Pesticides are a fairly new concept, originating in the aftermath of WWII. In most cases, harmful pests can be controlled by companion planting, catering to beneficial insects and keeping plants that ward off pests, like merigold, pennyroyal or lemon grass. In those instances where they just seem to take over it is always good to have a back-up plan. There is a large selection of organic pest-repellant recipes that you can make from things found around the house. An online search will pull up many, and there are plenty of books on the subject. We have pulled our favorite all-purpose recipe as an example, but it is important to test multiple recipes to find which ones are right for which plants. Remember to test these sprays on a couple of leaves, watching how they react after two or three days before spraying the whole plant.
Pepper and Garlic Recipe
You will need:
1/2 cup of hot pepper of your choice, chopped
1/2 cup of garlic, chopped
2 cups of water
1 covered container and 1 spray bottle
1. Combine pepper, garlic and water in container.
2. Cover and let sit for 24 hours, preferably in a sunny spot.
3. Strain into spray bottle.
Spray tops and undersides of problem leaves with light mist once every 5 to 7 days as problem persists. Excess spraying can cause damage to plants, as well as to the beneficial bugs.
