Can I spray vinegar on plants to get rid of bugs?
You can use vinegar to help control some pests on leaves, but it’s important to be very careful. Vinegar is acidic and, while it can kill or repel certain insects, it can also harm your plants if used incorrectly. Pure vinegar can damage or even kill leaves because its acidity burns plant tissues. Vinegar/soap weed killer is non-selective, which means that it will also damage/kill your desirable plants. So be careful when applying to weeds.
What can I sprinkle on my plants to keep bugs away?
Neem Oil is your go-to for any small pests. Garlic powder on the dirt works (kinda. I’d like something better) for caterpillars. Cinnamon on the dirt is just good for rooting, and can deter some earwigs/slugs/snails/aphids. While it’s often used in cooking, some gardeners use it for houseplants too, thanks to its potential anti-fungal properties. Though scientific proof is limited, sprinkling cinnamon on soil can help deter pests and may encourage root growth for cuttings. Plus, it adds a festive aroma to your home!Cinnamon can also protect plants from ants, fungus gnats, mites, aphids, mosquitoes, fruit flies, and wasps. It] contains cinnamaldehyde, which disrupts the nervous system of insects, making it difficult for them to move, find food, or locate mates,” she adds.Cinnamon is most effective in greenhouses, where it can be used to kill spider mites, whiteflies, and other common pests. All you have to do is sprinkle cinnamon on the surface of the soil around your plants.
What kills insects but not plants?
An effective but simple recipe for a soap spray is 2 teaspoons of dish soap to 1 pint of water. This will create a 2% solution, which is sufficient to kill an aphid but not burn the plant. The solution must touch the insect, so you can’t pre-spray before you see the offending arthropod. The most organic method of control, and often a quite effective one, is the spray of water. Soapy water can help kill the aphids, as it sounds like you know, but a particularly strong jet of water will dislodge/kill most of them physically, as well.Mix 1 cup of vegetable oil with 1 tablespoon of mild liquid soap. Add 2-8 teaspoons of this mixture to 1 quart of water and spray your plants as above. The oil in this spray smothers the insects, so it is effective on aphids, thrips, mites, and scale.For larger areas, try Sevin Insect Killer Concentrate or Sevin Insect Killer Ready to Spray. People and pets can reenter the area when sprays dry. Leaf damage intensifies when caterpillars come in multiples.Use repellents Non-toxic repellents are available in garden centers that naturally repel bugs with such ingredients as garlic or hot-pepper oil. Some are spray-on liquids, others are granular that can be scattered around the base of plants.