Mixing and using Neem Oil

[@arelissdv3237]

Thank you, very helpful... 👍

[@Shortdawg_Shortdawg_]

You rock bro

[@Project-vo2un]

Thank you! Appreciate you checking in with us, watching the video and taking time to send a comment of encouragement!

[@ioana9838]

this really helped, thanks!

[@willytaylor4792]

positive comment........ it is good to think positivly.i am 2 years slowly building my aquaponics.hopefully i will learn enough to share info in this country where aquaponics are virtually non existant.my biggest prob thus far is insect controll.i have used with limited success garlic,chilicastile soap.now i am researching neem.your video is clear.do you have any info on possible toxicity to fish?

[@Project-vo2un]

+Willy Taylor , Thank you for your comment. According to my research the National Pesticide Information Center (which is from the University of Oregon and the USEPA) neem oil is considered moderately toxic to fish. My thoughts on applying pesticides to an aquaponic system would be to use anything in moderation and away from the fish tank and direct exposure to the water. For caterpillar control we use BTx commonly called Thuricide, and had picking them off (which of course is labor intensive but effective and safe). I believe Murray Hallam an Australian expert with aquaponics uses a molasses blend sprayed on his plants. Your question gives me a thought that I should complete some additional research on some methods of pest control and aquaponics and I will put my finding in a video and on our website. Thanks for checking in and for your comments/questions!

[@BrannonBundy]

Thank You! This stuff really works well!!

[@Pantheragatos]

I have sprayed it on my potato plants tonight. It's raining, so I am guessing that it probably all washed off. It's in the soil though, is that an issue? I have the pure cold pressed neem. Are there any ill effects of using neem oil on ripe tomatoes or any other veggie? Safe to eat etc.? I had a real issue last year on my cantaloupes. I didn't have neem oil. The darn bugs completely destroyed my plants and fruit. I wanted to try this stuff this year.

[@Kuoboe]

very helpful, thank you!

[@Project-vo2un]

Jessica Kuo Thank you, glad the information was helpful - if you have any questions we could help with our ideas for videos/information you would like to see in the future please feel free to send us you questions and suggestions! Thank you for watching! (Kevin)

[@janieelhard4731]

Thanks!!! Great info-i have a new berry garden, and plan to use Neem Oil.

[@Kylitovibes]

Do you ever apply two days in a row or just once a week?

[@Project-vo2un]

Hi Kyle - thanks for watching and sending in your question. How often we apply depends on serval factors: How much rain we are getting, the temperatures, and does it look like we have an infestation. We have found that we will start with once a week early in the season to prevent certain pest from attacking, if we are getting a lot of rain we may have to do it every 2 to 3 days as the rain will limit the effectiveness. Once we get to the hotter days we found that the neem can actually add to burn the leaves (another reason for not applying in the morning or heat of the day) so we will limit the use. Hope that helps explain how we go about making the decisions to apply neem. If we have the pickle worm we will usually go with Bt as the pesticide as we will have to do that almost everyday and do not have the same issues with the heat and temperature as with neem.

[@Kylitovibes]

@@Project-vo2un Thanks for the thorough answer thats really awesome appreciate it!

[@RGJ109]

Thanks for explaining why we should spray in the evening. I have also heard it best not to spray if daytime temps are over 80. Too stressful for the plants.

[@Project-vo2un]

Hi Bob - thanks for checking in and taking time to comment. Thanks for your tip with temps over 80, another good reason for evening spraying so as to not stress plants that are already contending with higher transpiration with higher temps!

[@DaleHarty]

Very helpful! Thanks for the info.

[@Project-vo2un]

Thank you for checking out the video - glad it was helpful. Thank you for the feedback!

[@PamelaVest41]

I read online that you spray the plants and keep them in total darkness for 5 hours. Well, I have a spider mite problem due to a canna lily I bought at lowes. I put it in my greenhouse and now my elephant ears have the spider mites :( I am going to lowes and getting some of this exact oil for I read it works the best. Can I spray my plants tonight when it gets dark or do I have to remove them from the greenhouse and maybe put in my dark cold cellar? You thoughts and suggestions are needed :)

[@daleval2182]

You didnt say how much water, add 30 ml to what, and soap

[@shek9]

Great video! But I am looking for a way to spray neem oil on my trees with black spot and most likely insects! HELP PLEASE!

[@jucaba06]

hi im using dr adorable neem oil, can i use directly as you shown in video?? and why neem oil of garden safe is cheaper than dr adorable 100% oil. nice video and cotinue do more.

[@Project-vo2un]

Hello JuAn Ali ! sorry for the delay - my day job has been taking up some of my time along with trying to get other projects on the property done. From what I can see online the Dr. Adorable product is more of a skin care product and not what we use for the garden. The product we use is a neem oil extract that is a concentrate. The product is "Garden Safe Neem Oil Extract Liquid Concentrate" if you just put that in Amazon.com you come up with options for that product as well as some other neem oil products that are made for organic gardening. Hope that helps - just let us know if you have any more questions.

[@jucaba06]

i really aprecited your help i thought the same about producto, i also see Garden Safe Neem Oil Extract Liquid Concentrate in amazon, i hace dr adorable but dont kill any bugs, and your garden safe kill bugs but i think is mix with any pesticide??

[@Project-vo2un]

The Garden Safe Neem Oil Extract does not contain "pesticide" additives, the product label and Safety Data Sheets are available on the website for Garden Safe and it is a product recommended for Organic pest control. Remember when using neem oil that it should be applied in the early morning or evening so as not not burn plant leaves or risk exposing the neem to beneficial insects. Also neem will have to be reapplied at least every 7 days - a little more often if you get rain like we do in Central Florida or have several days of hot sun, in these cases we reapply about every 3 to 4 days. Not sure what insects you are trying to control but another good organic pesticide especially for caterpillar control is Bacillus Thuringiensis (BT) it can sometime be found under the name Thuricide. We use this to control cut worms, melon worms, and pickle worms. Again with BT it is best to apply in the early morning or evening and just like neem we apply about every 3 to 4 days when the pest seem most active and during the rainy season. BT can be purchased as a powder or as a concentrate - we use both. BT is a soil borne bacteria and is approved for Organic pest control. Let us know if you have more questions.

[@jucaba06]

i have problems with omides indica this Young larvae live between two leaves spun together is eating all i think garden safe can work, cause dr adoreble neem oil dont kill larvae i applied directly in the worn, this die in 3 or 4 days, but i thin the leaf protect the larvae in plant it is going to be iimposible fir the product penetrate inside, and told me neem oil is sistemic??

[@leftbehind773]

Thank you very much you have saved my chillies from aphids and hungry catapillars.

[@Project-vo2un]

Thanks Left Behind! Glad this worked for you, neem oil and BT have saved many plants for me!

[@Project-vo2un]

Hello Panthera, for some reason I cannot respond to your comment. Hopefully, you will see this response. Neem oil and BT are two organic approved pest control products. Both will breakdown in the sun and only are effective for a few days. I usually reapply every 3 to 4 days during our active pest season. Neem oil seems to hold up better after a rain and will not harm the fruit or soil. With our melons, squash, cantaloupe, cucumber, etc we are using BT more since we have a pest called the pickle worm and the neem was not as effective. One of the things we do to limit impact on beneficial insects is to apply in the evening prior to sundown as the beneficials are usually out more in the daylight and the moths that are the biggest pest lay their eggs around sundown. Hope that helps - if you have any more questions please let us know!

[@Tokendog08]

Just thought I'd share, but from what I have read pure cold pressed Neem oil on it's own will not kill beneficial bugs. Neem oil works by being ingested so once it coats the plant, it is not a contact based killer, but rather internal. So basically it has to be a bug that eats the leaves of the plant, ingest the Neem, and then it will die. So bugs that do not eat your plants will not ingest the Neem and therefore should be relatively unaffected.

[@Project-vo2un]

Doyle Lovil Great information - thank you for the comment and input. We will be sure to share these facts in the future!

[@Tokendog08]

Project128 No problem at all. Happy to help

[@nunyabiznis817]

He's not using pure cold-pressed neem oil. He's using Safer brand neem extract which is Hydrophobic Neem mixed with soap.

[@williamstephenson6387]

Tablespoon of an organic dish soap will help act as buffering between oil and water. Help your mixture stick to plant better n longer. Oil,water,soap, shake,spray.

[@StinaLynn]

thanks for the information. how long can i keep the mixed neem oil and water in the spray bottle?

[@Project-vo2un]

+Christina Hunter Thank you for the question Christina. If you read many of the neem manufacturer's information they usually state to use the neem oil and water solution within a "couple days" usually 48-hours or less. I try to only mix up what I will use during an application but if I have a little left over I will put it in a dark cool area and use it up the next day or two. If you do let is sit overnight be sure to shake it up to be sure that it goes back into mixture as the neem oil and water will start to separate. Hope this helps!

[@mcleod55]

Short and to the point. Nice video, and very informative. Thanks for sharing.

[@Project-vo2un]

You're welcome - thanks for checking and taking the time to to send positive feedback!

[@magpookie1133]

Do I need to shut the sprinklers off or stop watering for a certain amount of time after applying the neem oil?

[@Project-vo2un]

Great question, what we do is spray in the evening right before sundown before the moths and other night-time pest come out. We do not water after that until the next afternoon. For best results do not water for at least 12-hours. Neem oil will leave a slight residue that will resist being washed off also some will be absorbed into the leaves of the plant. Re-apply about every 7-days as necessary. Thanks for the question, hope that helps!

[@eliz0891]

I have ants on mine. Is it good for that too? Thanks

[@lindseypeters2143]

Can you keep the mix for future use if you do not use it all in one setting or do you need to make a new batch every time?

[@whatsyurprob158]

Oil goes rancid fast in 🔥, so don't do it in the summer. if you keep it outdoors. Sprayers get clogged as well if you leave it in them >>> as quick as 1 day. This is why I use Ivory Soap and water to clean the line & tank >>>> and to murder the ants directly applying the Neem. 😊 Neem Oil can hinder pollination too, so, and even if they're still closed, cover the flowers with your hand. 🇺🇸

[@Wolfie1038]

Good Info, thank you! I have a question. I plan to use this on my tomatoes and peppers and I was wondering if it is OK to spray when there are flowers getting ready to set fruit and also does it wash away if it rains on the plant?

[@Project-vo2un]

+Wolfie1038 Thanks Wolfie, yes Neem Oil and BT are both capable of being sprayed on tomatoes & peppers and will not harm the flowers. Bees and other beneficial insects are not harmed unless they are actually sprayed with the Neem Oil solution, that is why we spray in the evening when the pollinators are in for the night, plus both neem oil and BT will break down in sunlight. If we have a problem with pest (usually the pickle worm is the worst for us) we will treat every 3 to 4 days as the sun and rain will diminish the effectiveness.

[@shafaq007]

I wish I had watched your video two days ago. My cucumber leaves have "suntan" on them. They look burned. There are lots of cucumbers but the leaves are all brown. I am not sure what will happen now.

[@Project-vo2un]

So sorry to hear about the browning/burning of the leaves on the cucumber, it was one of the many mistakes I have learned from over the years. It may be past the point of helping, but if you get too much of the neem on the leaves you can use water to rinse off some. You could also try to use a shade cloth over the plant to help minimize the suns effect. Don't give up take some time to see how the plant is doing and it may surprise you and bounce back. Let us know how things are going and feel free to ask any questions or share your comments and suggestions!

[@sifanlu2624]

Hello there, Thank you for uploading these videos, they are very helpful! I have insects attacking my longan tree and am looking to apply neem oil spray. The seller told me to mix soap/detergent with the neem oil concentrate and water to help it emulsify, but I am doubting the necessity of that as to my knowledge detergents will damage the fatty acids in oils. Could you please advise whether it is required that I mix soap/detergent into the spray? Thank you.

[@willytaylor4792]

thanks prooject 128 for mentioning thuricide.after recearching it i saw specifically written thuricide is not harmfull to people,animals,fish due to fact of high acidic stomachs.one must however read the lable when buying.i saw on amazondifferent products with thuricide name,but had other ingredients of who knows what

[@Project-vo2un]

Thanks for the question Sifan. Sorry for some reason I can not reply directly to your post. As for adding liquid soap to the water and neem oil, yes I can see how the soap would help as the soap breaks the surface tension of water and would assist in the mixing (emulsion), but as you said the soap will also degrade the neem oil. That said, you should only mix as much as you will need for the application and shaking the container every-so-often while spraying will keep the neem oil in mixture. I work in the environmental field and had to be a certified pest control applicator for a time and as such always mix and apply according to the manufacturer's label. I am using "Garden Safe" brand neem oil extract and the directions indicate to mix the concentrate with water only. I personally do not like adding the soap as it is one more thing that gets on the leaves and too much can harm the plants. Thanks again!

[@sifanlu2624]

Thank you for replying!

[@susmitahazra4381]

GE Sir, may I use it with pesticide / insecticide. Quantity per ml?pls. Inform me.

[@Project-vo2un]

Hello - thank you for the questions. We use neem oil or BTx as an organic pesticide for applying to plants. We only mix and treat per manufacturers labeling and instructions. Additionally, we try to be as organic as possible and do not want to apply chemicals that may be harmful to beneficial insects or not good for human consumption. Hopefully this helps answer your question. Thanks for watching!

[@hy-lr4yw]

can we use the remaining mixed solution next day?

[@Project-vo2un]

Thank you for your question. As long as you keep the mixture out of sunlight and a hot area it should still be effective the next morning - be sure to mix it up again prior to spraying as the neem oil & water will separate. Let us know if you have any other questions!

[@hy-lr4yw]

Thnku for that quick reply..i was badly in need of it :)

[@Project-vo2un]

Glad we could help - good luck!

[@bermyFairn]

I've seen mention of mixing dish soap to the mix, guessing it helps it keep emulsified. Have you tried this? does it or would it work?

[@Project-vo2un]

Hi Ben - sorry for the delay in responding. I know people who do mix in a soap, we however do not as the directions never call for that from the manufacturers and sometimes adding soap can harm the leaves in our hot & humid weather we get here in Central Florida.

[@isaiasrodriguez7884]

@@Project-vo2un Can this help the disease that infect the Knock out roses call Rosette ( witches broom)

[@georgiabelcher5568]

is this toxic to animals? if yes for how long.

[@Project-vo2un]

Hi Georgia, Thanks for checking in and for the question. According to the information I have found when looking into organic and natural pesticides, neem oil is safe for humans, birds, cats, and dogs. However, that being said I always err on the side of caution and when using either neem or BT I usually keep my animals (chickens, dogs, cats and kids) away from these plants for a day or two. The studies on cats and dogs that showed adverse reactions to neem oil were on animals where people applied it as a flea repellent (I do not use neem oil on anything other then some plants and only apply in the evening when beneficial insects are less likely to be inadvertently sprayed.) Another thing to keep in mind is we only use the neem oil that has been manufactured as a pesticide and mix it as per manufacturers recommendations. There are some people who will use other types of neem oil or neem oil that is sold as an essential oil, we do not recommend that as there are no clear instructions for how to mix and use these as an organic pesticide. Here is a link to the National Pesticide Information Center - University of Oregon information fact sheet on Neem Oil: npic.orst.edu/factsheets/neemgen.html Hope this information is helpful. Please ask more questions if you have any!