How To Properly Emulsify Neem Oil & Make A Safe Garden Pest Spray

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Neem oil can be a great, non-toxic, useful product to protect your plants from pests or disease. That is, when it is mixed and applied properly! The big issue is that oil and water don’t easily mix, and most people don’t realize how to do this. When neem oil is not fully emulsified, is used in excess, at the incorrect time, or in the wrong situation, it can actually do more harm than good!

If you are here, researching how to mix neem oil, chances are you may already be somewhat familiar with neem itself. Just in case you aren’t, let’s briefly go over what neem oil is, how it works, and what pests it fights. Then I will show how to properly emulsify concentrated neem oil in water, to create an effective and safe spray solution to use in your garden.

What is Neem Oil?

Neem oil is a plant-based concentrated oil, extracted primarily from the seeds of the India-native neem tree. The oil is then diluted and mixed with water, and applied to plant foliage as an organic pest control. Cold-pressed extractions yield the highest quality virgin neem oil, and contain all the desirable active constituents. That is what we use! Check out our favorite cold-pressed neem oil here. In addition to being a natural, mild insecticide, neem also has healing medicinal properties and is commonly used in personal care products for people.

“Neem oil is made of many components, including Omega 3, 6, and 9 Fatty Acids. Azadirachtin is the most active component as a pesticide. It reduces insects ability to feed, and acts as a general insect repellent. It also interferes with insect hormone systems, making it harder for insects to grow and lay eggs. Azadirachtin can also repel and reduce the feeding of nematodes.”

Oregon State University

“Neem oil” is sold either as concentrated 100% pure neem oil, a concentrated neem oil containing other ingredients, or pre-mixed, ready-to-use spray. Personally, we prefer to use the 100% pure stuff and mix our own. It is the most cost-effective and safe. Furthermore, one pre-mixed neem oil product line was recently found to be contaminated with several synthetic, non-organic pesticides that weren’t included on the label, including Malathion, Chlorpyrifos, and Permethrin! Yuck.

Neem tree seeds. Photo courtesy of Medical News Today

Tag » How To Mix Neem Oil For Plants