Is neem oil a fungicide for treating plants in the garden? I grow culinary herbs and vegetables. I want to use a natural pesticide that won’t make my family sick.
Hilda Zamora, FL
Fungicides are biologics or chemical compounds that eliminate a variety of problems with plants. Neem oil is a safe fungicide that many gardeners use on plants intended for eating. It gets rid of a wide variety of plant diseases and pests like fungus, powdery mildew, black spot, root rot, sooty mold, rust, spider mites, and aphids. Take care of white spots on zucchini leaves or cutworms on tomato plants.
This natural oil is so powerful that you can spray a 1% solution on plant leaves or soak the soil with it to get the desired results. The plant will take in the neem oil and then pass it on to the insects that eat it, while leaving the plant unharmed.
If neem oil doesn’t outright kill pests, neem oil does kill aphids eventually and it makes them unable to reproduce. While it repels or removes snails, mealybugs, stink bugs, scale, mosquitoes, Japanese beetles, is one of the best home remedies for termites, and more, it won’t harm ladybugs, earthworms, or bees. If you want to see the full list of pests and diseases that neem oil can treat, check out this article:https://www.tipsbulletin.com/39-fascinating-uses-and-benefits-of-neem-oil/
There are a wide variety of products that contain neem oil in different concentrations. Be sure to check the label to find the kind and concentration you need for the application you plan to use. Depending on which product you have, you will probably need to mix it with water. You might need to add another ingredient to dish soap or an oil when you spray leaves so that the oil doesn’t immediately drain off. Test your mixture on a small area and wait a day to see how the plants react.
Overall in your garden, around plants and vegetables, you might want to look into our companion planting guide, vinegar in the garden, baking soda in your garden and hydrogen peroxide for plants post to prevent any garden pests from appearing or to get rid of ones you may suddenly discover.
In the house, neem oil has a variety of other uses, as well. If you’re using pure neem oil, you can also use it on yourself and on your pets. This plant-derived oil can help heal wounds, moisturize dry skin, get rid of dandruff, and strengthen hair.
Does neem oil repel bed bugs? You bet! On animals, it can repel ticks and fleas and treat skin problems like mange and scabies. Finally, if you have any concerns about using neem oil, simply start with small amounts to see how it works.
I hope this helps.
Joan