Lildog Blog: Homemade Garden Recipes

I recently did some research about homemade garden recipes. Homemade recipes are good because they are less harmful to th Here is what I found. Most of this should be readily available around the house. If you have any experience with any of these or have your own recipe please let us know or post a comment below.

General Information
Horticultural Oil
Insecticides - Soft Bodied
Insecticides - Hard Bodied
All Purpose Insecticide
Fungicide
All Purpose Spray
Mildew
Herbicide
Disinfectant
Rooting Hormone
Leaf Shine
Stress
Foliar Spray
Fertilizer
Repellant

GENERAL INFORMATION

Apple cider vinegar can contain up to 30 trace elements. Be careful as too much vinegar can be harmful to plants.

Bleach Toxic to plants and soil. Bleach is also a corrosive, it will corrode tools and leave a toxic residue.

Compost /ManureTeas These are loaded with bacteria and other microorganisms that attack pretty much all of the fungi and diseases that harm plants. Can also be mixed with some of the other recipes below to boost effectiveness.

Horsetail The common horsetail plant (Equisetum arvense), which is very invasive, is rich in silicon and helps plants to resist fungal diseases via increasing their light absorbing capabilities.

Hydrogen peroxide Prevents disease spores from adhering to the plant tissue. It causes no harm to plants or soil.

Liquid soaps Soap helps sprays spread better onto plants and pests, called a spreader. It also interferes with insects nervous systems. Natural soaps(Murphy oil soap, castille soaps) work best and mild soaps(Ivory, Dawn) come in a close second. Has been shown to hinder fruit and vegetable production.

Neem Oil like vegetable oil but it also shuts down insects reproductive system and removes their appetite.

Molasses Excellent source of carbon, sulfur and potash. It can be a fast supply of vigor. It feeds beneficial bacteria that destroy many disease organisms. Also used as a sticker.

Sprays Generally you should spray in cooler temperatures, morning or evening. Always test a new recipe on a small part of the plant first and observe the results for at least 24 hours before proceeding. Try not to get sprays on your skin as some could irritating. Most mixtures will require consistent agitation to keep the ingredients evenly mixed, so shake as you go.

Vegetable Oil suffocates soft bodied insects. Helps a spray stick to the leaf when it's dried, called a sticker.

HORTICULTURAL OIL

Oil sprays suffocate soft body insects. Don't use too much on sensitive plants. May burn leaves. Also used as a general 'base' for other sprays. Will keep for months in a sealed container.

Horticultural Oil Spray 1 tablespoon vegetable cooking oil(cottonseed oil,safflower oil, soybean oil, peanut oil, etc.) OR mineral oil(but it is made from petroleum products) OR Murphy's Oil Soap OR Neem oil, 1 teaspoon of liquid dishwashing detergent , 1 gallon of water. Do not apply your homemade horticultural oil if temperatures are above 85 degrees.

INSECTICIDES

for killing Soft-bodied pests, such as aphids and spider mites

Old fashioned soap spray Grate one to three tablespoons of 'Kirk's Castile' soap or Fels Naptha (or other old fashioned fat and lye soap) is collected from a cheese grater and then dissolved in a gallon of hot tap water—it may take up to two days to dissolve completely and it should be shaken. You can also heat your mixture on the stove to dissolve the soap. This spray is good for fungal diseases or insects and can be used every seven to ten days. More effective if you add 1 tablespoon oil, which makes it a Horticultural Oil Spray.

Insecticidal soap spray 1 teaspoon liquid dish soap and 1 gallon water. More effective if you add 1 tablespoon oil, which makes it a Horticultural Oil Spray.

Garlic/pepper spray Liquefy 2-3 bulbs of garlic and 2 hot peppers(optional) in a blender 1/2 to 2/3 full of water. Strain to remove the solids and add enough water to the garlic/pepper juice to make 1 gallon of concentrate. Use 1/4 cup of concentrate per gallon of Horticultural Oil Spray. May also be a fungicide and a repellant. Freeze to preserve unused portion.

Garlic Fungicide Spray see FUNGICIDES below.

Onion tea all alliums are great for killing soft body insects. May also be a fungicide. Best if crushed or liquified in a Horticultural Oil Spray.

INSECTICIDES

for killing pests that have hard shells, such as scale

Alcohol Use 70% or 90% isopropyl rubbing alcohol or drinking alcohol. Touch insects with a soaked cotton swab or spray the entire affected plant, being sure to thoroughly wet all surfaces. Repeat every 3 days for about 2 weeks.

Alcohol spray Fill a spray bottle almost full with the Horticultural Oil Spray recipe above and just before using add 1 to 2 two caps full (from the rubbing alcohol bottle) of rubbing alcohol and spray immediately as the alcohol will evaporate. If you want to use the same mix again later I recommend adding the same amount of alcohol again as it will have evaporated.

All purpose alcohol spray Add 1 Tablespoon lemon juice to the Alcohol spray above.
Molasses Mix 8 oz. of molasses in a small amount of hot water. Add 8 oz. of 3% hydrogen peroxide, then add enough water to make a gallon. Spray this on your entire plant at regular intervals of 7 to 10 days.

Ground cloves Can kill flying insects. Use several Tablespoons per gallon of water or Horticultural Oil Spray. Also can kill flying insects.

Tobacco products This is a classic powerful natural pesticide. It may kill beneficials too. It can cause diseases on tomatoes if not properly used. Brew a tobacco tea no more than 30 minutes, to be safe enough to not harm beneficials like bees and ladybugs. Mix into Horticultural Oil Spray to improve sticking power. Caution: Some people are allergic to members of the nightshade family. If you are one of them, use care in making and applying this spray. This is potentially very dangerous to your health use very carefully.

Nightshade Spray chop up a couple of cups of the leaves from tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, tobacco, or other nightshade plant and let them soak overnight in two cups of water. Then, strain off the liquid and add two more cups of water to the liquid. Use this liquid in your spray bottle. Caution: While this spray is very safe for humans, some people are allergic to members of the nightshade family. If you are one of them, use care in making and applying this spray.

Vinegar DO NOT USE THIS ON or AROUND PLANTS! 50% vinegar with water to kill ants when they invade the area.

FUNGICIDES

Use these for black spot, powdery mildew, brown patch and other fungal diseases.

Old fashioned soap spray see INSECTICIDES above.

Cinnamon Dusting Liberally dust affected areas with ground cinnamon.

Cinnamon Poultice Mix ground cinnamon with cooking oil or Elmer's Glue to make a thick, brown paste and apply to wound.

Cinnamon Alcohol Spray Mix 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon in a pint of isopropyl rubbing alcohol and let stand overnight. Filter the solution with a coffee filter. Use filtered liquid as a spray. May also be effective against powdery mildew.

Cinnamon Water Spray Mix 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon in a pint of hot water and let stand for several days. Filter the solution with a coffee filter. Use filtered liquid as a spray. May also be effective against powdery mildew.

Ground Corn Meal Put 1 cup of whole ground corn meal in an cloth sack and put in a gallon of water. Let stand for a couple of days. Use the liquid as a spray.

Baking Soda/Potassium bicarbonate Fungicide Mix 1 tablespoon baking soda or Potassium bicarbonate into 1 gallon of Horticultural Oil Spray. Spray lightly on foliage of plants afflicted with black spot, powdery mildew, brown patch and other fungal diseases. Avoid over-using or pouring on the soil. Citrus oil and molasses can be used instead of horticultural oil. Agitate frequently to prevent baking soda from settling. You could put a marble or something similar to the mix to act as an agitator like in spray paint. Repeat every 7 - 10 days days. For anthracnose, early tomato blight, leaf blight and spots, powdery mildew, and as a general fungicide.

Baking Soda Spray #2 1 gallon Horticultural Oil Spray, 1 tsp Listerine mouthwash, 1 ½ tbsp baking soda. Put the above in a large pump sprayer and then add 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar. Shake well.Test spray on just a couple of leaves and wait a few days to see what happens.
Apple Cider Vinegar Fungicide Mix 3 tablespoons of natural apple cider vinegar in one gallon of water. Spray during the cool part of the day for black spot on roses and other fungal diseases. Adding 1 tablespoon molasses per gallon boost it's power. Most white vinegars are made from petroleum products. For leafspot, mildew, and scab.

Garlic/Onion tea seen above in INSECTICIDE

Garlic Fungicide Spray In a blender put 1 whole head of garlic, 3 cups water, 2 Tbs canola oil, 4 hot peppers and a whole lemon. Blend until finely chopped. Steep mixture overnight. Strain. Use at a rate of 4 tablespoons per gallon of water. Store unused portion in the refrigerator. Fungicide and Insect repellent. Freeze to preserve unused portion.

Milk 1 part milk, 1 to 10 parts water. Skim or non fat milk may clog sprayer less. Organic milk may contain more beneficial properties. Coat entire plant, stems, both sides of leaves, etc. Too much milk may promote sooty mold. Use weekly as a preventative measure. Freeze to preserve unused portion.

Hydrogen Peroxide Spray Mix 1 quart water and 1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide. Be sure to cover tops and bottoms of leaves. Do this once a week during dry weather and twice a week in wet weather. This works as a preventative. If you already have problems use this as a direct treatment.

Horseradish Tea The white flesh of the horseradish root also contains significant amounts of calcium, magnesium and vitamin C. Blend 1 cup horseradish root and 16 ounces of water in blender, let soak for 24 hours. Strain. Mix the liquid with 2 quarts of water and spray. Use as a preventative spray for fungal diseases. This is especially useful against brown rot in apple trees.

Horsetail Tea (Equisetum arvense) Mix 1/8 cup of dried horsetail leaves/stems/rhizomes in 1 gallon water. Bring to a boil, let simmer for at least 1/2 hr. Cool and strain. Store extra concentrate in a glass container. Will keep for a month. Dilute this mix, adding 5-10 parts water to one part concentrate. Spray plants that show any symptoms of fungal type disease once every 4 days. Use on most plants to combat powdery fungi and to control mildew. Prevents damping off.

ALL PURPOSE SPRAY

Aspirin 1.5 [uncoated] aspirins to 2 gallons Insecticidal soap spray. Spray plants every 3 weeks. Use as a preventative and stress reducer.

Cinnamon/Hoticultural Oil Spray In a pint bottle, mix 1 cup Cinnamon Water Spray(above) and top up with Horticultural Oil Spray. Use as a spray. The soap and alcohol are good insecticides, while the cinnamon is a fungicide.

Fermented Compost Tea take 1-2 cups of some really well-composted organic matter (the stuff at the bottom of the pile), place it in a cloth bag and immerse it in a gallon of water at room temperature. Let stand overnight or longer until you have a dark liquid. Remove the "tea bag" and let the container sit outdoors for about two weeks. Filter the liquid and spray.

Manure tea Fill a bucket half full of manure and finish filling with water. Let the mix sit for 10-14 days, strain and then dilute and spray on the foliage of any plants. It's very effective for example on black spot on roses and early blight on tomatoes. It should look like iced tea. Add two tablespoons of molasses to each gallon of spray for more power. Add citrus oil for even greater pest killing power. You could also use compost instead of manure.

Chicken manure: nitrogen rich: use for heavy feeders such as corn, tomatoes and squash.
Cow Manure: potash: use for root crops.
Rabbit manure: promotes strong leaves and stems.
Horse manure: leaf development.