Emulsifying neem oil
- Thread starter Shaynweed
- Start date
How safely emulsify neem oil ?can i use bathroom soap??
DCcan
Well-Known Member
A natural soap like Dr Bronner's works better than one with fragrances and Sodium laureth sulfate, which is a foaming agent more than a spreader.
Any soap is actually a poor choice but it works, most need much higher levels than a surfactant. Just watch EC levels before applying.
I'm never using soap or silica again, after seeing the difference with surfactants
Therm-x70 is OMRI listed yucca extract. Others are polyethylene/ glycol based or polysorbate surfactants
Any soap is actually a poor choice but it works, most need much higher levels than a surfactant. Just watch EC levels before applying.
I'm never using soap or silica again, after seeing the difference with surfactants
Therm-x70 is OMRI listed yucca extract. Others are polyethylene/ glycol based or polysorbate surfactants
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Unfortunately don’t access to thatA natural soap like Dr Bronner's works better than one with fragrances and Sodium laureth sulfate, which is a foaming agent more than a spreader.
Any soap is actually a poor choice but it works, most need much higher levels than a surfactant. Just watch EC levels before applying.
I'm never using soap or silica again, after seeing the difference with surfactants
Therm-x70 is OMRI listed yucca extract. Others are polyethylene/ glycol based or polysorbate surfactants
Liquid soap isn’t bad for plant?A natural soap like Dr Bronner's works better than one with fragrances and Sodium laureth sulfate, which is a foaming agent more than a spreader.
Any soap is actually a poor choice but it works, most need much higher levels than a surfactant. Just watch EC levels before applying.
I'm never using soap or silica again, after seeing the difference with surfactants
Therm-x70 is OMRI listed yucca extract. Others are polyethylene/ glycol based or polysorbate surfactants
Regular soap for washing use
TessaMaria
Well-Known Member
Ive use that without problems, I used 1/4 tsp soap, 2 tablespoons pure neem oil and one gallon warm water. I always warm up the neem oil by placing the bottle in hot water and shaking every minute or so until the neem oil is liquified. When I mist I shake the mix up every few seconds while spraying(misting) to make sure it stays mixed up. I have had good luck with that method. At harvest I will do a triple wash on the harvested buds to wash the dirt and any leftover neem off. The smoke is nicer than when I have not washed. 
TessaMaria
Well-Known Member
What did you notice as the difference? Curious to learn and try myselfA natural soap like Dr Bronner's works better than one with fragrances and Sodium laureth sulfate, which is a foaming agent more than a spreader.
Any soap is actually a poor choice but it works, most need much higher levels than a surfactant. Just watch EC levels before applying.
I'm never using soap or silica again, after seeing the difference with surfactants
Therm-x70 is OMRI listed yucca extract. Others are polyethylene/ glycol based or polysorbate surfactants
DCcan
Well-Known Member
The ppm was much lower with surfactant vs soap. Much less likely to get phytotoxicity, gives you headroom to tank mix something else with neem, like a companion dose of pyrethrins. The oil will encapsulate that or another pesticide, protect it from uv degradation.What did you notice as the difference? Curious to learn and try myself
The coverage was better, the mix spreads out evenly on the leaves, then dries with no gaps in coverage. Allows you to use lower levels of pesticides and horticultural oils, improves the adsorption of the agent to the leaves. The solution just spreads so much better.
The mix completely emulsifies, not partially like soaps. Even in colder water, you don't see globs float back to the surface, don't have to keep shaking the tank. Some things, like sulfur and neem, just goes on like a breeze.
DCcan
Well-Known Member
Depends on the soap, ppm and ph of the solution. Castile soap is a good choice, from olive oil, or something from palm oil, just skip the fragrant ones.
Liquid soaps are potassium fatty acids and water, then most add the stuff below....
Sodium Benzoate and Benzoic Acid
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Methylisothiazolinone and Methylchloroisothiazolinone
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Fragrance
pH Adjusters
Dyes
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TessaMaria
Well-Known Member
DCcan
Well-Known Member
Any natural soap from plants will work, the additives are what you have to watch.
Do a weaker solution of neem oil than the label says, test it first if you can't measure the EC/PPM of the spray mix.
Warming up the spray water to room temp helps mix it also, rather than cold tap water.
You just have to keep shaking the solution every few minutes. If you put in more soap to fully emulsify it, then the potassium levels get too high and will burn plants.
I have calcium silis powder (chemichal) does it have benefits for leavse if i mix a low does in neem oil ? Or could burnt my leaves and not worth of trying ? I heard silisium can help emulsified neem ?!