NEWTON PARK HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY
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Aphids, spider mites, and other pests can cause serious damage to flowers, fruits, and vegetables. These creatures attack your garden in swarms, literally draining the life from your crops and often inviting disease in the process. Many chemical pesticides can prove unsafe for the environment or may make fruits and vegetables unsafe for consumption, however. Thankfully, there are many homemade, organic options for you to turn to in your war against pests.
Make Organic Pesticide Using Oranges
Peel an orange. Citrus is especially helpful in targeting soft-bodied bugs, including slugs, aphids, gnats, and mealy bugs. When sprayed directly onto the pests, this pesticide also works against ants and cockroaches.
Place the peel into a glass container and pour 1 pint of boiling water over the peel. Allow the solution to sit in a warm sunny spot for 24 hours.
Strain the solution. Pour it into a strainer, removing the peels and saving the citrus-infused water.
Add a few drops of washing up liquid and a few drops of peppermint essence if you have it. Mix the solution thoroughly to combine.
Pour the pesticide into a large squirt bottle. Spray the entire plant to ward off most soft-bodied pests. Spray directly on top of ants and roaches.
Make Organic Pesticide Using Chrysanthemums
Combine 120 grams of dried chrysanthemums with 1 litre of water. Chrysanthemums contain a chemical component called pyrethrum, which is capable of paralysing many garden insects.
Boil the mixture for 20 minutes. Boiling the mixture releases the pyrethrum into the water.
Pour the solution through a strainer. Remove the dried flowers and save the infused water.
Pour the pesticide into a spray bottle and treat plants. Focus on the most damaged areas before moving onto less damaged areas. Cover the entire plant, including the undersides of leaves.
Store the solution up to two months. After that period, it may no longer be effective.
