LindsayArthurRTR
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What is the efficacy when sprayed directly on squashbug eggs?

Toil
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I would not expect results from treating eggs with neem oil.

missyjean130
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I skimmed this thread,and I hope I'm not asking questions that have been answered...

There are those TEENY tiny white/translucent bugs crawling around in the soil of my new houseplants. They're round and the size of a pin prick.What are these? They're too small to photograph with my camera.

Would neem oil take care of gnat larvae? One of my plant has gnats flying around it and I tried setting out a cup of cider vinegar and sprinkling ground cinnamon on the soil to no avail. I'm now just trying to catch 'em with fly paper which looks kind of gross hanging from the ceiling =(

I actually have neem oil for first aide reasons,but how would I dilute it so it's safe to use IN the soil?People have stated dish soap,but is that only for the stems and leaves?Do you spray it on the soil or can I just use the dropper tool that comes with the oil?

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Kisal
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Missyjean, those are probably the larva of the fungus gnats you see flying around. Fungus gnats are not the same thing as fruit flies, which is why the vinegar didn't work.

The simplest solution, and what I recommend you try first, would be to allow the soil to dry out a bit more between waterings. Fungus gnats live in wet conditions. (For instance, they live in the soil around my birdbaths, because I dump the old water and replace it with fresh every day.) Let the soil get dry down to about 1/2" below the surface, or even a bit deeper.

You can use the soap solution as a soil drench. It shouldn't harm the plants. Just be sure to use soap and not a detergent. Most dishwashing liquids are detergents, because a detergent cut grease better than plain soap. Read the label carefully, before you use anything.

Neem oil would work as a soil drench, too.

Personally, although many people here seem to have good luck with cinnamon, it has never worked for me against insects.

missyjean130
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So soap as in the by-product of oil and lye? Or sodium laureth sulfate?

Thank you for your response.

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Kisal
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Soap as in Ivory soap or pure Castile soap. I use Dr. Bronner's unscented liquid soap, myself. If you can't get a liquid soap, you can dissolve some shavings from a bar of soap in water. I would let the shavings soak in the water overnight to soften. You only need a teaspoonful or two in a quart of water. :)

I've heard that some people have used Murphy's Oil Soap, but I've never tried that on my plants, so I don't know if it might damage them. I don't know what other ingredients are in the Murphy's.

missyjean130
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So I have only seen one gnat today! I hope that means the neem is working.

That stuff sure does stink,though! They should market it for weight loss. One good sniff of that will kill your appetite for the whole day!

I have learned my lesson not to plant anything in a container far too large for it's roots. :lol:

Spongegirl
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I found this online and I think it is good advice...it says neem oil soap but it should be the same advice for neem in general.

Using Neem Oil Soap - Precautions

First the no-no’s: Do not use neem oil soap on drought stressed plants. It should not be used on new transplants, and recently rooted cuttings. Because of potential phototoxic problems it is wise not to spray neem oil soap on plants while they are exposed to full sun. Use it early in the morning, better in the evening hours. Avoid using neem oil soap with the air temperature is much above 85F.
Because neem oil soap is in fact an oily substance, it can cause problems for certain plants because of the way it filters the sun to the leaf surface. This “phototoxicity effectâ€

Yogas
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Gnats - since you mentioned them - more help please. My husband is just about ready to throw all my plants outside because of the gnats. I tried the drying of the soil. I tried sprinkling with cinammon. I tried a cinammon stick in the watering can in addition to a bag of chamomile tea - all to no avail.

Do you think the Ivory soap would do the trick? I'm about at my wit's end. :(

girltropical
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I AM AN ORGANIC GARDENER. I USE NEEM OIL AND HAVE FOR A FEW YEARS NOW. I HAVE BEES A PLENTY IN MY YARD. IN FACT I AM ALLERIC TO THEIR STING. SO I HAVE TO BE CAREFUL AND WASPS ALSO. TOO MANY OF THEM. BUT THE NEEN, WHEN PUT IN A BOTTLE ATTACHED TO YOUR HOSE, AND WHEN IT DISPERSES WEAKLY, IT DOES NOT SEEM MY BEES AND WASPS ARE HARMED. I GOT RID OF A PROBLEM WITH SOME WHITE PUFF TYPE INSECT LARVAE ON MY ARECA PALMS. I LIVE IN TROPICAL VERY SOUTH FLORIDA. BY MIAMI ON THE SOUTH EAST COAST OF FLA. WE HAVE MANY BUGS HERE, AND THINGS YOU HAVE NEVER EVEN DREAMED OF OR SEEN. USING THE SPRAY ONCE AND THEN TWO WEEKS LATER, LIGHTLY DOSED, DID THE TRICK AND MY ARECAS ARE FIND AND HAPPY AGIAN NO BUGS. I HAVE MY LITTLE LIZZARDS AND TOADS AND A FEW SNAKES, AND LOTS OF BIRDS ALL LIVING IN MY CERTIFIED WILDLIFE HABITAT AND CERTIFIED STATE AND COUNTY GARDEN. NOTHING HARMFUL IN HERE, PLENTY OF BENEFICIAL BUGS, AND IT IS THE LAND OF THE GIANTS AS FAR AS HOW WELL MY PLANTS GROW AND MY VEGGIES. SO, USE SPARINGLY IN THE BOTTLE ON THE HOSE AND WILL BE FINE.

Texas.girl
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Freezing temps kill the Neem tree, so a house plant is the only way to go for most people.

I read somewhere a few months ago that neem is a weed that can spread and become invasive. It is a real problem in some parts of the world where the tree has been brought in. It is killing off native plants. For that reason unless you live where Neem is a native plant, like India, it probably should only be raised in a pot.

claire2965
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where can I get some neem oil from and how much does it cost. for what quantity

MariannePersia
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I bought Neem oil last year to use on my lilies, however the deer beat me to it and eat the lilies (boo hoo) this year I am determined to see my lillies bloom

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rainbowgardener
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claire2965 wrote:where can I get some neem oil from and how much does it cost. for what quantity
No idea where you go in gloucestershire to buy anything, but Neem oil is a very common product that would be in most garden stores or you can google it and buy on line.

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sheeshshe
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do you need to reapply the neem after it rains?

also, it was advised to me the other day by a garden business owner, to dunk the seedlings in neem before planting. a couple posts above, it is mentioned here not to put it on seedling transplants. why do you suppose she does it but it is not recommended to?

cmist
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This Might have been covered already.

But there are other Neem Products That have their place in the Garden

Quality (from NeemFoundation - not DTE) certified organic Neem Seed Meal or even Karanja Seed Meal Have a good nutritional analysis as well as the same compounds found in Neem Oil.

If you repeatedly are having problems with pests n the oil itself isnt quite managing it -- tilling in some neem seed meal in combination might be the next step.

hayes
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Does neem oil work against Thrips (WF)? I have a HUGE problem with them because they are hard to get rid of especially once they are in the flower buds. I've used Organic Insecticidal soap which worked the best but had to be sprayed directly in the flower bud and on the leaves but it just ruined and scorched my plants. I tried a three in one pesticide as a last resort but it ruined my plants as well plus its not safe.
Anything I put I outside immediately gets attacked by thrips, ive had to pull all my plants out and trash them because of how much damage the caused. I want to start over but I am hesitant! :(

imafan26
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https://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/neemgen.html

Neem oil has been used for 100's of years as a fungicide, insecticide, and small amounts in food and cosmetics.

As a fungicide and insecticide it works best as a preventive.

It is an anti-feedant and given before aphids and scale populations explode, it has worked for me. Once the infestation is severe, I have not seen it work as well.

Most fungicides work best as preventives and neem is no different. It does work well as a preventive fungicide. So, do most horticultural oils as the oily coating repels water.

Any pesticide, organic or organophosphates are toxic. They have to be or they would not kill anything. Neem does not appear to be harmful to most animals if used in the correct mixture and at the right time and place.

Neem, like anything else can cause problems for if you have an allergy to any of its' components

Neem is an oil and if applied in the sun, like any of the other oils on a hot day (>80 degrees) can burn some plants.

Neem is an anti-feedant, so unless insects are smothered by the oil, or leaves are coated to prevent fungal infections, it needs to be eaten by the insects in quantity to affect them. Most insects are repelled by the taste.

It is generally agreed that neem does not affect foraging bees, but their is some evidence that there could be dose related effects on bee larvae who are fed pollen that have been sprayed with neem, and there is a suggestion though no proof that larvae of other beneficials, like lacewings, may be similarly affected.

Neem is slightly toxic to fish. Most things are.

Neem has been used to kill fleas and has caused some toxicity and deaths in cats that were probably dose related. Cats are sensitive because they are clean animals.

In conclusion: Neem is a good product that is generally safe if used in proper concentration at the right time.

Sprays should be applied on cooler, overcast days and not in direct sun to prevent burning of the plants. Neem works best as a preventive for fungal and insect infestations and is best used early.

To limit the effect on beneficial insects. 1. If the beneficial insects are around, don't spray, give them a chance to take care of the problem. Use water and hand picking instead. 2. If you still choose to spray avoid spraying plants in bloom to limit the effects on the bees. 3. Spray in the early morning or late evening when the beneficial insects are least active.

Use Advantage on the cats instead. Do not spray anything near ponds.

Use a test spray if you are using it for the first time to make sure the plants are not sensitive. Ferns and some other plants are very sensitive to many chemicals.

Make sure you take precautions to protect yourself when spraying: eye protection, long sleeves and plants and gloves. I use a disposable painter's suit and respirator fitted with a pesticide filter and safety glasses. Wash up thoroughly after using any chemical.

hayes
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Thanks Imafan26 your post helped a lot!

rawradisaurous
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Any one have any experience with thos brand. I see it is only 70% neem. Is that ok?

Anyone have success with vine borers? I about cried when I saw the damage.
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rainbowgardener
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Nothing you can spray on the outside, including bad poisons, works against the vine borer larvae which are protected inside the stem.

Here's a couple of previous threads about the SVB's. If you search on it you will find tons written here about them, because they are the worst scourge in the garden.

https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/vi ... hp?t=44778

https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/vi ... hp?t=25636

https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/vi ... hp?t=28475

You can look for the eggs. Squash vine borer eggs are laid singly on the stem near the base. As soon as the larvae hatch, they burrow into the stem:

Image
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2m3wGnWBkAk/S ... eggs+2.jpg


If you find orange-ish eggs laid in clusters on the under side of leaves, they are squash bugs, another virulent squash pest:

Image
https://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yr8fuc0mJEo/T ... gsmall.JPG

rawradisaurous
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Thank you! I will read up.

Mhasan
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Hi, I will try Neem Oil in October as my neighbor is expecting and does not want me to use any chemicals until after the baby is born. What's the best place to buy it, and does it come as a spray?



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