How To Make Vegetable Oil Spray For Plants

Vegetable oil spray is a powerful and eco-friendly weapon in the arsenal of gardeners and orchard enthusiasts.

In this blog post, we’ll explore the benefits of using vegetable oil spray for plants, the types of pests it effectively combats, and provide you with a simple recipe to make your own natural insecticide.

Benefits of Vegetable Oil Spray for Plants

1. Environmentally Friendly: Unlike chemical pesticides, vegetable oil spray is gentle on the environment, making it a sustainable choice for pest control in your garden or orchard.
2. Safe for Beneficial Insects: This natural insecticide primarily targets soft-bodied pests, sparing beneficial insects like ladybugs and bees.
3. Easy to Make at Home: With a few readily available ingredients, you can whip up a batch of vegetable oil spray right in your kitchen.

Pests that Vegetable Oil Spray Works For

Vegetable oil spray is a versatile solution that effectively combats various garden and orchard pests. Some of the common pests it can help you control include:

• Aphids: These tiny insects can wreak havoc on your plants by sucking sap from leaves and stems. Vegetable oil spray smothers aphids, reducing their population.
• Lice: Lice, also known as plant lice or plant aphids, are another target of this natural insecticide.
• Mealybugs: Mealybugs are notorious for infesting plant foliage. Vegetable oil spray can eliminate them without harming the plants.
• Moths: The larvae of moths can defoliate your plants. Vegetable oil spray can deter moth infestations.
• Whiteflies: Whiteflies can damage plants by feeding on their juices and spreading diseases. Vegetable oil spray is effective in controlling their numbers.

Vegetable Oil Spray Recipe

Here’s a simple recipe to create your own vegetable oil spray at home:

Ingredients:

• 10 liters of water (tap or rainwater)
• 100 milliliters of vegetable oil (olive oil or another vegetable oil of your choice)
• 200 grams of 100% coconut soap with no super fat

Instructions:

1. Grate all the soap into small scraps.
2. In a large pot with a 10-liter capacity, pour 5 liters of water and add the grated soap scraps. Stir until the soap is well diluted over low heat.
3. Gradually add the vegetable oil while stirring constantly with a spoon.
4. Add the remaining 5 liters of water gradually while continuing to stir.
5. Turn up the heat and let the mixture cool.
6. Pour the liquid into containers for storage, using a funnel and a jug if necessary. Don’t forget to label it with the date it was made.
7. Before using, stir the liquid, as the oil tends to float on the water’s surface.
8. Apply the spray directly to plants only when pests are present. Focus on soft-bodied insects like aphids, lice, mealybugs, moths, and whiteflies. Apply once or twice a week, preferably in the morning or late afternoon to avoid extreme heat.

Further reading

I’ve created a list of several types of homemade organic sprays that provide nutrients or protect plants from pests and diseases. Check the post below for this list.

• 21 Organic Homemade Garden Spray For Plants