Bio control and Pesticides
This is the second part in a series of blog posts exploring the sustainability of my business, Harriet’s Plants. The aim of this series is to give you complete transparency of my practices and to also help educate, entertain and inform you, so you can be a better plant parent. Being as sustainable as possible is really important to me and I think together we can all make a big difference to future generations by a series of simple shifts in our habits and as a business owner, I take this role very seriously. This week I want to explore biological control over the use of chemical pesticides.
Working with plants means also working with pests. It comes with the territory. While most bigger companies use chemical pesticides to ensure their plants are pest free, Harriet’s Plants uses bio control in the glasshouse in Staffordshire which is just as effective and ALOT kinder to the planet. If you have watched some of my IGTV’s you will have heard me talk about releasing nematodes into the glasshouse. Pathogenic nematodes are part of the bio control that I implement to ensure my plants are healthy. I’ll explain more about what they are later but first, what actually is Bio Control?
Biological control is the use of other living organisms to control pests. All plants will naturally attract pests and diseases. By introducing a natural enemy such as a parasite, predator, or disease into the environment it is very effective in reducing the number of pests. This is a sustainable way of growing that does not introduce any chemicals which are both bad for the environment and personal health.
For an organic grower like me, biological - not chemical - pest control just makes sense. Unlike a chemical spray, which may drift off target and affect other wildlife, nematodes are specific to the host pest. They are microscopic creatures, that act as parasites on other insects. Nematodes are the organic grower’s biological weapon. They work by releasing bacteria into the host’s body to kill them. The nematode then eats the host. It is a highly effective and natural solution to control pests without damaging the environment or the local eco system.
“Make sure to spray the undersides of leaves aswell. That is where most pests and disease hide!”
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT I NO LONGER USE NEEM OIL! I WILL POST ABOUT THIS VERY SOON AND WHEN I HAVE, I WILL UPDATE THIS JOURNAL POST. I think it’s important to keep this here for the time being for full transparency.
So that is what I do in the greenhouse to keep Harriet’s Plants pest free, but what can you do to ensure healthy pest free plants at home? Just as your new plant will need a watering schedule, it is important that you create a routine for dealing with pests. One of the most effective ways of doing this is to think of it, as prevention rather than cure. If you can get into a weekly routine of spraying your houseplants with a mixture of diluted Neem oil and eco washing up liquid you will effectively create a non toxic barrier that will make it harder for pests to establish themselves as a problem.
Neem oil is a plant-based concentrated oil, extracted from the seeds of the India-native neem tree. Neem oil is a great, non-toxic, useful product to protect your plants from pests or disease. The oil is diluted and mixed with water and applied to plant foliage as an organic pest control. As you will already know, oil and water do not mix easily so there is a trick to properly emulsifying the mixture to ensure the right dose is administered to your plant. Adding washing up liquid or horticultural soap will help the mixture emulsify and you can add other essential oils for added benefits, peppermint is a safe bet.
“Neem oil” is sold either as concentrated 100% pure neem oil, a concentrated neem oil containing other ingredients, or as a pre-mixed, ready-to-use spray. I recommend buying the concentrated version and learning to dilute yourself as it is the most cost-effective way and will reduce plastic waste too.
When applied correctly, diluted neem oil is non-toxic and safe to use around humans, birds, pets, mammals, and most wildlife. Neem is not carcinogenic, and no chronic health effects from exposure have been found. It is particularly effective against small soft-bodied insects such as aphids, thrips, spider mites, mealybugs, scale, and white flies. When applied directly, the oil can coat their bodies and kill them – or otherwise interfere with reproduction and feeding. It is also said to repel mosquitoes, flies, cabbage white butterflies, and moths.
The great benefit of using neem oil is that when it’s used correctly it is non-toxic to bees and it also doesn’t bother other beneficial insects like ladybirds, earthworms, parasitic wasps, spiders, or adult butterflies. Just make sure you don’t spray them directly with the neem oil mixture. The safest way to make sure the beneficial insects are not harmed is to spray your neem oil mixture in the evening hours, when the beneficial insects are least active. Spraying in the day may also cause the leaves to burn in the sun, so early morning or evening is recommended regardless.
You will find that when you regularly spray neem oil onto your plants that a protective shine will be left on the leaves. This shine is the barrier that makes your plants less susceptible to fungal diseases like powdery mildew, rust, or blight. It can help prevent fungal diseases from occurring, or slow their spreading. This is prevention rather than cure, so if your plants do develop a fungal disease you will need to take additional steps- I will write a blog post on dealing with this soon but if you get stuck please feel free to get in touch and ask me specific questions. I am always happy to help.
Adding washing up liquid to the diluted neem oil helps to emulsify the mix. I recommend Dr Bronner castile soap, but just about any eco friendly washing up liquid will do the job. Diluted liquid soap alone is also a common DIY garden spray used against aphids and other soft-bodied insects, so if you don’t have neem when you notice a problem, then an eco washing up liquid with water alone, should do the trick.
If you would like to make your homemade pesticide smell nice then you can add essential oils such as Peppermint, lavender, orange, tea tree, or eucalyptus. These all act as natural insect repellents and make the routine of spraying your plants more pleasant.
When you go to spray your house plants you want to fully drench the target plant until the leaves are dripping.
Keep giving your sprayer a shake every so often to ensure it is still thoroughly mixed.
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT I NO LONGER USE NEEM OIL! I WILL POST ABOUT THIS VERY SOON AND WHEN I HAVE, I WILL UPDATE THIS JOURNAL POST. I think it’s important to keep this here for the time being for full transparency.
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO NOW IS MAKE PEST CONTROL A PRIORITY IN YOUR PLANT CARE! PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE AFTER ALL
