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Insecticide Is Just One Of
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I hadn't even heard about neem until the last few years, when I
noticed it was found in lotions and creams.
The benefits of neem oil comes from the seeds of the neem oil
tree, and originates from India and Burma. The people there have
known about it's neem oil insecticide and medicinal properties
for hundreds of years, and they have crushed the leaves and
rubbed them against their skin to ward off insects that
can bite.
Neem oil is non-toxic to birds, worms, bees and mammals. It
has a kind of garlic and sulpher smell to it, which helps
to repel. It is very bitter tasting as well. Neem breaks
down very easily in the sunlight, and is biodegradeable.
When spraying, you don't want it to get on you or even
your hands, simply because of the smell.
The oils distilled from the seeds contain the chemical
azadirachtin, and have been used as a botanical-pesticide
or neem oil insecticide to control a huge variety of garden pests.
It's a great Organic Substitute For Harsh Chemical Insecticides
The way it all works, is that the spray stops insect larvae
from maturing to the adult stage. Leaves that have been
sprayed taste terrible, so the bugs wont't eat them either.
It doesn't hurt the beneficial bug, mainly because those bugs
generally aren't interested in eating your plants anyway.
You have to try to be careful however, not to spray the
the larvae of the good bugs.
Your plants will "ingest" the neem, and this does not damage
them at all. Feeding insects will unknowingly ingest the neem
and die off. Actually, they just stop eating altogether, and
eventually starve if they didn't get past the feeding stage.
Fortunately, vegetables are not hurt by the spraying.
Neem oil is very effective as an insect repellant against
a number of garden pests including mealy bugs, ticks,
japanese beetles, gnats, weevils, spider mites and sandfleas.
Neem oil is great for aphids, which are very drawn to roses.
People use it to also get rid of lice, and to repel biting
flies and mosquitoes.
Other neem-oil-uses have found their way to the cosmetics
counters as moisturizers, and cold creams. Neem can be
found in soaps, shampoos, and toothepaste.
Skin ailments such as eczema and psoriasis have been treated
with neem.
It is being used in the treatment of acne and acne scarring.
Neem contains Vitamin E and many essential amino acids, which
are needed for the healing process. In additon, neem has been
associated with reducing pain and killing bacteria that can
cause infection.
Neem oil also works as a fungicide and can have an effect on
mildew as well.
Still, of all of the neem-oil-uses there are, it remains best
known for being an excellent pesticide.
There are some variations of neem oil recipes that you can
mix and keep handy for use in your garden. You can make
them up and be sure to store in a cool dark area. It is
wise not to make up more than necessary. Try not spray too
too much, because the neem can burn the leaves of your plant
in hot sunlight.
Neem Oil Mixtures
1 gallon of water
1 tblsp. neem oil concentrate
1/2 ounce orange oil
1/2 ounce distilled rosemary
1 tsp. pure neem oil
2 tsp. insecticide soap (from any garden store)
1 litre warm water
1 clean spray bottle
TIP Cottonballs soaked in neem oil repels moths from
feeding on your clothing.
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