Making My Own Insecticide with Canola Oil and Dawn Dish Soap

quendor91 · 07-13-2016, 11:29 AM

Hey everyone, I've been looking around the internet for safe alternatives to manufactured pesticides that contain harmful chemicals. Is using a mix of canola oil safe for banana plants? I'm going to be mixing in soap too. Is regular Dawn alright in small amounts for Bananas?

cincinnana · 07-13-2016, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quendor91

Hey everyone, I've been looking around the internet for safe alternatives to manufactured pesticides that contain harmful chemicals. Is using a mix of canola oil safe for banana plants? I'm going to be mixing in soap too. Is regular Dawn alright in small amounts for Bananas?

I use Dawn or similar as a sticker( substance to break water tension and make product stick to plants/insects) with insecticides and fertilizers and weed killers.
It does work and will work on any plant including your banana plants

Common cooking oils work fine as long as you follow the recipe.
There is also a great Neem oil recipe out there also.

A great source of homemade stuff that usually works is published by a fellow named https://www.jerrybaker.com/tips-and-tonics.

There are a lot of great recipes out there on the web.

You can use common household materials and you will see results and save some money too .

quendor91 · 07-13-2016, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cincinnana

I use Dawn or similar as a sticker( substance to break water tension and make product stick to plants/insects) with insecticides and fertilizers and weed killers.
It does work and will work on any plant including your banana plants

Common cooking oils work fine as long as you follow the recipe.
There is also a great Neem oil recipe out there also.

A great source of homemade stuff that usually works is published by a fellow named https://www.jerrybaker.com/tips-and-tonics.

There are a lot of great recipes out there on the web.

You can use common household materials and you will see results and save some money too .

How much soap would you put in a 25oz spray bottle?

Richard · 07-13-2016, 07:01 PM

I'm jealous of environments where such concoctions actually work. Around here it would attract far more damaging pests then it would deter.

JP · 07-13-2016, 07:51 PM

I'd go with a soap that is milder, like Sunlight. Dawn is powerful stuff... Great on dishes though!

quendor91 · 07-13-2016, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JP

I'd go with a soap that is milder, like Sunlight. Dawn is powerful stuff... Great on dishes though!

What if I just use 1tsp in a 25oz spray bottle?
Or even less like 1/8 tsp.

Tytaylor77 · 07-13-2016, 11:22 PM

I've used the dawn advanced and water in a 5 gal bucket to soak banana roots in after coming out of the greenhouse after winter if they have any fungus gnats. I pull the rootball out of the pot and let it soak in the dawn for 30 minutes or more. Afterwards I flush water through the plant and replant. Kills the gnat colony and the plant has never been effected. I've also used dawn to make oil/soap spray. It did nothing!! To the plant or the insects lol. For me its a waste of time. I need something stronger when I rarely need something.

JP · 07-14-2016, 07:36 AM

I usually don't treat my plants. This year I will with neem oil. I never tried the homemade soap stuff.

quendor91 · 07-14-2016, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JP

I usually don't treat my plants. This year I will with neem oil. I never tried the homemade soap stuff.

I wouldn't mess with mine either. I have noticed some evidence of bugs snacking on some of the leaves. The young Raja puri has some little bits of silk on the cigar leaf and perhaps on other parts. I'm not gonna let those mites get too comfortable!

Richard · 07-14-2016, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JP

I usually don't treat my plants. This year I will with neem oil. I never tried the homemade soap stuff.

Neem oil is a surfactant, not a pesticide.

JP · 07-14-2016, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard

Neem oil is a surfactant, not a pesticide.

What would you recommand? I don't like chemicals and toxic products...
I have issues occasionnally with spider mites, scales and mealy bugs.

Richard · 07-17-2016, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JP

What would you recommand? I don't like chemicals and toxic products....

Don't garden.

JP · 07-17-2016, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard

Don't garden.

Lol! I'll keep on gardening even if I have to crush these bastards by hand one by one!

sputinc7 · 07-17-2016, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JP

Lol! I'll keep on gardening even if I have to crush these bastards by hand one by one!

I think he is being a bit facetious, and a bit serious. Nitrogen is a chemical, as is phosphorous and potassium... Under the right circumstances and / or in the right amounts, all are toxic. Richard knows chemicals and fertilizers, but is not an organic gardener.
Myself, I feel that nothing could grow plants better than a big hole filled with properly made compost. I just find making the amounts I need exhausting now that I am older. Bagged stuff just isn't close to the real deal. So, I make do best I can.
I want a compostumbler (The original, big one), but they are not cheap.

Kat2 · 07-17-2016, 02:07 PM

I don't understand the use of oil. IMO soap alone sprayed on leaves interrupts the delight with which pests chow down and soap alone sprayed on pests messes with their minds and little nasty bodies. Sunlight, dear, dear Sunlight, cannot be found in the US these days. It was and will always be my "pesticide" of choice. Lemony fresh and so wonderful!

How much for 25 oz? Normal recommendations for 1 gallon are no more than 2 tablespoons. Do the math. Err on the side of too little because too much can (and has for me) kill the plant you wish to protect. Spray again in a week if needed but don't think more in the mix is better--it's not.

quendor91 · 07-18-2016, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kat2

I don't understand the use of oil. IMO soap alone sprayed on leaves interrupts the delight with which pests chow down and soap alone sprayed on pests messes with their minds and little nasty bodies. Sunlight, dear, dear Sunlight, cannot be found in the US these days. It was and will always be my "pesticide" of choice. Lemony fresh and so wonderful!

How much for 25 oz? Normal recommendations for 1 gallon are no more than 2 tablespoons. Do the math. Err on the side of too little because too much can (and has for me) kill the plant you wish to protect. Spray again in a week if needed but don't think more in the mix is better--it's not.

Haha yeah, I've killed a plant before with too much soap. Mixed around 2-3 tablespoons in like a 10-16oz spray bottle.

07-13-2016, 11:29 AM	#1 (permalink)
quendor91 <div style="font-weight: bold;"></div> Location: Central Illinois Zone: 6 other sites say 5 Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 126 BananaBucks : 130,007 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 207 Times Was Thanked 46 Times in 37 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 9 Times	Making My Own Insecticide with Canola Oil and Dawn Dish Soap Hey everyone, I've been looking around the internet for safe alternatives to manufactured pesticides that contain harmful chemicals. Is using a mix of canola oil safe for banana plants? I'm going to be mixing in soap too. Is regular Dawn alright in small amounts for Bananas?

07-13-2016, 07:01 PM	#4 (permalink)
Richard un-Retired Richard's Photo Gallery Location: Vista, CA Find me on the map! Zone: USDA 10b Name: Richard Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 9,674 BananaBucks : 940,915 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,636 Times Was Thanked 12,537 Times in 4,719 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,685 Times	Re: Making My Own Insecticide with Canola Oil and Dawn Dish Soap I'm jealous of environments where such concoctions actually work. Around here it would attract far more damaging pests then it would deter. __________________ Back in business at plantsthatproduce.com

07-13-2016, 07:51 PM	#5 (permalink)
JP Location: Trois-Rivières, Québec Find me on the map! Zone: 4 Name: JP Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 1,227 BananaBucks : 159,032 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,969 Times Was Thanked 1,694 Times in 817 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 304 Times	Re: Making My Own Insecticide with Canola Oil and Dawn Dish Soap I'd go with a soap that is milder, like Sunlight. Dawn is powerful stuff... Great on dishes though!

07-13-2016, 11:22 PM	#7 (permalink)
Tytaylor77 Banana Plants for Trade Location: East Texas Find me on the map! Zone: 8b Name: Ty Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 1,367 BananaBucks : 55,615 Feedback: 11 / 100% Said "Thanks" 4,608 Times Was Thanked 3,726 Times in 1,185 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 424 Times	Re: Making My Own Insecticide with Canola Oil and Dawn Dish Soap I've used the dawn advanced and water in a 5 gal bucket to soak banana roots in after coming out of the greenhouse after winter if they have any fungus gnats. I pull the rootball out of the pot and let it soak in the dawn for 30 minutes or more. Afterwards I flush water through the plant and replant. Kills the gnat colony and the plant has never been effected. I've also used dawn to make oil/soap spray. It did nothing!! To the plant or the insects lol. For me its a waste of time. I need something stronger when I rarely need something. __________________ 150+ Varieties!!. See profile for list. Help me add more! CLICK HERE TO SEE PICTURES OF MY MUSA COLLECTION! www.bananapups.com

07-14-2016, 07:36 AM	#8 (permalink)
JP Location: Trois-Rivières, Québec Find me on the map! Zone: 4 Name: JP Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 1,227 BananaBucks : 159,032 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,969 Times Was Thanked 1,694 Times in 817 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 304 Times	Re: Making My Own Insecticide with Canola Oil and Dawn Dish Soap I usually don't treat my plants. This year I will with neem oil. I never tried the homemade soap stuff.

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07-17-2016, 02:07 PM	#15 (permalink)
Kat2 Location: Now nesting in Titusville, FL Zone: 10A or 9B ish. Like it matters? Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 2,153 BananaBucks : 300,232 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 2,921 Times Was Thanked 2,669 Times in 1,322 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 595 Times	Re: Making My Own Insecticide with Canola Oil and Dawn Dish Soap I don't understand the use of oil. IMO soap alone sprayed on leaves interrupts the delight with which pests chow down and soap alone sprayed on pests messes with their minds and little nasty bodies. Sunlight, dear, dear Sunlight, cannot be found in the US these days. It was and will always be my "pesticide" of choice. Lemony fresh and so wonderful! How much for 25 oz? Normal recommendations for 1 gallon are no more than 2 tablespoons. Do the math. Err on the side of too little because too much can (and has for me) kill the plant you wish to protect. Spray again in a week if needed but don't think more in the mix is better--it's not. __________________

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