Homemade Spray for White Flies (safe and effective)

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, mjb8743. This user is located in Zone 7, South NJ, Garden State. This was originally posted on July 8, 2008.

USDA researchers have come up with a ?home remedy? specifically for use against whiteflies. It works by smothering the larvae and eggs, and kills the whiteflies. It might be effective on some other insects as well, so it seems worth passing along:

Add one Tablespoon of liquid dishwashing soap (the regular kind; NOT one of those anti-microbial types) to a cup of vegetable oil (peanut, corn, soybean, sunflower or safflower) and shake well. DONT USE THIS AS YOUR SPRAY; IT MUST BE DILUTED! Mix 1+1/2 teaspoons of this master solution into a cup of water, shake well and spray on those infested leaf undersides.

Or, you can get an insecticidal soap or send for Pyola from Gardens Alive.

Mickie

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Full Member, proudnfree. This user is located in Zone 9 North of Daytona Beach. This was originally posted on July 9, 2008.

Mickie I sent you question but I seem to have lost it it was about white flies I have a one gallon sprayer could you tell me the ratio for a one gallon sprayer mixing cooking oil and dish washer detergent I am not to smart on math also I added lime to my bell peppers and they look great thank you for your help proudnfree

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, mjb8743. This user is located in Zone 7, South NJ, Garden State. This was originally posted on July 9, 2008.

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Full Member, proudnfree. This user is located in Zone 9 North of Daytona Beach. This was originally posted on July 9, 2008.

Mickie I sent you question but I seem to have lost it it was about white flies I have a one gallon sprayer could you tell me the ratio for a one gallon sprayer mixing cooking oil and dish washer detergent I am not to smart on math also I added lime to my bell peppers and they look great thank you for your help proudnfree

The recipe for the master solution is in my prior post. To use:

The basic ratio is 1 part master solution to 32 parts water. Or...

TO MIX FROM SCRATCH FOR A ONE GALLON PUMP SPRAYER:

1+1/2 teaspoons liquid dish soap
5+1/2 Tablespoons oil
3 Quarts (12 cups) water

If you have one of those sprayers that attach to the end of your hose, Im not sure how that goes... I always get confused using those things.

Mickie

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Full Member, proudnfree. This user is located in Zone 9 North of Daytona Beach. This was originally posted on July 10, 2008.

Mickie is that 11/2 cups of oil and 11/2 cups of detergent please advise

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Full Member, proudnfree. This user is located in Zone 9 North of Daytona Beach. This was originally posted on July 10, 2008.

Mickie or is that 6 ounces of oil and 6 ounces of detergent please explain it a little more clearer also I have a 1 gallon pump sprayer I am sorry to be such bother and thanks for your patients with us new guys. again thank you for your help

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, MaryB. This user is located in Zone 7, North Central AR. This was originally posted on July 10, 2008.

proudnfree,

This isnt Mickie, but here is her original recipe for the homemade spray:

MASTER SOLUTION:

Add one tablespoon of liquid dishwashing soap (the regular kind; NOT one of those anti-microbial types) to a cup of vegetable oil (peanut, corn, soybean, sunflower or safflower) and shake well.  DON?T USE THIS AS YOUR SPRAY; IT MUST BE DILUTED! Mix two tablespoons of this ?master solution? into a cup of water, shake well and spray on those infested leaf undersides.

That is how you make the master solution.


Next you'll need to do the dilution for your 1 gallon sprayer:

DILUTION:

1 1/2 cups (12 ounces) master solution to 3 quarts of water for your 1 gallon hand pump sprayer

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Full Member, proudnfree. This user is located in Zone 9 North of Daytona Beach. This was originally posted on July 10, 2008.

Mary could you tell me how much detergent and how much oil in a one gallon spray I do not know how much to mix

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, MaryB. This user is located in Zone 7, North Central AR. This was originally posted on July 10, 2008.

proudnfree,

Have you mixed up your master solution?

MASTER SOLUTION:

Add one tablespoon of liquid dishwashing soap (the regular kind; NOT one of those anti-microbial types) to a cup of vegetable oil (peanut, corn, soybean, sunflower or safflower) and shake well.  DON?T USE THIS AS YOUR SPRAY; IT MUST BE DILUTED! Mix two tablespoons of this ?master solution? into a cup of water, shake well and spray on those infested leaf undersides.
That is how you make the master solution.

Let me know when you have that ready to be diluted.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Guest, cushman350. This was originally posted on July 10, 2008.

For a one gallon sprayer: Two tablespoons soap and two cups oil will give you approx. 16 oz. of master solution. Then measure out 12 oz. of this to 3 quarts water. Keep shaking often. I know I am.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, mjb8743. This user is located in Zone 7, South NJ, Garden State. This was originally posted on July 10, 2008.

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Guest, cushman350. This was originally posted on July 10, 2008.

For a one gallon sprayer: Two tablespoons soap and two cups oil will give you approx. 16 oz. of master solution. Then measure out 12 oz. of this to 3 quarts water. Keep shaking often. I know I am.

Thanks, Cushman... I was getting ready to tear my hair out....

Mickie

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, chrisbk. This user is located in Northern CA, Zone 8. This was originally posted on July 11, 2008.

At the risk of seeing Mickie bald or having the red font start blinking and hissing, experience with this recipe tells me that, once you have the master solution mixed, you may want to move from the standard 2 TB of the master solution + 1 cup of water to, instead, 2 TB of the master solution mixed with up to 8 cups of water.  The mix is, of course, not nearly as strong but, in very high temps, it does not burn the leaves and seems almost as effective.  A friend tried the solution full strength in the early evening and cooked the edges of her squash leaves.  It got rid of the bugs but now her garden looks unsightly.
Chris

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Full Member, proudnfree. This user is located in Zone 9 - North of Daytona Beach. This was originally posted on July 11, 2008.

I appreciate all the help from you guys it is a nice feeling that you are not alone trying to fight mother nature and mickie I understand now it seems you have patients like a saint and please keep your hair where it belongs

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, mjb8743. This user is located in Zone 7, South NJ, Garden State. This was originally posted on July 11, 2008.

picker2b-

The problem with doing straight multiples of the formula is when you take into account the capacity of the sprayers. Example:

A 1 gallon sprayer holds 16 cups. Straight math multiplying the formula says to use 32 Tablespoons to 16 cups, which equals 2 cups concentrate to 4 quarts water, which exceeds the capacity of the sprayer. Thus, I recommended using the 24 Tablespoons (1+1/2 cups) concentrate to 3 quarts water for the 1 gallon sprayer. Figuring out the various concentrations for the CAPACITY of various sprayers made my hair loosen at the roots.  Sad

Mickie

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, mjb8743. This user is located in Zone 7, South NJ, Garden State. This was originally posted on July 11, 2008.

P.S. To go from scratch to a 1 gallon pump sprayer:

1+1/2 Tablespoon dish soap
1 cup + 6+1/2 Tablespoons oil
3 quarts water

End of subject. Finis

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, chrisbk. This user is located in Northern CA, Zone 8. This was originally posted on July 12, 2008.

Okay.  Last post on this from me.  I found that storing the extra solution in empty, clean 2 Liter soda bottles helpful.  I used these same (full) bottles when planting my second EB.  After the step of adding the Dolomite, I put in the 2 Liter soda bottles and packed potting mix around them and laid the fertilizer strip.  Then I pulled out the soda bottles and had 4 nice planting holes.  I covered the EB with the shower cap cover and it was very easy to see where to cut the Xs in the cover and place the plants neatly where I wanted them.  I say neatly as, no kidding, the set up of the entire EB box from starting the box to filing/watering the mix in/planting/erecting staking system was done SITTING ON MY LIVING ROOM COUCH over my carpet.  I rolled the EB to the patio when I was done, filled the water reservoir and was instantly gardening.  I walked to the kitchen, rinsed off the soda bottles and stored them for the next time my sprayer needs a refill.  Simple!  I vacuumed but my floor was essentially clean (other than all the empty plastic bags.)
Chris