Homemade Insecticidal Soap

[chillilover]

Most people say to use 1 tsp of liquid soap per litre of water to make insecticidal soap. I tried 1, than 2 tsp per litre and the aphids don't die. They sit ther for a while in the soap, and then I come back when it's dry and nudge them and they walk away. On wikipedia it says a 2% soap solution is used. That would be 4 tsp per litre. My question is "should I increase the soap until I see the aphids die?" I know you have to use soap and not detergents.

 

[patrick]

Have you tried a safer soap with pyrethrins? It's what I used on the plants I overwintered and it did a very good job.

Here's a link to some: http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...thrins&usg=AFQjCNF747P1DgeRShGuOk2Z0c3zxph20g

Best of luck to ya chillilover.

 

[caroltlw]

I used a stronger solution and then rinsed afterwards - I didn't measure anything, just made me some soapy water. Only time I had problems was when I didn't rinse and they got direct sun - burnt a few leaves.

 

[joeknowsjolokia]

http://pharmsolutionsinc.com/oil_pharm.html Worth its weight in gold, well worth the money!

 

[POTAWIE]

I like soap spray but usually rotate with oils(neem etc.) and pyrethum

 

[jetskee]

I tried some "Indoor Pharm" organic insecticidal soap to get rid of fungus gnats on three plants I have indoors (eleven bucks for a 24oz bottle). The first bug listed on the bottle that it is supposed to kill is "fungus gnats".

I doused the plants and soil in the stuff for three days, and it seemed like there were more gnats after than before I started trying to kill them.

So, in my experience, this brand does not work as advertised
(at least on the gnats) unless I am doing something wrong.

Anyone know of effective ways to kill gnats on indoor plants?
What I ended up doing yesterday was digging the peppers up and potting in new fresh potting soil, but I would like to have a game plan if the gnats come back.

Thanks.