How to Use Neem Oil to Control Pests & Diseases

A huge tip I can add is to emulsify the neem in a smaller container with just the soap and a little water. It makes a huge difference in the mixing and applying it with a sprayer. Does a great job of keeping the neem from sticking to the side of the sprayer.

You might wonder but we people from India have been using Neem since ages. Soaps, face wash, shampoo, toothpaste, you name it. Neem is antibacterial, antimalarial and antifungal. Another plant that every Hindu household has is "Basil". Basil is anti microbial too. Basil is also used in almost all body products. We have a saying "If you keep eating neem it will turn sweeter". Which means if you concentrate on a same task everyday it will bring fruitful results. Also, people use small neem branches as toothbrush

In India we use need oil as pesticides as well as neem cake fertiliser for several centuries. But sadly, most farmers are heavily inclined now a day's towards chemical pesticides.

During high school, we have a lot of Neem Tree planted at the back lot of our school. During experimental research subjects we always use neem leaves as subject. We were able to extract oils, create neem candles, and incense usually as insecticide or pesticide. The tree also looks great on the landscape. We take our lunch under these trees.

Very informative thank you! Just as an FYI so you don't kill any beneficial insects like bees, butterflies, ladybugs etc - spray the neem oil solution at sunrise or sunset, when those bugs are less active. Otherwise you might hurt the good bugs that are not hurting your plants at all.

I think the best way to use neem is not just as a foiler spray but as a root drench. Neem is readily absorbed through the roots of plants and can go systemic.

I like neem oil (100% cold pressed of course). I dilute with water and peppermint castile soap and mostly use it on aphids, spidermites and most insect nymphs.

If you can't afford Neem oil (which is expensive), try using 3x tsp of baking soda (bicarb of soda), 1 tsp of vegetable oil, 2x tsp very mild handwash (baby soap for e.g.) 500mil of warm water (1tr for weaker solution). This is a powerful fungicide ( powdery milde and insecticide ). I have been using this mix for well over 50 years and if applied correctly works well. Just make sure to spray under leaf too. 👌

The neem tree also grows in Africa. In Nigeria the sticks:branches is good for chewing sticks. The branches/roots can be dried and used alcohol extracted for malaria treatment. I used to pick and eat the seeds as a kid. It is a bitter tasting tree, but I have a bitter/sour pallet than sweet.

Thanks for the information. I used neem oil this summer - on cucumber and squash/pumpkin plants (got information from various YouTube videos - that was not as concise and rational as what you brought forward) - and it didn't do what I wanted and seemed to harm the plants as much as help. I now realize my formula was too strong and I was using it too often. I look forward to better results next summer. I appreciate your measured and flexible outlook on gardening.

For a more manageable size, move the decimal place on the metric measurement to get 1/10th the original quantity of the 1% solution. Neem 20mL, soap 3mL, water 2000mL(2L).

Bought a neem tree last year to grow in a pot and it's growing beautifully. One of the most useful plants for health, wellness, and gardening!

I trust your advice the most of any I have seen and heard on line. Thanks for generously sharing your knowledge and expertise with us.

Just wanted to say, thanks for the metric conversions! That's very thoughtful and handy.

Grasshoppers ate my tomato plants. I was just reading about this and I had been wondering if this work. Great timing.

Couldnt have posted at a better time! Thank you!

Another great informative & honest video Kevin! Glad your loving your neem! Very thankful!

I started using neem oil this year, but I have also found netting and row covers help with pest control. Keeping bugs off the plants by keeping them covered helps with less pesticide use overall. Depending on the cover, they can also help with moisture retention and shade…

Great video Neem 🌳 grows well in Guyana over 80yrs my mother bin using leaves as medicine after boiling it use water for bath it really stoped the itching when we had measles chicken pox.

Thank you! I definitely have a problem and now a solution. Kudos 👩🏼‍🌾