There’s nothing worse than noticing tiny insects and parasites infesting leaves and flowers while we’re watering our plants.
Plant parasites are much more common than one might think: aphids and mealybugs, in particular, can attack plants to feed on their sap.
Is there a quick and easy way to keep these pesky insects away? Absolutely!
In fact, we can prepare a natural garlic insecticide in a very short time. Let’s see together how to do it.
NB: If infestations are at an advanced stage, it is best to seek the advice of a professional to definitively eliminate parasites from plants.
What You’ll Need
First, be prepared to have on hand:
- a bulb of garlic
- a liter of water
- a saucepan
- a plastic or glass bottle with a spray bottle
Procedure
Take a bulb of garlic and cut it up.
To do this, you can use a blender or do it manually with a knife, being careful not to cut yourself.
Meanwhile, put a liter of water on the fire and bring to a boil, before extinguishing the heat. Pour in the minced garlic and let it soak for a few hours.
After at least 4-5 hours, take the mixture and filter it to get only the liquid part.
Then, put it in a bottle equipped with a spray bottle .
Your insecticide is finally ready.
How to use it
To use your garlic insecticide in the best way, you need to spray it on both the leaves that appear infested and the stem of your plant.
In fact, garlic is a natural antibacterial and antiparasitic. In addition to keeping parasites away , it prevents their return.
In addition, it has the power to prevent the appearance of mold and mildew.
Ideally, this insecticide should be used 3 times a day (morning, afternoon and night) every 3 days until the infestation is defeated.
You can use it on any type of plant. As it is an all-natural insecticide, do not be afraid to abuse it: it will not harm your plants in any way.
Extra ingredient: onion
If you want to make your garlic insecticide even more effective, you can use an extra ingredient: it’s onion.
You just have to add 10 g of chopped onion to your preparation , macerating it together with the garlic.
Onion enhances the repellent effectiveness of garlic. In addition, it is especially indicated against mites and mildew.
Other natural insecticides
Don’t currently have garlic or onions at home? Let’s look at some alternative ingredients you can use to create a natural insecticide against insects and plant parasites.
Tomato
A few tomato leaves are enough to obtain a natural insecticide that is super effective against garden insects.
You simply have to get about 75 grams of tomato leaves and let them soak in 3 liters of water for 3 days.
Then, strain the mixture and pour it into a bottle with a steamer. Spray it on the infested leaves 2 times a day for about a week and the bugs will escape!
Nettle
The plant known for its stinging effect: nettle.
20 g of dried leaves are enough to let them macerate in a liter of water for about 12 hours. Filter everything and put it in a bottle equipped with a vaporizer or spray cap.
Spray it on the plants once a day for 5 days : nettle , thanks to its pungent smell, naturally repels insects.
It is a particularly effective pesticide against spider mites and aphids.
Marseille soap
An especially useful remedy if the parasite that has infested your plant is cochineal: Marseille soap.
This is the classic grandma remedy that will help you get your plants lush and green again .
Dissolve a few flakes (if solid) or a teaspoon (if liquid) in about 500 ml of warm water. Mix until you get a homogeneous mixture.
Spray the mixture on your plants every 2-3 days to get rid of pests.