Easiest Way to Use Neem Oil | The Problems with Spraying | Neem Oil Root/Soil Drench

[@bristle66]

I have a big, old purple elder which has been badly infested with black fly for the last 2 seasons. The honeydew they generate has absolutely hammered everything growing below the elder. In desperation, I applied 3 lots of the neem oil drench during April and May. 40 litres each time. To my surprise and delight - it worked. The elder is completely bug free and the plants growing beneath it are flowering their hearts out. A brilliant piece of advice for which many, many thanks.

[@JBNat]

Really glad to hear it, well done!

[@kychristina]

I think the idea behind spraying the leaves is that the soap will suffocate some of the pests immediately, but a root drench will really drive it home

[@ablanccanvas]

You did it! One more update… off your plate! Thank you for your video! You “are” a natural thoughtful conscientious teacher. I liked hearing your ‘perspective’ on the ‘drench’ as opposed to the continuing to spray, when that didn’t seem right/as productive anymore. And yes… to give up that messy sprayer… for a bamboo stick - brilliant! That… is intuition at work! Carry on! 😌

[@JBNat]

Thank you so much!

[@annmoody4186]

Why hasn’t the labeling told us that option???!!

[@Lucas3330]

I love how you dont fake any euthanasia for the video like a lot other KZbinrs im seeing, like dam we just talking about plants my dude no need to act like ya won the lottery! love the vibe!

[@JBNat]

Ha thank you! I'm guessing you meant enthusiasm not euthanasia 😂 Really appreciate it!

[@Lucas3330]

@@JBNat haha yeah didnt noticed the autocorrect on that 🤣

[@bluejay3945]

Others have commented as well but you can get neem in various forms. I add the neem cake to my beds in spring and early fall. I also use it as a tea on plants that are very susceptible to insect pressure at various times of the year. Neem is also a great fertilizer so top dressing with it is awesome. I have stayed away from the oil because it’s too expensive for me.

[@jude7321]

Hi JB, I have been scanning Google for about three days to find out exactly how to do the drench and here you were all the time. My search is over. Thank you so much and God bless you real big ✝️ 💚 🥀 🌿 🍅

[@JBNat]

Ah fantastic! I'm so glad it was helpful 😃

[@jude7321]

👍

[@eliandkate]

I can help you there JB, I use the root drench on my raised bed and it seems to work nicely 😀 I’ll keep you updated if anything changes.

[@JBNat]

Oh really! I didn't know that! Sounds like it's keeping your plants pest free which is great to know!

[@eliandkate]

@@JBNat so far so good. Using it on the bed with beans and the one with courgettes. Same as you, the smell is horrendous and it’s a nightmare if it’s on your leafy greens.

[@kimbradley1292]

Hi JB. I'm impressed that you tried something but changed tack. It's a learning curve for all of us. Enjoy the week ahead, beautiful weather forecast. 😃

[@sophiesoulsister2222]

@@JBNat hi, when did u neem drench your raised beds? When you planted the plants? If not, how long did you wait? Thank u!

[@garretts91]

When I mix in my sprayer, I mix neem and peppermint castile soap together heavily first in a mason jar to emulsify them into a slurry. I then add water to the mason jar and shake it. Then it gets added to my sprayer and topped off with the appropriate amount of water. It has always been well mixed this way. I will also try the root soak this season to see if it does the trick.

[@JBNat]

Great tip!

[@northeastoperations]

Can't wait to try this. Aphids are terrible here.

[@rubiccube8953]

Been using neem oil once every two weeks to control asparagus beetle teaspoon of oil + 1/2 teaspoon fairy liquid in one litre spray . For 30 plants starting in June. Which work’s extremely well. But it’s a bit near my pond so will try the watering method .

[@WhirlyMerlin]

I don’t like the idea of spraying Neem but using it as a drench is a game changer! Thanks so much for sharing JB! fingers crossed it will give me the edge on my current leaf miner battle 🙃

[@JBNat]

Thank you so much! Be interested to hear how you get on with leaf miner. I'm not sure if neem is so good at deterring 'single' attacks. Because it takes quite a few days to impact the pests, it's really good against infestations of smaller things, but one single leaf miner grub can probably do a lot of damage before the neem impacts its hormones/feeding cycle. Potentially? Not sure!

[@WhirlyMerlin]

@@JBNat Yeah will do! I’ve had outbreaks of black and white fly which I’ve dealt with but leaf miner is a constant low level thing going on

[@slicktmi]

​@Sara H did you try it? What were the results?

[@partner348]

Is there some kind of competition on KZbin to see who can make a 2 minute video last the longest,,?

[@jacquelinemwaniki6465]

Did it work?

[@Dalmationsvn]

You can try looking into neem cake, which is the byproduct of making neem oil. They can be used as fertilizer with the added benefit of neem's chemicals.

[@JBNat]

I'm actually using that this year! Discuss it briefly in my potting up pepper video 😊

[@jaynefinley]

Thank you for this great tip. I am a newbie to Neam oil and this tip sounds so much easier than messing with a sprayer. Good video showing what the mixture should look like too. May you have a booming pepper crop and a happy gardening season.

[@niallgardens]

This is a really useful video - you have such a knack of explaining stuff that people will find so clear and not patronising! Love it! ❤️ Also, I like that you’ve followed up on last year with your thoughts and changes in direction you’ve found from your experience. Top information video!

[@JBNat]

Ahh thank you so much Niall, that means a lot!

[@LittleLouieLagazza]

Commenting for viewer engagement, liked and subscribed. Woohoo, trifecta! First-time channel viewer; regards from Kuala Lumpur

[@jeanhelliwell8160]

Thanks JB, I messaged you about neem oil and you sent me a link to this video, it's been such a help, really a whole lot easier than spraying like last year. Thanks.

[@lurklingX]

hi from the states! i *hate* spraying. you have given me hope. basically getting a lot of pest action on things i never did in FL like *rosemary* ! it's astounding and dismaying. and i'm supposed to be setting up a food garden but if even herbs are being attacked this hard................ anyway, thank you for this root drench method. i am going to try that and see if i can save everything from torment. (my sage is getting stripped too, it's unreal!). truly - i mean it when i say i have hope now. i've been really just so low on all of this. pest management can be one of the hardest, most demoralizing parts of gardening. and here i thought that in GA it would be the deer. (i'm sure that will come into play as soon as i get the pest stuff sorted. -___- haha. ugh.) i'll be checking out more of your channel now! this was my first vid to come across.

[@Carol-oc7mx]

As it not a contact spray watering in via the soul seems much more logical and straightforward. Keep safe 👍

[@pranavramraj5141]

Thank you so much, so informative. I never knew that the plants have to take in the neem oil, instead I thought that you had to apply it to the bugs directly

[@JBNat]

Really glad you found it useful!

[@RH-zc5dq]

what a soothing voice

[@SeanMurphy74]

almost gave up on my garden this morning, took a breath came in and saw this on my feed. I will try it and thank you. Who knows maybe I can salvage the passion

[@JBNat]

Hey Sean it really means a lot that you've said that about one of my videos! Can I ask you what you're having trouble growing and what pests you've got?

[@SeanMurphy74]

@@JBNat hey thanks. I've been being overrun by aphids. I feel silly because watching videosmthey seem like a pest everyone deals with but gets through. They are just laying waste to my melons plants...I think the reality is i need to find and solve the ants first?

[@JBNat]

@@SeanMurphy74 ants is an interesting one, a lot of people say they will protect the aphids from predators, however I've definitely seen ladybirds happily laying waste to the aphids and munching away whilst the ants just watch. If aphids are the main issue I would definitely recommend neem oil - make sure you get 100% cold pressed!

[@carolburns2571]

Thanks for the info on neem oil it got rid of whitefly with one application

[@TheFourthWinchester]

This is an ancient Indian method. Using neem oil, neem cake, etc to take care of many pests and diseases.

[@HadizaShehu-vx2uu]

❤I really enjoyed the video I have been looking for organic method spray 😂😂

[@JayDillDrums]

Will this work to get rid of the fungus gnats I have.

[@jacquelinemwaniki6465]

What oil do you use as the carrier oil?

[@pamelamanning99]

As one who can attest to the devilish mess it makes of sprayer, this is a godsend. Made the error of not thoroughly cleaning after last season. It became like axel grease. Nearly threw the sprayer out, it took so many hours, but finally got it going. Thank you so much for modeling this method!

[@JBNat]

Hope you enjoy!! I just made up a fresh mix yesterday for my peppers, it really is so much easier

[@JBNat]

Absolutely not, unless you directly spray them with it.

[@Bea768]

Your way of explaining things is fabulous. I got a lot out of this video. Thank you and hello from Quebec!

[@JBNat]

Ah thank you so much! Really glad you enjoyed

[@JonathanWagener]

I love this! I almost never use the sprayer because it's a total pest. I am going to give this a go. Thank you :-)

[@JBNat]

Thank you so much! I was really hoping people might get some use from this 😁

[@alanbrown1345]

Nice one fella. Good tips for me as I’m new to using been oil. I have a lot of house plants and thrips have really done some damage this year. Just watering in with an organic natural pesticide is perfect for me. Thank you.

[@JBNat]

Good luck with it! If you can mix it outside then do so because spilling it in the house would cause a terrible stink!

[@alanbrown1345]

@@JBNat I’ll bare that in mind! Thank you!

[@maine9319]

Wow I just purchased neem oil but there was no directions for application. Your channel popped up on my feed and glad to have stumbled on it. Thanks for sharing, new subscriber here. I have never heard this method yet and normally people here in the Philippines use it as spray. More blessings to your channel.

[@JBNat]

🙏❤️

[@estrellitauzarraga893]

Great instructional video! I found it very easy to follow. You kept it simple, concise, and without unnecessary chitchat! THANK YOU! How often should I use this soil drench to keep aphids, white flies, and fungus gnats at bay on my plants?

[@JBNat]

Thank you very much! I would use it maybe once every three weeks if you've had historic issues with pests, but they're not on your plants yet. If you have an infestation it's a very slow acting pesticide so you'll probably want to up it to around once a week for 2-3 weeks.

[@shantistellmo9358]

I thought about this too and watered my indoor plants with neem, one weekend later the look healthier. I have ben having pest problems and this seem to work great.

[@JBNat]

Glad it's working for you!

[@hollydrouillard5115]

THANK YOU SO MUCH! I have used neem oil as a spray and as you mentioned there are so many reasons why it is not the best solution. I am a container gardener and just struggle so much when I have something that gets infested with aphids or this year it has been cucumber beetles. I will be using this method starting TODAY and I promise to report back in a few weeks. Thank you again!

[@Saturn-Matrix]

?

[@rreed7537]

Thanks, what a great way to get out in front of the problem

[@ChipsAplentyBand]

"ExPESTo…PatroNEEM!" (Sorry, JB! Couldn't resist on account of the vocal, facial, beard, and accent resemblance.) Brilliant video!

[@jangal2233]

Thanks. That’s very encouraging. I’ll be trying it later today, and probably spray as well, as my cabbages and cauliflowers are getting horribly deformed by aphid. Fingers crossed.

[@JBNat]

Good luck!

[@christophercalvin8174]

I watched your previous video, and appreciate the update! You explained it really thoroughly, and addressed all of my concerns! Thank you!

[@excoc07]

This is what I’ve been looking for!

[@linaso9739]

Nice method of mixing neem oil solution. I will definitely try it. I'm just wondering if you still have aphid problem now that the temperature in the greenhouse gets pretty high.

[@JBNat]

Thanks! Because I've been using this root drench since I found the first single aphid, I've not seen any others on my plants! My greenhouse does get hot but with all the vents and door open it's probably cool enough that aphids would still survive in there (maybe?)

[@otrotland5377]

wow, I been wanting to use neem for years but it always burns the leafs, it stays about 80 degrees all the time. Also I fine that warming the water (not hot) warm, mixes better. The sun does a great job of this.

[@incifisenk9945]

Thank you so much for sharing your precious experiences and useful information🙏🏼🕊☮️💚🙋🏻‍♀️

[@healthymixzemason1397]

Thanks you for the information I am having some problem with nematodes I was looking all over KZbin.i will try

[@sspreadfire]

I use insecticide soap on leave and neem drench for roots for indoor plants :)

[@DominicRayner-r8e]

Thank you for your well-produced, clear and concise video on Neem Oil, JB. It's an education I have been seeking for years - always thought that spraying the stuff could be detrimental to beneficial people like ladybugs, etc. and you just confirmed that. I'm assuming your translation from metric 5L to 1 gallon is to a UK gallon? I'm guessing that translates to about 4 US gals? It's about time the US adopted the metric system, but that ain't gonna happen anytime soon ;-(

[@JBNat]

Thank you, and yes I didn't know about the metric/imperial use of gallon when I made this to be honest! A gallon here is 4.5L. So the quantities I use for my ten litre watering can match with 2.6 US gallons.

[@judybunn2744]

years backed worked in greenhouses and we drenched with some ruff chemicals.....now trying to go organic for the last 20 yrs..... I have been looking for a fungicide drench for my cuttings...since being an organic fungicide, will it drench as one....great info.....finally found You....

[@bristolveggiebeds5310]

It does seem to be a better way to use it!

[@emdeejay7432]

I think its so funny how eggplant is aubergine in the U.K. so weird how we have totally different words for some stuff even though it's the same language. Also, your videos are very asmr-ish, your voice is quite relaxing.

[@JBNat]

Thank you! I try and keep my allotment tours nice and relaxed because they're some of my favourite kind of videos to watch

[@kylehughes7431]

@Naturally JB If the fruit trees are in the ground instead of pots is this method still preferred over spraying the leaves? Or does this predominantly work better for potted and green house only? I've been using Neem oil with bio wash to spray citrus leaves. Inquiring minds would like to know. Thank you in advance

[@ballysillanallotment-man5793]

Brilliant idea how often would you use method on potted plants

[@JBNat]

It's really as often as you need, I would say once every 2-3 weeks is the norm. I've been doing my peppers about once a month and I've found literally two single aphids all season!

[@Carol-oc7mx]

That's an impressive result 👍

[@davidthescottishvegan]

A informative and interesting video JB so I will have to get neem oil.

[@JBNat]

Thanks David! I really do recommend the stuff. Make sure to get 100% cold pressed. There's a few other products on the market but cold pressed has the highest azadirachtin content :) good luck!

[@denises.9508]

Hi JB, thanks so much for the info, I have just started using neem oil - I have spider mites on an indoor fig tree, that was in the house when we bought it ( tree is about 10 feet high, and then the 2 branches turn and are growing ll to ceiling w/2 skylights ). It started dropping yellowed leaves, w/brown spots, and when I researched another site, found out they were spider mites. The site I was on, was using CJ's dead bug 1st, and said that it might have to be used again, 1 or 2 more times (7 days apart), if it was an infestation. She also said that, CJ's only works for the adult stage, and to use the neem oil spray, because it will "suffocate the eggs". I also would prefer using a soil drench, as long as it is safe, but did you come across any info about the "egg phase" and what works, while you did your research? thanks

[@thatwitch8151]

Thanks for the update!

[@LGALARNE]

I used neem oil to fight againts Black Spot on Roses , can I used your method ( soil Drench ) to get the same results ?

[@glomerol8300]

What about the soil organisms!? If neem oil affects the organisms above the soil, what is it doing to the beneficial organisms within it?

[@JBNat]

As far as I know there are no studies looking at the microbiome impacts. But it did show negligible impacts to earthworms. This is one of the reasons I always urge caution and high dilution. I can say from experience that using it in potted plants has worked perfectly.

[@sharonhoffer3599]

I love this idea, thank you! 🙏🙏🙏💚💚💚🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️

[@kingerona1]

Thanks JB! My plants are suffering from heavy spider mite infestation. I hope this works.

[@JBNat]

Oooh that's a tough one. All the websites and documentation say this works for spider mites but I'm not so sure. Since making this video I've had a few infestation myself and they seem indestructible. That said I've never actually tried a neem mix to fight them back and in theory it should work. Hope you get on okay!

[@justinereddington7559]

When is the right time( month) soil drench with neem solution to get the soil ready for next planting season before we put in the seeds? I have a bad aphid’s infestation and would like to do complete soil drench and let my soil ready or prevention from aphids for next grow. Thank you.

[@JBNat]

Neem oil actually degrades very quickly in the soil. It's one of the benefits as it means it doesn't build up too much and impact other things. You want to use it once your plants are established but not too young. I wouldn't use it on plants until they're at least 3 weeks old, as some people have said it can impact seedlings.

[@rthompson7282]

Hmmm, the mixture separates as soon as you add it to the water in the can. I have gobs of oil sitting on the soil. 5 liters is more than one gallon too. Is that watering can only one gallon? It looks bigger.

[@JBNat]

Yes sorry UK and US gallons are different I think. Here it's about 4.5L. I have a 10L can. If the oil is separating in your can you just need to use a bit more emulsifying agent (soap). If the water is mostly cloudy but there's just a tiny bit of separation I wouldn't worry too much. Cold water will make it harder to mix up too.

[@lizcharles8475]

Hi. I really like this method. Thank you.

[@JBNat]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@karolewilson6975]

You're brilliant and adorable! Thank you for sharing!

[@kanika1]

Thank you for the helpful tip. Your videos are so informative. I have a question. How often do you do these neem oil soil drench?

[@JBNat]

Thank you! I would suggest a maximum of every two weeks. Two weeks is okay if you have an infestation of something, but hopefully it is more preventative, in which case every 3-4 weeks is better.

[@jangal2233]

Thank you for your two very helpful neem oil videos. My affected brassicas are in the ground rather than pots or raised beds. I’m wondering whether you’ve found the root drench works on plants which are in open ground.

[@JBNat]

I'll be trying it this year for sure but have found people in the comments saying it works just fine :)

[@patrickdunn8918]

I’m going to try this on my tomatoes this evening…I hate spraying plants

[@StormGod-X]

Great video man. Do you know if root drenching works on corn as well?

[@JBNat]

It should for sure!

[@StormGod-X]

@@JBNat awesome! Thanks man.

[@vivienneokonkwo6962]

Hi JB, almost every season I battle with aphids, this season, I spent a lot buying marigolds, petunia, Nasturtiums etc to repel aphids, yet as soon as the heat came in, aphids arrived too. They are all around my pepper plants, egg plants, and some very tiny crawling bug(I don't know the name) that keeps making holes on eggplant and cucumbers leaves. My question is, do I start the soil drench weekly now without doing foliage spraying? My pepper plant leaves appear disfigured, I don't know if it's the aphids or the extreme heat causing it? Thanks so much for a straight to the point video. ❤❤❤

[@vivienneokonkwo6962]

Hey JB, I have tea tree Castile soap and Peppermint Castile soap.... Can I use either of them? Or I have to get an unscented Castile soap?

[@jacobsladder827]

Very helpful, thanks!

[@aiai-j7i]

I have an insect issue in my garden bed--could i still use the soil drench method? It is in full sun and so I am worried about burning the leaves if sprayed on, even if sprayed at night.

[@juliandavies9991]

I'm concerned about the impact on the soil biome which I have been focussing on . Any info on neem oil impact on soil bacteria and mycelium would be appreciated.

[@JBNat]

It's a very valid concern and to be honest it might have impact. I did find one study in my research that showed it did impact microorganisms www.scielo.cl/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0718-95162015000400020 However their treatment was once a week application and at a VERY high concentration. They use 25ml per potted plant. In the garden we use about 25ml to fill an entire 5L sprayer. I'm comfortable that using it once every two to three weeks shouldn't have a significant impact at the right concentrations. It does also break down in the soil very quickly. But I totally understand if people are uncomfortable using it!

[@oneington5085]

neem does not hurt the soil as it is from seed of a tree and the oils break down in sunlight in a matter of hours. plants breathe better and bad bugs become ineffective. neem cake(seed meal) increases earthworms, protects germinating seeds, destroys life cycle of mosquito and grasshopper eggs, and best of all-- STOPS CATS FROM POOPING IN AND RUINING YOUR SOIL WITH ITS WORM INFESTED FECES. i have been using this for a decade and my community is always amazed at how much nicer our gardens trees and shrubs have become.

[@shake_shells11]

You can use baking soda and warmer water to replace soap

[@myrustygarden]

Thank you for sharing will this help with fungus gnats in the soil do you think? I may have to give it a try 👍🇨🇦🐝 safe

[@JBNat]

Yes definitely! Neem oil is really effective for fungus gnats!

[@duanewilson9816]

Thanks for this video bro i needed this.

[@JBNat]

Glad I could help!

[@jillsmith5687]

Really good information;my harder is ALL in pots; and earwigs are my problem! Will neem kill them? And do I only spray leaves; or flowers as well

[@ray_c_yuen]

Thanks for the update. I found using the soil drench kills those pesky Fungus Gnats that live in the soil of my houseplants. How often do you soil drench? Do you water in between drenches. Great video.

[@JBNat]

I use it around once every 3-4 weeks on my peppers as a preventative. So not too often at all.

[@dianegreiner4054]

Your other video with Neem oil is my first experience with your channel, then I watched this one. How long have you been doing the root drench method? Seems a lot easier if it is effective. What zone are you in? I am now a new subscriber and will watch other videos of yours! Greetings from Michigan! 😊

[@JBNat]

Fantastic Diane! Great to have you subscribed 😁 this year I've only used neem oil on my peppers and as they were all in pots I thought it would be easier to use the drench. Last year when I did the first video I also had issues on lots of other plants which had aphids or whitefly etc. Others in the comments have said they water neem oil into their veg beds and it works really well. So if I get any pests in the beds I'll be using the drench mix straight on the beds :) In the UK we don't have the same zones as the US, but I'm on the south coast which is one of the mildest places to grow in the UK. Our last frost is usually late March and then our first frost is November/December.

[@dianegreiner4054]

@@JBNat thank you for the quick response. You average frost dates is helpful information, along with the other information you provided. 😊

[@terrystevens8890]

Since its absorbed into the plant, is it safe for human consumption?

[@dthomas7204]

I plan on using the Neem/Soap on my Pumpkins and Petunias in 2023. Question: 1. How many times a month would you drench the above Plants?

[@JBNat]

I would say 2-3 times a month, between once a week to once a fortnight :)

[@MarySmith-ry9cu]

I did this soil soak the other day. They said it doesn't harm earth worms but they came up immediately and they died! I was horrified I have to say. I used it on an empty bed that previously had unhealthy cucumber plants. I yanked them out and was concerned about planting the again. Hopefully my new cucumbers will do better there but I was sad about the earthworms.

[@JBNat]

Very, very surprised to hear that! Did you follow the measurements I used exactly? And was this a raised bed or just into the ground?

[@MarySmith-ry9cu]

@@JBNat No, I used the measurements from a different source. I'll have to check and see what the difference was. And I have my garden bed in the ground not a raised bed.

[@andy9298]

@@MarySmith-ry9cu To much soap will kill earth worms,even a very small amount in water will bring them to the surface I used to use this method for when I went fishing once up I quickly washed the worms in rain water then into a tub of fresh earth they lasted months Neem oil is great but also is garlic mixture to kill nasty insects also it’s a good antiseptic for the plants as well just don’t use it indoors 😀look up on google about garlic spray for plants.👍

[@DuchessCalvertons]

Does the neem chemical get absorbed into the pollen tissues? The same way as the vascular tissues? I’m just wondering if bees collect the pollen does that pollen have the neem chemical in it?

[@palestinenotisrael3088]

What about bonsai trees

[@sooohum]

If you do this every 10 days, do you notice any icky neem taste in your crops? Scales on my curry leaf and lime leaf plants are a major pain.

[@Lionoftruth7]

Organic neem oil could be used for human health also 👍 it’s in ayurveda.

[@Mortallifeonearth]

Thank you for sharing your recipe. I’ve had some ornamental annuals suddenly wilt and die on me in mixed containers and I’m considering doing a soil drench. I did already sprinkle neem powder around the base of the plant and watered it in. Have you experimented with neem powder at all? I’m curious if the powder alone will work. Thank you again.

[@JBNat]

To be honest yes I have tried powder before, but I didn't find it very effective and still had aphid problems!

[@Mortallifeonearth]

@@JBNat thank you for responding with that. Helpful to know it didn’t work. I will try the neem oil soil drench soon then. Thank you!

[@ebinom8112]

Thanks for the video. Will this Neem oil solution have any negative effect if there are fertilizer granules in the soil?

[@sislertx]

Neem is also something that insects get use to..i thought it killed them but was.wrong. Also bot all neem has that in it. Some say make sure it cold pressed ..but u must look at active ingredient ...it must have that in it.

[@Noveganno]

Hello, thank you so much. I have really big tamarind trees.. Do I use the entire 1 gallon per tree ? 5 gallon per tree? Less?

[@mrcountry]

Wow. You plant in the greenhouse but still got pest? Where did they came from?

[@MichaelJosephJr934]

Thanks for the tips! I have pretty bad powdery mildew on Butternut, Yellow Zuc, and tomatoes. I did peroxide a few days in a row. Milk yesterday. Today I did Neem oil. Can I reapply the Neem tomorrow again?

[@JBNat]

I would definitely wait at least 3-4 days before reapplying. It's hard to make a plant "overdose" on neem, but when you're putting it on the leaves it can alter a lot of things such as; photosynthesis, sun being magnified, transpiration rates etc as it is a thick oil. The emulsifying soap can be harmful as well. So I'm not 100% but I would take care. People always recommend using great caution when using it on seedlings, so it can definitely take its toll on a plant. But I think it's more the fact that it's a sticky oil and soap, as opposed to anything to do with the active ingredients. Good luck!

[@ireneasanoma2925]

Ear wigs keep eating my brand new leaf growth on my pole beans. They are also in the leaves on my tomato plants, A bit on my pepper plants and a few others. We'll be drenched with neem oil work for the ear wigs?

[@hellohello-dy5nw]

Hey JB, it is difficult to find Castile soap where I'm from. Are there any alternatives to Castile soap or is it okay to skip the soap altogether? Perhaps I can make the drench in small batches so that the plant in a single pot gets the full concentration of the neem oil and water mix?

[@JBNat]

Hi, sorry I only just saw this question! I imagine it's a bit late now, but I would say that dish soap can work just fine. I've used dish soap in a pinch for this drench method and the plants were all fine. It's just when you're spraying the leaves that you've gotta beware of.

[@PaulSmith-jr1qe]

Hi JB, Last year I tried the sprayer method you suggested but found my strawberries really didn't like it it knocked them back quite a lot, have you tried the root drench method on any strawberries as of yet ?. I have fungus gnats every year and they create havoc with my strawberries which I grow in Pots.

[@JBNat]

I've never tried it on strawberries but if they're in pots I think it would work very well. I would avoid doing it too close to harvest time but in case it changes the flavour of the strawberries! It shouldn't do, but better safe than sorry

[@PaulSmith-jr1qe]

@@JBNat Thanks JB

[@SuperDupersDelight]

I applied your recipe, exactly as said, 3 times. Every single time, the oil would mix smoothly and well with the soap and water, but as soon as I added the mixture to my gallon of water, the oil would coagulate and separate. I even tried adding hot water on my last try! IM SO FRUSTRATED! It’s a waste of product, time, money and patience at this moment. HELP!

[@JBNat]

🤔 possibly worth adding a bit more soap? I did often find you would get a tiny amount that does float to the surface but 90% is mixed. You could google for other emulsifiers too, mixing oil and water is tricky. I think there are some powders you can buy.

[@claibst]

Does it harm the good bacteria in the soil?

[@CVenza]

Have you grown sweet red pimientos? They are smaller than red bell peppers. Would like your input on neem oil used in conjunction with Tree paste. Thank you.

[@smitaghosh6133]

Thank you so much for sharing this video....Does the soil feel a little different/funky for having been watered with the emulsion? Do you think the soil structure changes somewhat? Clearly it is working for you and that gives me some confidence to try this. Very importantly do you taste the neem in your peppers? These are peppers so you are harvesting intermittently and you can't perfectly time the watering to harvest. I want to try this for my swiss chard which are getting so many leaf miners..

[@JBNat]

Hello! Certainly never noticed a change in the soil condition, and never noticed any taste changes when using the drench. You can taste it if it's spayed directly onto the leaves though. Leaf miners might actually not be that affected by neem because its slow acting. They would likely still arrive and damage the plant. Neem would affect their reproduction and digestion, so it will probably mean they do less damage

[@feelingjaded420]

Thank you for the information on castile soap. I've found a natural castile soap in a store near me but they use sea salt as a thickener, do you know if sea salt is harmful to plants?

[@JBNat]

It really depends on the amount and the salinity. In the quantities you use for this mix I'd say it's probably fine though! Most synthetic fertilisers are very high in salt too and plants love it

[@SusanHall-f1n]

So are you saying that Neem Oil does not hurt butterflies, bees, and ladybugs if we use Neem Oil only in the roots? I have a real oleander aphid problem on my milkweed, but I do not want the monarchs affected adversely.

[@JBNat]

To be honest there's not enough scientific research about whether or not the neem oil active ingredient would enter a plant's nectar or not. There is a small chance it would.

[@rcarioca]

I FIND SPRAYING NOT WORK TOO WELL AGAINST APHIDS ON MY INDOOR HIBISCUS AND OVERWINTER PEPPER PLANTS. i HAVE TO USE IT OFTEN AND THEN THE HIBISCUS LOSES A LOT OF LEAVES. ALSO THE PEPPER PLANTS WHICH WILL THEN DIE. I WILL TRY THE ROOT DRENCHING INSTEAD

[@sophiesoulsister2222]

We have little hole in our potato leaves. Will using the drench help this and is it ok if some of the drench gets on the leaves? We are growing them on top of dirt in straw, so it may be a lil messy and wondered about the leaves, I won't drench the leaves, but may get some drench on em. Thank u

[@cityzenkane108]

Have you thought about agricultural neem. It mixes with water. No soap needed.

[@Handsomegenious]

How about spraying and drenching at the same time if you have a current infestation? Will doing both be more effective at instantly stopping damage, until the drench pesticide is drawn into the leaves, or will doing both damage the plant?

[@JBNat]

Honestly both are equally as effective generally speaking. I was kind of getting at this question when I was saying about which way is more "efficient" what I really meant was "effective". I think that if you have a really stubborn problem then spraying is probably the more effective measure because it will also kill pests it is sprayed onto. I think you could probably do both at the same time but it's probably not advised just in case it does harm the plant

[@ThePhantomofFilm]

For Brassicas I use BT to kill cabbage worms. I'm wanting to use need oil for mu cucurbits and nightshade plants but I'm trying to find an affordable pure need oil.

[@dianeschillinger8461]

so, does it work adding it to the soil- for ex: scale on plants?