Organic, efficient, AWESOME bug repellent.

Sparkticus

Well-Known Member
I posted this in the general "Marijuana Plant Problems" section but, figured this was a better place to put it. Works really well so I hope this helps some folks.

Just want to share an easy to make, very efficient bug repellent recipe. I use this on all my plants and it works for everything except caterpillars. I only seem to need to use it until flower. I apply about once a week. The plant does not have to be doused. Just a light, even cover. I apply in the evening to avoid burning the plant. It's very gentle and can be applied to young plants. Easily washes off edibles. A 32 oz. sprayer lasts about a month.

There's a few reasons this is so effective for organic gardening. The main reason is, even though it will kill on contact, it's mostly effective by REPELLING, which means you won't kill off the good predator bugs that eat things like aphids, that want to eat your plant. I live in an area where bugs are SERIOUS and this keeps all my plants safe. It also works as an awesome repellent for yourself =).

All you need is organic olive oil, rosemary, thyme, cinnamon and clove.

Directions to make: I use about a teaspoon of each ingredient (whole works best) for a 32 oz sprayer. In a small pan, simmer the ingredients in just enough oil to cover, for about 10-12 minutes. You will see the resin from the clove most noticeably. Pour the contents through a fine strainer into a bowl and add a half a teaspoon of NON_CHEMICAL dish soap. Stir until the solution is uniform (you'll see what I mean). You should have about 2-3 oz of solution. Add to the 32 oz sprayer and fill with rain or filtered water the rest of the way. Shake before using.

And that's it. I promise this stuff works great. I may have a bug bite or two on a few leaves but for the most part, I NEVER have bug issues. I grow tomatoes, basil, peppers, squash, cucumbers, parsley, oregano, etc. and usually have anywhere from 30-50 assorted things growing. I use it on every one of them. I use it to hike and never have bug bites. Smells pretty good , too. Any questions feel free to contact me.
2 weeks. IMG_20140404_184301.jpg IMG_20140404_184308.jpg 3 weeks. IMG_20140409_103330.jpg IMG_20140409_103249.jpg 5 weeks (she's an auto). 1398261485101.jpg 1398261520271.jpg To date. Almost There 075.JPG Almost There 002.JPG Almost There 004.JPG Almost There 001.JPG ...Still bug free. There's literally 2 or 3 leaves that have a tiny spot or little piece nibbled. Nothing continuous. The spray hasn't effected the smell of the buds at all from what I can tell, but I haven't used it since pre-flower (2 or 3 weeks).
 

kinddiesel

Well-Known Member
looks good. I have used olive oil . and dish soap . did work well to prevent bugs or make them leave . but it wont kill bugs. but it does piss them off . so as soon as the eggs hatch again they come back . but yes your spray will work just as good as unsafe chemicals .
 

Sparkticus

Well-Known Member
looks good. I have used olive oil . and dish soap . did work well to prevent bugs or make them leave . but it wont kill bugs. but it does piss them off . so as soon as the eggs hatch again they come back . but yes your spray will work just as good as unsafe chemicals .
Yeah I mean, my great grandma threw dishsoap on gardens, lol. It's the borax in it. The dishsoap actually helps to break down the cooked oils and blend them, too. This spray does kill on contact... might just stick and drown but, bugs definitely die, haha. Only if sprayed directly on them, though. I took a few different methods and tried to blend them into an all-purpose kind of spray. Clove and Rosemary are actually the keys. They work better than citronella candles. There are natural commercial sprays that use them, too. I tried to make a repellent that works with the environment so as to leave the good bugs alive. Nature does a better than we do at pest control.
 

Sparkticus

Well-Known Member
looks good. I have used olive oil . and dish soap . did work well to prevent bugs or make them leave . but it wont kill bugs. but it does piss them off . so as soon as the eggs hatch again they come back . but yes your spray will work just as good as unsafe chemicals .
That is a good point, though. If there are existing infestations indoors...I don't know if it would do anything but keep hatch-lings off the plant. It was designed for outdoor gardening. But if used from the start indoors, you may be able to avoid any infestations that aren't in the soil from the start.
 

Below66

Member
My arsenal vs the hulk strong spider mites in CO -



1 tbsp Neem Oil + 2 tbsp Saturator

Habanero pepper extract(you really can't over do it with this, got this one from another member and post on this forum) + half teaspoon of Dr.Bronners

1 tbsp lilly of the desert aloe vera juice x5 concentrate + half teaspoon of Dr.Bronners


The trick is to constantly go at them and show them attention with organic solutions that bother the fuck out of them and make the place uninhabitable, be active and clean. Sometimes I run out of the solution I'm spraying and then just go back and fill it with water and some plain Dr.Bronners peppermint and lavender and hit up every corner of floor/bucket/wall that I missed. The only way infestations get out of hand is when someone shows no love to the process or has an environment very inviting to them. You don't have time? work too much? or just plain lazy? your best bet is quality sealed rooms and pyrethrum bombs... anything after that is the chemical route, fuck you if you push that stuff out on the street.
 

Sparkticus

Well-Known Member
What sprayer do you use?
Just a regular 32 oz commercial-grade hand sprayer like, $3 at Home Depot. They last longer than a dollar store brand and they have a better mist, lol. Whatever works for you, stick with it. My spray is great. Very mild, works well without having to use it a lot. Whatever the science behind it is, it's dependable. At least has been for me. I'm very conscientious of my plants so, if anything happens I usually notice right away. Also my garden is active and healthy organic so, once you get the living system working, it's fairly easy to maintain. I'm sure there's tons of other herbs that have repelling effects I'm unaware of, too.
 

Gramaw

Member
Thanks for posting your recipe. I've been looking for a good one! I'm going to make this tomorrow. I have an indoor grow, but I'm considering moving 1 or 2 of my plants outside to see how they do. I gave one of my clones to a friend who keeps his plant outside, and he's outgrowing me! But I didn't want to move anything outside until I found a natural repellent.

Thanks again!
 

Sparkticus

Well-Known Member
Thanks for posting your recipe. I've been looking for a good one! I'm going to make this tomorrow. I have an indoor grow, but I'm considering moving 1 or 2 of my plants outside to see how they do. I gave one of my clones to a friend who keeps his plant outside, and he's outgrowing me! But I didn't want to move anything outside until I found a natural repellent.

Thanks again!
You're very welcome :D. I want to mention again, this will do nothing for bud worms or red spike caterpillars on my tomato plants, haha. I check on my plants multiple times, daily (I realize some don't have the time) and pick off by hand along with help from ants and other predators DSCN0553.JPG =) I found one bud worm in my last harvest and didn't really use the spray through flower because I was afraid it would affect the flavor. I did notice some bug bites began around 3 weeks of non-use, so I carefully sprayed the surrounding leaves trying not to hit the bud. For vegetables it's totally OK to use through bloom. I think it minimizes the fliers and in turn keeps their hatchlings down. I may consider using it through flower next time since after a few days there's no odor. If I had any really bad caterpillar situation, I would go neem oil.
 
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