You're Making Neem Oil Foliar Spray Wrong! How to Properly Emulsify Neem for Maximum Effect

Errors in the video because I was too lazy to reshoot and I'm dumb:
-neem oil isn't a liquid because of water in it... its because the oil is above its melting point
-sometimes depending on the surfactant/emulsifier you may need to heat the water during the initial mixing steps when you start adding water
-I have had people mention a lack of success with dr. bronners castile soap, I never had those issues but I have primarily used polysorbate-20 and more recently quillaja, I will no longer recommend castile soap
The internet is filled with regurgitated "garden tips" lifted from gardening publications in the 90s and 2000s internet sites and neem oil how-to's are particularly rife with misinformation. Contrary to popular belief throwing dish soap, neem oil and water in a spray bottle and shaking is a terrible method to disperse your neem oil so that you can properly apply it to your plants. Neem oil should not stunt, or burn your leaves if applied properly. Many people kill their pests but also set their plants back by using crude neem oil sprays. Properly emulsifying your neem oil greatly enhances the effects of the neem oil on insects and absorption into plant tissue and reduces the potential harm to your plants. If you follow the three key aspects I've outlined you can have a reliable reproducible, insecticidal tool in your pest control arsenal:
1. appropriate non-ionic emulsifier/surfactant like cosmetic/food grade polysorbate 20 or quillaja saponins
www.amazon.com...
buildasoil.com...
2. high quality, cold pressed and minimally processed neem oil.
buildasoil.com...
www.kisorganic...
3. soft, low tds, low carbonate hardness water or pure water.
General Ratios for 1000mL/1quart
1mL or 1/4 tsp of quillaja saponin or 5mL of tween 20 or
~4mL or 1tsp neem oil
1000mL deionized/rainwater or low tds/low hardness water
Follow label dilution and application schedule. In general: Apply neem oil emulsion when leaf temps are below 75F, preferably in the evening after pollinators and other beneficials are less active.
#IPM #organics #foliarspray

[@shardsoldier]

play on 1.25x speed your welcome. thanks for the tips!

[@777tommys]

Awesome Video, Im using rain Water from my collectotr, Cold Pressed Neem Oil (Plantonix Neem Bliss), Dr woods Tea Tree and Quillaja Saponaria Extract Powder. Got the mini white flies in the grow tent! Thumbs Up from Jamaica!

[@essmac3453]

Great video. Nearly got it as clear as yours, but I think the neem oil I had was not as pure as I thought. It was about 90% mixed in the solution. Some neem residue rested on top of the solution. Edit: it looks just like yours now. After quite alot of agitating and I added a tiny bit more polysorbate 20.

[@Spencer_Plant_Projects]

I'm glad you found it useful. You will notice that the killing effects of the neem will be amplified because the oil will uniformly cover both the plants and pests if there is an active infestation. Neem oil's main mechanism of action is smothering of insects but high quality cold pressed neem also has azadirachtin residues which provide antifeedant and interrupts the moulting proscess of insects. The smell may also have some deterrent properties.

[@essmac3453]

I am trying it on my gourmet mushrooms, so hopeful it works on those too.

[@Spencer_Plant_Projects]

@@essmac3453 make sure you test on a small amount ! personally I would not recommend spraying anything on your mushrooms.

[@essmac3453]

@@Spencer_Plant_Projects well it's the substrate. So, we will see how they fair.

[@diegogumucio1540]

Thats correct. Need to adjust pH to 5.8-6.5 if You wan t yo get the useful azadirone effect.

[@karenbearden6198]

Thanks so much!

[@dackjanielz]

Realy useful video, thanks. Have you any experience or advice on using Yucca extract or ground soap nuts as an emulsifier?

[@Spencer_Plant_Projects]

They should work but it's easier to emulsify with a concentrated surfactant and then slowly bring into solution. You'll have to mess around with it a bit

[@hoangan2700]

Thank you so much for your sharing! I have been searching for way to use Tween20 everywhere. I just have 1 question to make sure i’m getting it right: since you recommend using 5ml per 1000ml, so i will need to use about 20ml for a gallon, am i understanding what you mean the right way?

[@Spencer_Plant_Projects]

Yes, correct

[@rudolf895]

Excellent video Thank you

[@nikkiwinter4476]

I use Dr bronner’s & 100% cold pressed need oil and I feel like they aren’t emulsifying correctly. The oil pools up at the top. And ultimately I’m left with these white chunks & milky water. I’ve tried mixing the two together first, then stirring in warm water. Adding them to warm water and then mixing, etc. I don’t know if that’s supposed to happen, but I strongly feel like it’s not. I’m following the oil:soap ratio exactly as stated on the instructions. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong, any suggestions?

[@Spencer_Plant_Projects]

What is the quality of water you are using? do you know the hardness/pH/TDS?

[@nkvball808]

That’s exactly what happens to me - the Dr Bronners clumps up with the neem and makes a froth on the top after shaking - Dawn works the best but you have to use only a couple of drops

[@nkvball808]

Dr Bronners is highly touted but after doing an experiment w Dawn , Eco and Dr Bs mixing 1 gallon of water neem and soap in a clear water bottle the Dr B soap was the worst or the three it clumped up and formed a froth at the top w the neem that did not go away even after sitting for a couple of hours - so if used the neem will not be sprayed out since it is floating in the foam at the top

[@Spencer_Plant_Projects]

@@nkvball808 Hmmm I never had an issue with my castile soap but I have switched to using polysorbate-20 or quillaja the last two years. I wonder what is going wrong. I will change my post since we cannot figure out what is the common thread.

[@nkvball808]

All this time I have been spraying neem mixed w DR B soap and wondered why it was so ineffective but noticed the foam at the top when the sprayer was empty

[@motleydigger]

What about clarified neem oil? I don't care about burning plants I'm using it in my yard? My neem smells like garlic

[@Spencer_Plant_Projects]

no idea

[@IAMGiftbearer]

I've got borers in my peach tree and sprayed some neem oil this morning but the brand I used did not say to use a surfactant or emulsifier. Do some brands put these in it already? I have one of those spray attachments that attaches to a hose that you don't premix because I'm not sure the pump type could reach the top of the tree.

[@Spencer_Plant_Projects]

What does the label and ingredients say? Usually those sprayers tell you the dilution rate. Simply adjust the amount of emulsified neem to the appropriate concentration in the spray attachment so that it is applied at the label rate. Remember to spray your tree in the evening so that the oil has time to work overnight without being degraded by light or even worse burning your plant!

[@tanana2070]

Really good info but oh my word, would you turn the water off when you're not using it?

[@Spencer_Plant_Projects]

Yeah, I did. At the end ;)

[@tanana2070]

@@Spencer_Plant_Projects haha, good one!!

[@flipflat4814]

Why not use "yucca wet" to emulsify?

[@Spencer_Plant_Projects]

you can try, its just easier when you have a concentrated emulsifier like tween-20 or quillaja. you may have to do some trial and error

[@adenbuford7396]

Spencer, may I ask if I can use Safer insecticidal soap for the emulsifier? The active ingredient is Potassium Salts of Fatty Acids 49.52%. Thank you.

[@Spencer_Plant_Projects]

I wouldn't use that. It's closer to castile soap and people haven't reported good emulsification with it.

[@motleydigger]

Does it work on fleas and chiggers in the yard

[@Spencer_Plant_Projects]

no idea

[@jwarner2191]

I use Harris brand cold pressed neem for active powdery mildew. The ratio for Harris brand is 1.5 teaspoons neem and 1/2 teaspoon Dr. Bronner’s per quart of water. I use rain and/or warm distilled. How much polysorbate 20( in teaspoons) should I use with 1.5 teaspoons neem. Thank you!

[@Spencer_Plant_Projects]

Try adding a half tsp and see how it works. Increase if you get clumping.

[@tragedybysyntax]

Curious what sprayer you’re using, thank you!!

[@Spencer_Plant_Projects]

its a "solo" brand 1L pump sprayer

[@rickyg2003]

Nice man thank you

[@elianazz]

i have something killing my stone fruit trees they look like tiny black spikes growing all over the branches and i cant find any info on this problem

[@Spencer_Plant_Projects]

Same

[@4ll4ll]

indians use dish soap all the time and it works and the plants look perfect

[@Spencer_Plant_Projects]

yes it can work, but when combined with waters that have a high mineral content the effect is lessened and the risk of phytotoxicity is increased. quillaja and polysorbate 20 are great emulsifiers so they increase the insecticidal activity of the neem oil when applied. unless your suspension is stable you arent getting the full effect.

[@4ll4ll]

@@Spencer_Plant_Projects I'm pretty sure it easier to buy cocaine or heroin in my country than Quillaja xD but yeah thanks will keep in mind

[@Spencer_Plant_Projects]

@@4ll4ll polysorbate-20/tween-20 should be widely available in most of the world. its used in food, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals as well as other consumer goods. in asia you may also be able to find tea saponin which is widely used in China and has similar properties to quillaja saponins.

[@faithabrown2560]

Question, I've seen people use rubbing alcohol to emulsify oils in videos. I'm just wondering if You emulsify Neem oil (or whatever oils You want to use) will that properly mix with water? I'm thinking about trying it on a tiny scale using tea tree oil

[@Spencer_Plant_Projects]

Isopropyl is a solvent, like water. I think people add it to enhance the insecticidal properties, not because of it's emulsification properties. Its not going to be an emulsifier.

[@faithabrown2560]

The alcohol didn't work as You already knew lol but I did find something else that works. Soy Lecithin granules acts as a emulsifier, I couldn't find any recipes online but I did do 3 tiny scale experiments and the third one worked like a charm😊 if You would like the recipe that I used just let Me know and I'll add it in😊 I Love science, stuff is so cool lol

[@d.rabbitwhite]

@@faithabrown2560 I would like the recipe...yes, I would, thanks.

[@faithabrown2560]

@@d.rabbitwhite Neem & Tea Tree Spray Ingredients: 1oz. 100% Pure Neem Oil 20drops Tea Tree Oil (Optional) ½-1 scoop Soy Lecithin granules (I found them at GNC) How I mixed it: Boil a few cups of water and once boiling spoon it into a cup or bowl that has Your Soy Lecithin in it while mixing it so the granules dissolve faster. Once the granules dissolve let the mixture cool down to room temp or add ice cubes and mix it until it's cool (if it's to hot the benefits of the oil won't be there because heat and sunlight destroys it). Once the Soy Lecithin water solution is done or is in the process of cooling down get another cup/bowl and put 1oz of Neem oil and 20drops of tea tree oil in it, after the Soy Lecithin water solution is cooled down slowly beat in Your oils really well. Now that it's mixed thoroughly You can add it to a 1 gallon sprayer and fill it the rest of the way with cold water. Use within 24hrs and apply it to Your plants when it starts getting dark so it doesn't run the risk of causing sun burns on Your plants:) So far it's working great for Me

[@faithabrown2560]

@@Spencer_Plant_Projects Do You think You could give My recipe a try and see what You think? It seems to be working for Me but I'd love to get Your opinion on it ☺️

[@crazysquirrel9425]

Is there any residual kill or just spot killing? If any residual, how long?

[@Spencer_Plant_Projects]

The emulsified oil suffocates insects which can instantly kill. Neem oil also has insect growth regulators in it which prevent young insects from developing normally. The growth regulators vary from product to product and depend on the quality of processing. In addition neem oil also masks the smell of your plants to insect olfaction which can help vulnerable plants from heavy insect pressure. Neem oil can also harm beneficials so use it judicially and intentionally.

[@crazysquirrel9425]

@@Spencer_Plant_Projects While cooking more soil today, I found a bunch of live ones under the grow bags and a couple in those bags. Put straight dish soap on them and they STILL had a hard time dying. Of course those in the dirt heated to 204F didn't survive 🙂

[@benstoth]

Is neem oil concentrate ok?

[@Spencer_Plant_Projects]

In general, you want cold pressed Neem oil because it suffocates insects and has some axadiractin. Your concentrate may just be axadiractin and in that case follow the label, not this video

[@BLAZING900]

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