Neem oil and potassium soap: what they are and how to exploit them
More and more people are reluctant to exploit chemical ingredients to combat pests and plant diseases. These products are harmful not only to insects and fungi, but also to fauna and even flora in the environment. In the case of vegetables, it can even be harmful to us. However, it is critical to know and know how to apply the ecological options that we have. That’s why we will talk on Neem oil and potassium soap.
If you don’t know what these natural products are, I recommend you continue reading. We will explain what they are for, what doses should be used and how they are used.
What is neem oil?
Before we talk about how to exploit neem oil and potassium soap, we must first explain what both products are, starting with the first one. Also known as Neem extract, This oil is a natural insecticide widely used in gardening and organic farming. It is obtained from the fruit of a tree called Please (hence the name of the product). It helps fight various pests and fungi, but is also a good preventive measure.
Neem oil application is carried out by irrigation or spraying. Please note that this product should not be used together with sulfur. A mixture of both products causes a phytotoxic reaction, i.e.: Poisons plants. If we want to exploit both sulfur and Neem oil, it is critical to leave at least a three-week interval between each application so as not to damage the vegetables. The same thing happens with copper, but in this case we can leave an interval of two weeks between applications.
But what pests does Neem oil work against? Well, let’s see, some of them are minelayer, white fly rigs, aphids, trippers, cochineal, fleas, mites, bedbugs, diminutive caterpillars, diminutive locusts or grasshoppers, weevils and termites. Definitely: It is used to combat virtually all supple insects, including larvae, but is also very effective against certain fungi such as rust, mildew and powdery mildew. If we have problems with some of the stronger fungi, such as black spot, alternaria or botrytis, adding sodium bicarbonate is a good solution. This will make the mixture more effective.
How much Neem oil per liter of water?
When using Neem oil, we must introduce the mixture into a sprayer or sprayer and Apply it to the entire plant, both above and below the leaves. Before using it, we must first obtain an emulsifier. Potassium soap is usually used, which we will talk about later. Now let’s see quantities and measurements:
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Protect your plants from pests with Neem oil
- By irrigation: 3-4 milliliters per liter of water
- Sprayed against a less widespread plague: 6 milliliters of potassium soap + 3 milliliters of Neem oil per liter of water
- Spray against widespread plague: 6 milliliters of potassium soap + 5 milliliters of Neem oil per liter of water
- Mighty Mushrooms: Add 2 grams of potassium bicarbonate for each liter of water.
It should be said that every milliliter of Neem oil corresponds to approximately 20 drops about.
What is potassium soap?
We already know something more about Neem oil, but what is potassium soap? Like the extract we talked about earlier, this product is also organic and natural. Potassium soap is very effective in eliminating and preventing certain pests. This is usually a highly recommended treatment to control mealybugs, aphids and whiteflies. However, it is also very useful against other pests and even against some types of fungi.
Of course, this is not a miracle product. When it comes to fighting a pest or fungus, you need to be patient. For potassium soap to work, several applications must be made. It is very unlikely that a single exploit will get rid of all the bugs that have infested a given plant.
How much potassium soap per liter of water?
The amount of potassium soap that we need to dissolve in a liter of water will depend mainly on the concentration of the soap. Let’s see the recommended amounts below:
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What is potassium soap used for?
- Potassium soap 50%: 2.5 – 5 milliliters per liter of water.
- Potassium soap 20%: 10 – 20 milliliters per liter of water.
How are neem oil and potassium soap used?
Now that we know what these two organic products are, let’s discuss how to exploit Neem oil and potassium soap. The first one, as we mentioned above, is applied by irrigation or spraying. It’s best to complete this task in the morning or at sunset. This will prevent the plants from burning. The frequency with which we should apply this product will depend on the type of treatment, let’s take a look at it:
- Prevention: Apply neem oil every 15 to 20 days.
- Pest treatment: Apply every 4-5 days until the pest is completely eliminated. If the plague is very sedate, only Neem oil, without bicarbonates, can be used for irrigation.
- Fight pests with foliar treatments: Every 4 to 5 days.
As for potassium soap, its application is usually done foliarly and with airy pressurebut be careful not to crush the leaves. To make it even more effective, it is best to ensure that both sides of the sheets are thoroughly cleaned. This product is excellent at completely eliminating some pests, such as tripods, aphids, mealybugs and red spider mites. To achieve this, we need to apply it every 3 to 5 days.
Neither of these two products kills pests instantly, as well as synthetic insecticides and pesticides. They deprive insects of food, growth and reproduction. For this reason, both treatments are somewhat snail-paced and require five to seven days to take effect.
If possible, it is best to exploit natural insecticides. We can try neem oil and potassium soap, and if we still can’t eliminate the payment, we can look for alternatives.