Neem oil

[Binkalette]

Is Neem oil considered organic? Or more specifically "extract of NEEM oil .9%" .. it is shown as the active ingredient in a bottle of "Fungicide 3" at Fleet Farm.. Is it safe? Thanks!

[Toil]

It can be used safely but isn't harmless.

[Binkalette]

What kind of harm might it cause? I'm thinking of getting it to use on my marigolds that have some sort of little spots on their leaves. Will it harm the insects and things surrounding the area I were to spray it?

[cynthia_h]

Sorry, I'm very short of time these days, but if you do a Search the Forum you'll find TONS of posts by both Toil and me on neem. Use key words

neem oil *or* azadirachtin

and author

cynthia_h *or* Toil

and you'll have lots of reading.

Yes, it is organic. Yes, you must be careful. Yes, poison oak is organic. So are many other dangerous substances (curare comes to mind, hemlock, belladonna, deathcap mushrooms, all of which are very organic)...used well and wisely, neem oil is very helpful to gardeners. Used indiscriminately, it will kill many beneficial insects and burn your plants.

Cynthia H.