DIY – The use of insecticidal soap for pest control has been popular in the home garden and in large-scale agriculture since the 1990s. Insecticidal soap can be used in an organic gardening context because it is a naturally occurring product made from plant oils with no added synthetic chemicals. Insecticidal soaps have been shown to be less toxic to humans than many synthetic pesticides.
Insecticidal soaps kill insects by dissolving their waxy coating, causing them to dehydrate. This is especially effective on soft-bodied insects such as aphids, mealybugs, whiteflies, spider mites, and scale insects; but also works on beetles and other hard-bodied insects if applied directly to the insect’s body.
You can easily buy it or make your own insecticidal soap at home and apply to your plants. For this case, make sure you use soap that doesn’t contain fragrance, bleach, or any other chemical element.
What is Insecticidal Soap
Insecticidal soap is a soap-based pesticide containing potassium salts of fatty acids, making it a potassium salt of fatty acid. Potassium is a natural element, the fatty acids are derived from plant oils, and the combination makes a highly effective insecticide that is completely biodegradable.
How to Make Organic Insecticidal Soap
To make organic insecticidal soap, all you need jus simple ingredients every home have, such as:
- Spray bottle
- Liquid Soap
- Water
Here few steps for you take to make your own organic insecticidal soap;
Step1. Take 1 liter water in a bucket. Ensure you’ve soft water for better results.
Step2. Mix one tablespoon liquid soap in it.
Step3. Fill the liquid in a spray bottle and stir until it mixes up well and your DIY insecticidal soap is ready.
Step4. Spray it thoroughly on the leaves of infected plants.
Additional tips if you want use it as your gardening tools:
- Spray it in the early morning.
- It only works when it comes in direct contact with pests, so make sure to spray it thoroughly.
- You’ll need to spray it three times a week for a result.
- You can mix neem oil or canola oil in it to make it more effective.
- Don’t store it, instead make it fresh when needed.
How Insecticidal soap works?
When sprayed on plants (soft water works well) it dissolves its waxy coating when comes in direct contact with soft-bodied insects and pests, it breaks up their cell membrane and suffocates them.