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Pest management is a crucial aspect of maintaining healthy plants, whether you’re a professional grower or a hobbyist. Pests like aphids, thrips, mealybugs, and whiteflies can infest plants in any environment and will thrive especially well in the stable conditions of homes and greenhouses. These pests can cause significant damage, leading to wilting, stunted growth, and even plant death if left unchecked.
Implementing a pest management strategy is essential to ensure the longevity and health of your plants. By having an adequate strategy in place, you can effectively control pest populations while minimizing harm to the environment and human health. By proactively managing pests, you’ll benefit from a sustainable, healthy, and enjoyable growing experience.
Many pest management strategies include the use of neem oil, which is known for its pesticide properties; however, there is a lack of concrete data to prove its efficacy in repelling pests, with much speculation around the harm that using neem oil can cause. Below, we’ll explore what neem oil is, the downsides of using it, and what the best alternatives are.
What Is Neem Oil?
Neem oil is a naturally occurring pesticide found in seeds from the neem tree. A fast-growing tree of the mahogany family, the neem tree is native to the Indian subcontinent dry parts of South Asia, but has since been introduced to parts of Africa, the Caribbean and both South and Central America.
The oil extracted from the seeds of the neem tree is commonly used as an insect and mite repellent. It is yellow to brown in colour, has a bitter taste, and an unpleasant odor described as both ‘garlicky’ and ‘rotten egg-like’.
Neem oil is composed of several components, with azadirachtin being the most active. Azadirachtin is most commonly associated with killing or repelling insects and pests. It also interferes with insect hormone systems, making it harder for insects to grow and lay eggs. The portion left over (without the azadirachtin) is called clarified hydrophobic neem oil.
Why Do Growers Use Neem Oil?
Growers use neem oil because it offers a natural, effective, and broad-spectrum solution for pest and disease control in plants. It acts as an insecticide, fungicide, and miticide, controlling a wide range of pests and fungal diseases, and is compatible with beneficial insects, making it a preferred choice for organic growers. However, many professional growers may not be aware of the pitfalls that come with using neem oil.
The Downsides of Neem Oil
Despite its popularity and cult following, neem oil and the production of neem oil can bring about some undesirable results. These include:
- Negative environmental impacts such as soil degradation, water contamination, loss of biodiversity, and pollution from waste materials.
- Potential health risks include triggering allergic reactions, disrupting hormonal balance, and posing a risk to individuals working closely with it.
- Certain pests may be immune to neem oil, or it may require precise concentration levels and timing for optimal results.
- If used incorrectly, neem oil can also lead to a blockage of the stomata on your plants, meaning they will be unable to respire and photosynthesize.
- Harmful waste materials as a result of the oil extraction process. If not properly managed, these can harm local ecosystems.
- The unpleasant odor of neem oil is often described as smelling like pungent garlic or burnt tires.
- Consequences of neem farming can also lead to deforestation – the neem tree is fast-growing, which often means manufacturers will clear large tracts of land in order to establish a plantation, potentially destroying habitats and disrupting ecosystems in the process.
While Neem oil is praised for its medicinal and pesticidal properties, its production and use must be carefully managed to minimize these adverse environmental impacts. Therefore, alternatives that are more environmentally friendly and sustainable should be considered.
Why Does Neem Oil Smell So Bad?
Neem oil’s unpleasant smell, often described as pungent, nutty, garlicky, and sulfur-like, is due to its natural chemical composition, particularly the presence of sulfur-containing compounds and other volatile organic compounds. These compounds are released during the oil extraction process and contribute to the characteristic odor. By contrast, EPM’s Protection Plus™ has no lasting odor.
What Are The Alternatives To Neem Oil?
The two key motivators of growers using neem oil are:
- Pest & insect repellent
- Plant cleaning & leaf shine
The good news is that there are plenty of alternatives to neem oil that you can try, many of which can be made at home and are much more pleasant in smell! We’ve listed some of them below, along with the potential drawbacks of each.
Essential Oils
Essential oils, particularly those derived from plants like rosemary, thyme, clove, and peppermint, are widely considered effective in repelling and even killing certain pests. These also have natural, pleasant-smelling scents, which are another reason to choose them over neem oil. However, essential oil repellents have been described as ‘terrible’ due to their inefficiency and, when store-bought, unknown toxicity risks to humans and animals. There are also risks of clogging the stomata of your plants if you apply the oils incorrectly or too frequently.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar (ACV) can act as a leaf cleaner and pest deterrent. However, the acidic nature of ACV can dissolve plant cell membranes if not measured very carefully, and has been known to disrupt the pH balance of soil.
Protection Plus
Natural, oil-free and high-strength, Protection Plus™ from EPM is the happy medium. With high insect and mite kill rates and an earth-friendly, purity-tested solution, you can rest assured that you’re doing the best for your plants and for the environment.
What is Protection Plus, And How Do I Use It?
Protection Plus™ is a natural, oil-free, high-strength insecticide for plant and garden applications. An eco-friendly, oil-free alternative to neem oil, Protection Plus™ is a non-systemic contact killer, which means it does not enter an insect’s immune system and so pests cannot become immune to it. Other advantages include:
- It protects plants and workers from biting and stinging insects
- The spray reduces or entirely eliminates biofilm buildup on roots
- No smell – there may be a pleasant fermentation-type odor when sprayed, which dries to be odorless
- The natural formula has been Independent Lab tested to be free of over 490 toxic chemicals/metals
- You can use it from seedling through to the day of harvest
- It has the highest 1st application kill rate in the industry
- Contains NO oil or detergents
- Leaves no harmful residue
- Safe for use on all food crops
- Will not harm aquatic life in ponds or lakes
- Lowest in-use cost
- 25(b) registered
Exactly how to use Protection Plus™ will depend on a few factors such as the pest you’re targeting and what equipment you’re using. You can find specific usage information and instructions here. Keep in mind that when spraying a solution, it may appear that the entire surface is covered, but under a microscope, large gaps between spray droplets can be observed. If a pest is located between these droplets, it will not come into contact with the solution unless it moves onto a covered part of the plant. The key to success is achieving a fine mist spray that ensures maximum coverage.
Commercial and consumer gardeners, greenhouses, plant nurseries, vineyards, and more have discovered Protection Plus™ insecticide’s safe and effective pest control capabilities. Common uses include indoor & outdoor plants, soil & leaf applications and uses throughout the home and garden setting – Protection Plus™ can help keep insects away from the BBQ area, patio and porch. In summary, Protection Plus™ is the best alternative to neem oil thanks to the natural, non-oil, food-based formula, high kill rates and odorless composition. It’s also easy to apply and independently lab-tested.