Are you looking for something to clear out your garden from pests? Insecticidal soap is the answer to your prayers! It’s a non-toxic product you can either buy or make at home at a fraction of the cost.
Homemade soap insecticide is a safe and easy solution for your bug problem. You can use it in your garden to get rid of pests – and avoid harming your plants and vegetables. This solution is the go-to choice for organic gardeners. Apply it regularly to your garden to protect your plants and greens without having to use heavy chemicals or other unwanted products. It’s the best non-invasive, sustainable fix for your backyard issues.
What Is Insecticidal Soap?
Insecticide soap is a mixture of two different ingredients: alkali and natural oils. When you mix these two things together, you get potassium salts (which people often refer to as soap salts).
Let’s break that down. Alkali is a basic ionic salt; natural oils often come in many forms, such as coconut oil or olive oil.
When you combine these two things together and spray them in your garden, you will kill soft-bodied pests such as mites and mealybugs. It’ll happen on contact. At the same time, you will avoid harming the insects your garden needs to thrive, such as beetles and other bugs.
What’s the best part of this plan? Insecticidal soap leaves no toxic residue around! There’s a catch, though. This mixture only works when wet – and loses its power when dry.
DIY Insecticidal Soap Recipe
Do you want to save money and your garden at the same time? You can do so by making insecticidal soap at home! Make sure you follow the recipe, though. Add too much soap, and you may have a solution too strong for your plants to handle – and may harm them in the process.
Things you need to make insecticidal soap
- A gallon jug of distilled water
- Mild liquid soap
- Plastic spray bottle
- Vegetable oil
1. Fill it up
Grab the jug and fill it with water. Make sure it’s either tap or distilled water. Hard water will make the insecticidal soap less effective, so avoid using it. Don’t fill the jug all the way! Leave two or three inches at the top.
The best (and easiest) way to go at it is to buy a gallon of distilled water at the store. Make sure you write something on the bottle. That way, people won’t drink your distilled water or insecticidal soap – that’s not something you want.
People with big gardens could use a garden sprayer to work faster. If that sounds like you, remember to follow the right ratios of this recipe. You may have a one gallon sprayer, and that’s okay! Do the math if yours is 2 or 3 gallons big, though.
2. Mix it up
Here’s what you have to do: add two and a half tablespoons of liquid soap (or liquid dish soap) and two and a half tablespoons of vegetable oil.
Are you not sure about what kind of oil you want? Coconut oil is perfect for this recipe! Especially if you want to keep everything organic. Using olive oil is also a good idea.
The soap will help the solution to stay on the plants for longer. That way, it’ll be more effective against pests. Then again, don’t add more soap hoping that it’ll help – because it’ll do more harm than good.
You want to create a mild solution that will harm bugs and protect your plants.
3. Shake it up
Secure the lid and shake the bottle to mix everything in there. As soon as you’re done shaking the jug, pour everything into a spray bottle. Don’t leave the solution in the jug for less than necessary.
If you want to mix more insecticidal soap, make sure you rinse the jug before you do. Otherwise, you may end up with leftovers from your previous batch – and that could leave you with milder or harsher insecticidal soap down the line.
It’s not a bad idea to give the spray bottle a good shake every time before you use it. That way, you keep everything nice and mixed.
4. Repeat
Throw away any insecticidal soap sitting around for a month or so. The oil will go bad after a while – and that will leave you with rancid soap. That’s not what you want to use!
When that happens, mix a fresh batch before going to the garden.
Commercial Insecticidal Soap
You can buy 32 ounces of insecticidal soap pre-packaged in a spray bottle for $5 to $15. Most beginner farmers prefer to buy their insecticidal soap because it’s already mixed – and there’s no fear of messing up the formula that way. Adding too much of something when you make this product could harm your garden in the long run.
Insecticidal soap comes in many shapes and forms. You can get something ready to use, or you may buy a concentrated solution. If you decide to go for the second choice, make sure you dilute it with water before using it.
Why would anyone use a concentrated solution over the ready to use product? Because you can save money in the long run that way! Concentrated insecticidal soap will last five or six times more than the ready to use option.
How to use insecticidal soap
Evenly spray insecticidal soap where pests usually hide. The usual hiding places are under leaves as well as on main stems. Your goal is to cover the plant with insecticidal soap – but avoid using so much that it ends up dripping wet.
Remember, insecticidal soap is eco-friendly! There’s no need to worry. You can spray it on plants, fruits, and veggies. Spray this solution around your garden every four to seven days. The best time to do so is during the early morning. That way, the soap won’t evaporate as quickly and will act for a longer time.
Think before you spray
Insecticidal soap is safe for most plants. Unfortunately, you will find there are certain specimens sensitive to soap. Azalea, begonia, impatiens, sweet pea, and rhododendron are a few examples of things you don’t want to spray.
Testing the Waters
Is this your first time using insecticide soap? Avoid spraying plants if you don’t know whether they can take the solution or not. You can always try it in one or two leaves and wait for 24 hours. If you see no issues, you can continue spraying. Stop altogether if you see them weaker or wilted after the fact.
You don’t have to worry about wildlife when using insecticidal soap. It doesn’t harm pets, birds, or other animals. You do have to avoid spraying it near bodies of water, as it’s slightly harmful to fish. We don’t recommend using it on aquatic plants.
In Summary
A bottle of insecticidal soap should be your main weapon in the battle against pests and other threats. Insects often carry diseases that will cause a disaster in your garden – that’s why you should regularly check for any trouble.
If you happen to find any bugs or insects, make some insecticidal soap, and get to work. Otherwise, your pests will ruin your plants and flowers sooner rather than later.
Do you have any questions about the process? Check the most common ones below.
Can I make insecticidal soap?
You sure can! The right way to make insecticidal soap is by mixing two and a half tablespoons of vegetable oil and two and a half tablespoons of liquid soap. Mix it in a gallon of distilled water. That will make one gallon of insecticidal soap – more than enough to kill any pests you may find in your garden.
How often should I spray my plants?
Spray your plants once a week. Reapply the spray after heavy rain.
What’s the best insecticidal soap?
You can use homemade and commercial insecticidal soaps. They’re both great for your garden. Make sure you choose insecticidal soap that’s fit for plants if you decide to go to the store to get it. The safest way to do so is to look for a product with an OMRI (Organic Material Review Institute) certification.
Will commercial dish soap work in my DIY soap?
Plenty of gardeners choose Dawn dish soap to make their insecticidal soap. Unfortunately, it has artificial coloring and other chemicals. While it may not harm your plants, it’s not the eco-friendly option you want. Castile is a better option for organic insecticidal soap.
Can insecticidal soap kill plants?
You could make an insecticidal soap with too much liquid soap – and that could harm your plants. Make sure you follow the recipe exactly as is! Remember, add two and a half tablespoons of liquid soap and two and a half tablespoons of vegetable oil for every gallon of water. That ratio is very important.