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Organic gardening appeals to some people because it sounds important. It makes
gardening sound exotic, like it's on some higher level. Organic gardening is
accomplished by avoiding the use of laboratory-made fertilizers, growth substances,
antibiotics, or pesticides.
This means using nature's tools to grow your plants, fruits, and vegetables. It's a way of
being kinder to the earth. Using natural insecticides is a part of that process and has
grown in popularity. If done properly, it costs less.
You can use nature to your advantage if you understand and take the time to make it
work for you. If you learn to grown or produce your own insecticides, you're also aiding
the eco-system by not putting man-made lethal concoctions into the dirt and air. You
can help reduce the negative effect on the ozone layer by doing your part to help
nature.
Botanical is of plants. Plants are natural. So, botanical insecticides are naturally
created from plants and plant parts. One such insecticide is sabadilla. It's gotten from
the seeds of a plant similar to a lily and used in dust or spray form before harvest. It
poisons insects when it touches them or gets inside their bodies.
Natural insecticides must still be used with caution. They're not without side effects or
problems. You must learn how to use them properly so that they're a benefit and not a
hindrance. Washing your fruits and vegetables is still recommended before eating them
or using them in cooking if you use natural insecticides.
A misconception about insecticides of any kind can be that if you use a stronger
concentration and/or more of it, the benefits will come quicker and will last longer. But
this is an unhealthy attitude in many cases. If a technique or product isn't working,
make a change only by being aware of the effects. What you need may simply be a
different product or an extra helper to go along with it.
Questions you need to ask about natural insecticides besides 'what are they' are:
- Do they react to any other substances in a negative way?
- What are the side-effects?
- What harm can they do to me or my children?
- What harm can they do to my pets or other plants?
- What are the side effects if any is ingested accidentally?
- What is the most effective form of use (dust, spray, etc.)?
- How often should it be applied?
- What does it cost?
- Where do I get it?
- How do I store any leftovers and for how long?
- Can I make this insecticide safely myself?
Some of the natural insecticides that are well-known are pyrethrum, nicotine, sabadilla,
rotenone, and soap. Cornmeal and some hot peppers can also be effective against
insect pests.
It's still best to try to catch any gardening or crop pests in the early stages than to load
up on insecticide of any kind. The best control can be awareness and early removal. Browse our Natural Insecticide
information to help find answers to these questions:
Table of Contents
Natural Insecticides
How to Make Them
What to Use When
Purchasing Natural Insecticides
Pro's, Con's and Helpful Information
Enrichment Information
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