weeks. The soap breaks down the waterproof, waxy
coating on the insects’ shells, and the oil will smother
them.
General-Purpose Insect Spray
◆ ◆ One cup (250 ml) each of Formula 409 or Fan-
tastik household cleaner/degreaser and isopropyl
rubbing alcohol and 2 cups water, making a quart
or liter of spray. Use the same as the formulas
above. (I’ve not tried this one.)
◆ ◆ Mix three tablespoons of Dr. Bronner’s Pepper-
mint Pure-Castile Soap and 3/4 cup isopropyl rub-
bing alcohol in a quart bottle, and then add water
to fill it up. I have never tried this but have heard
it is a good, general purpose insecticide.
◆ ◆ Orange Plus, a household cleaner made from
byproducts of orange juice production, can be
sprayed directly on plants to eliminate insects. (I
suspect other concoctions made using citrus oils
may also be effective, but have no knowledge or
experience concerning them.)
◆ ◆ Mix one tsp of Murphy’s Oil Soap in a one quart
spray bottle with one tsp of cooking oil and 1
tbsp. of lemon juice then fill the rest with 1/2
water and 1/2 alcohol.
Ant Eliminator
◆ ◆ Melt about 1/4 pound of candle wax, then slowly
stir in about 1/4 cup sugar and 4 ounces boric
acid powder (available at your local drug store).
When thoroughly mixed, pour the mixture into a
pan, creating a 1/4" to 1/2" thick slab. Let it dry
then cut or break it into chunks, and distribute
around the greenhouse. If you decide to try this
indoors, be sure to keep them away from children
and animals.
◆ ◆ A surprising – and no doubt smelly – ant repellant
is fermented cow manure tea. Put about a gallon
volume of fresh manure in a 5-gallon bucket and
top it up with water. Cover and let it stand for a
couple of weeks or more until it’s fully “cured.”
Spray the solution around the greenhouse and
www.GardenandGreenhouse.net
May 2019