The pests got to my indoor plants. I lost a prized 5-foot Monstera and a bird-of-paradise plant. Sad!
I go through bottles of neem oil like water. At roughly $11 a bottle, it adds up. But I didn’t want to lose any more prized plants due to my frugal nature.
So I mist all my indoor plants weekly with neem oil to control current bug infestations and prevent future ones. Neem oil spray is also great for many of your outdoor plants.
Emphasis on prevention: I use homemade neem oil spray to prevent bug infestations before they attack my indoor plants.
But come summer, I make lots of homemade neem oil spray for my outdoor bushes and plants. Think roses, flowers, vegetables, herbs, trees, and shrubs. All plants will benefit from a weekly spritz of neem oil.
If you prefer organic gardening techniques, neem oil is a great choice as it’s derived from the neem seed. Commercial neem oil spray is sold in box stores and online, but it’s less potent and less effective than homemade versions.
It was time to learn how to make my neem oil spray. Here’s how!
Read more: Homemade neem oil spray for organic pest control
What is neem oil & how does homemade Neem Oil Spray work so effectively?
Neem oil is a naturally occurring pesticide found in seeds from the neem tree. It is yellow to brown in color and tastes bitter with a garlic/sulfur smell. Neem oil has been used for centuries to control pests and diseases.
Due to the strong smell of the oil, the treated plant becomes inedible for the insects. So, homemade neem oil spray acts as an insecticide, repellent, and agent that prevents insects from feeding.
Insects never develop any resistance to neem oil, so it will continue to work for you now and in the future. It’s most effective against soft-bodied pests like aphids, caterpillars, leafhoppers, mealybugs, thrips, spider mites, whiteflies, and beetle larvae.
Neem oil is also fungicidal and can control blackspot on roses, powdery mildew, and rust diseases.
It combats fungi by preventing new spores from germinating. Neem oil won’t eliminate these diseases, but it can reduce the spread.
Neem oil is made of many components, including azadirachtin, which is the most active. Neem oil interferes with insect hormone systems, making it harder for insects to reproduce, lay eggs, or allow the larvae to develop.
The best part about using neem oil spray for outdoor plants is that it doesn’t kill beneficial insects like bees, ladybugs, and butterflies. This is because neem oil only goes after bugs that chew on leaves.
Why make homemade neem oil spray?
Neem oil spray is most effective the first 8 hours after being mixed with water.
So the biggest advantage of making neem oil spray is that it works better than store-bought brands. If neem oil spray is purchased on Amazon or a big box store, who knows how long it has been sitting around and how effective it will be?
Another reason to make neem oil spray is this: Neem oil is expensive if much is needed, especially if you have both indoor and outdoor plants requiring it. An $11 bottle a week? It’s cheaper to make it.
Be mindful that the neem oil spray used on plants must contain a 3 percent solution of azadirachtin, or it may not work.
Checking many of the neem oil products available for sale on Amazon, I noted that many had a significantly smaller amount of actual neem oil in the product than the 3 percent azadirachtin base.
There’s no point in using an organic and non-toxic product if it doesn’t work. You might as well save your money and time.
By making neem oil spray, you can guarantee it has enough quality neem to kill bugs and prevent future infestations.
Why making homemade Neem oil spray in small batches is essential…
Making homemade neem oil spray in small batches is essential. Think of small batches of chocolate versus the mass-produced kind.
Partly because it’s non-toxic and organic, the longer it sits around, the less effective it becomes as a pest deterrent.
Also true: Neem sprays degrade very quickly in water. So mix only the amount you need for the day and apply it immediately. Use this small batch on all outdoor and indoor plants once a week as a preventative measure. Use every 3-4 days to control current infestations.
After 8 hours of being mixed with water, neem oil degrades quickly and becomes significantly less effective.
This is why having a small, 6-8-ounce spray bottle is spot-on. Make it and use it all up. It’s that simple. And it’s so easy to whip up that you won’t mind taking a few minutes each week to make a fresh bottle.
If using DIY neem oil outside, reapply after a rainfall. It’s always a good idea to check the weather forecast before neem application. It’s ideal to have 24 hours of no rain after application.
Neem Oil Fast Fact:
Neem Oil is considered safe for humans and pets. Outdoors, neem oil has very low toxicity to beneficial organisms, such as birds, bees, butterflies, and mammals.
DIY Neem Oil spray “recipe”
Supplies needed
- Mister/misters (glass or plastic)
- Gentle dish soap (Neem oil needs an emulsifying agent to effectively mix with water)
- 100% Pure Cold Pressed Neem Oil Concentrate, making sure it has a high Azadirachtin content and is free of additives/water, I buy in 16 FL OZ increments.
- Empty one-gallon or 1/2 gallon jug (a water jug is preferable over a milk jug as empty milk containers are harder and ickier to clean!) Or, make that smaller batch in a quart or pint.
- Purified or distilled water, no tap water, please!
Process for gallon size – Add 2 tablespoons of 100% Neem Oil to 1 gallon of water. Add 2 teaspoons of mild dish soap. Shake well. Using a funnel, pour slowly into a mister.
Process for 1/2 gallon size – Add 1 tablespoon of 100% Neem Oil to 1/2 gallon of water. Add 1 teaspoon of mild dish soap. Shake well!
Process for quart size – Add 1 1/2 teaspoons of pure 100% Neem Oil to 1 quart of water. Add 1/2 teaspoon mild dish soap. Using a funnel, pour slowly into a mister.
Process for a pint size – If you only have a few indoor plants, then mixing Neem Oil Spray for a pint is perfect. Combine 1 teaspoon Neem Oil with 1/4 teaspoon mild dish soap. Apply immediately to plants.
*Note on water. It’s best to use distilled, purified, or filtered water to make your DIY Neem Oil Spray. Tap water is a big no-no.
*Don’t panic if the mixture seems a little soapy. The dish soap is necessary to act as an emulsifier. And don’t we all use dish soap to wash those big, dusty plant leaves in winter?
Guide to pest-proofing your plants before applying neem oil
Before I apply the neem oil spray, the plants get washed. I fill a bucket with lukewarm water and a few drops of mild dish soap.
With a small rag, I gently wash each leaf and every crevice, making sure I annihilate any nests and bugs already in existence. Stems get washed right down to the dirt level.
If I notice the soil looks sketchy, I re-pot the plant and start anew.
But if I can get away with top-dressing the plant, especially in the dead of winter, I’ll take that approach. So I’ll remove the top few inches of soil and replace it with fresh soil.
This is also the time to take stock of any webs that may have developed with new infestations ready to attack your plants. Remove them all.
Be sure to inspect neighboring plants that might harbor webs, fungi, and bugs.
This part is gross: I noticed that even my interior walls were harboring what looked like spider nests and bug infestations. I don’t check this corner of the house too often! So I washed the walls to get rid of these pests.
How to apply neem oil
I had a negligent spell when I didn’t spray my plants for many months. It was during this plant neglect period that some nasty bugs attacked my 5-foot corner monstera plant.
I noticed the soil was covered with a filmy, green slime. Bugs were swarming around, and spider webs were latched between leaves. After removing all the webs, I took more drastic measures.
It was so bad that I top-dressed the soil by scraping off the top five inches of soil and throwing the dirt in the garbage. I replaced the soil with fresh dirt and cut the plant down to almost nothing to start the regrowth process.
Then I soaked the plant with my homemade neem oil, including the leaves and stem, roots, remaining stubs, surrounding soil, and even the walls around the plants where webs formed.
Get every nook and cranny. Spray until the entire plant is wet and dripping with neem oil spray.
I was sure to coat the undersides of the leaves well, as this is where many pests like to cluster and lay their eggs. With a current infestation, spray daily until you see an improvement.
Missing spots expose plants to future infestations, and you’ll have to start from square one.
It’s been a few months, and I’m relieved to say my plant just might bounce back. New leaves are forming, and it appears the neem oil has contained the infestations. But I will have to continue to apply!
Mysterious misting facts…
Unlike many pesticides that continue working after application, neem oil has no effect after it dries (it’s biodegradable, breaking down quickly into harmless components). A light misting takes about 45 minutes to dry, and a thorough soak takes between 2 and 3 hours.
Best mister to use
Even if you decide not to make DIY neem oil, you want to put the neem oil you buy into a mister. A fine mist does a much better job covering every bit of the plant than a spray bottle, which gets sloppy because it’s a thicker spray setting.
Spray bottles also tend to use up the product too quickly, which is wasteful and more expensive.
I didn’t realize how much neem oil I would use and went on the small side for a mister. But I’m here to experiment, so I got a glass mister and a plastic mister.
The glass mister is specifically intended for plants; the plastic mister is actually the same mister that many hair stylists use on clients’ hair.
There are pros and cons to both. Glass is super easy to clean and pretty! Lots of shades to choose from – I went with green.
Ironically, hair misters seem to work better (create an even finer mist) than misters created for plants, which is more like a light rain.
How often should you apply the homemade Neem Oil Spray?
For acute pest infestations, spray your plants at least twice a week with neem oil spray. To prevent pest infestations, spray plants every 7-14 days.
Last DIY Neem Oil Tips
- We all know that oil and water separate. Bearing this in mind, make sure you always shake your misters well before applying neem oil spray to your plants. The “shake” rule also applies to the extra neem oil you’ve made up in your gallon refill container.
- Applying neem oil can get a little messy. Either ignore the fact that a little spray will get over everything in the surrounding area, including the floor, window, piano, or plant stand hosting the plant, or have a rag handy for quick cleanup.
- Neem oil spray is most effective right after it’s made up ~ so small batches are best.
- Before using neem oil for plants that need treatment for the first time, testing the product on a single leaf is always a good idea. Check for signs of stress after a day has passed.
- Neem oil may freeze in cooler temps. Thaw it by placing it outside or placing it in warm water.
- Don’t apply neem oil in direct sunlight. Don’t apply neem oil if you know it’s going to rain soon after application.
- Neem oil takes time to work. It might be two days or more before you see a reduction in damage or fewer live insects. You may need to reapply your neem product every three or four days to completely eliminate your target pests.
So much great information here, thanks! I need to make a batch for spring planting.
Pesticides are expensive! Especially when they are natural. Thanks for the info! I am currently trying to fight off spider mites on my gardenia.
Thanks so much for the great information!
Thanks for sharing!! I gotta try this out!
I just used Neem Oil today. Great for getting rid of aphids.
Love the article
Can’t wait for Spring to really arrive here in SE Michigan. The groundhog was wrong – Spring didn’t come early
Thanks for this awesome information!
Is this safe to use around cats and dogs?
Thank you! Organic pest control is my preferred method!
I am SO happy you posted this! The buggies are out thick already this year!
Great info and tips! Thank you
very helpful
I have never heard of Neem oil- thanks for so much useful information!
Lots of helpful information
great info, thanks
Thank you for the information
Great idea about hair misters!
good info
I like using homemade remedies because it saves money and you know what’s in the formula.
Thanks for this recipe. I use something similar. I will try this.
Need those chairs
i just read this article and got a lot of good info when i saw the contest and have now come back to comment! ha! you have a lot of good info! thanks!
Thanks for the great information, I love saving money and getting the job done!
I do use Neem Oil- and other natural pesticides. I do like to keep it organic…
Love the helpful information!
Thank you for this info!
I didn’t know you could make it yourself.
I can’t wait to try the Neem oil on my plants! Great article!
I will have to try this. I have a Desert Rose plant that constantly gets aphids on it so I’m curious to see how this works.
I love this suggestion/recommendation!
Always great information and tips on your blog! Thank you!
Been lucky not having too many bugs, but this will surely help.
I have never heard of neem oil so have to try this spray.
Thank you for this information. I really want to try it.
Great information. Going to try this year.
pretty color would be great around our fire pit
Great information. Thank you for sharing.
Great tips and giveaway!
Never heard of Neem Oil, great info!
Sounds great
Thank you for always teaching me something new! Great info here…
Thanks for the great info! I love that it’s non-toxic and organic. I’ll try it!
Enjoyed this article.
Thanks for the information, looks like I need to get the ingredients and make this.
Great information. Thank you.
I’ve heard Neem oil works great. I will have to try it on my plants. Nothing else seems to be working.
Love it
Great article…will definitely make some to use! So simple!
I will be investing in this.
Very useful information
I have used Neem Oil for decades, great stuff. Thanks for the recipe.
I love all the great tips and info.
Great money saving tip Laura!
What a great idea!
excellent information
I can’t wait to try using it in my garden thanks for sharing this.
Very informational article. I prefer to use non-insecticidal products. I have had better success with them, as well.
Thanks for all the info.
we use neem oil for our indoor and outdoor plants and it works very well to keep the pests at bay!
so simple and safe for springtime!
Good info!
I need good ideas like this….I’m a home gardener who loves to try new things to improve my garden. Some years I have better luck than others depending on what I discover to be helpful in my garden. Just got some new planters to add to my garden….Now for the fun of 2024 summer in the Midwest!
Thanks for the information!
Ohhh thank you so much for this! I am going to put this to use. I’ve been looking for something organic to help with pest control.
I love the idea of using a spritzer for neem oil!
Thank you for the neem recipe. I am passing it on to my daughter to use. She mentioned trying it. Love the chairs. Thanks for the giveaway.
Great info. Thank you!
I would love to have some very beautiful chairs for my deck
Good to know. Thank you!
Fungus gnats were my nemesis after starting an indoor grow room. It took me a while but I found neem cake and was amazed by it’s gnat reduction properties.
wish I had this last year. Might could have saved 2 of my rose bushes.
Definitely handy stuff to have around, so it’s helpful to know how to make it
Great information. Thank you.
I would really love to try this!
Making some next week (when I get home from vacation).
Great tips!!
Love this
Thanks for the info & tips. Worth a try!
As a former cancer patient I am always looking for ways to use more natural products with less carcinogenic ingredients
I had never thought of pest control for my houseplants, but it makes sense especially if you haul them outdoors in the summer. I found out the importance of that around February of this year when all of a sudden a bunch of fungus gnats started flying around my bedroom. The yellow sticky traps ended up doing the job after a few days, but now I am going to start spraying them especially while they are outside.
Always such great info!
This seems like something I need
Thanks for all the useful info. I’ll be using this info and recipe for my garden this year.
love natural remedies
Thank you for such an incredible ( and generous giveaway)!
I always look forward to seeing your emails and catching up because I learn SO MUCH!
I am all about keeping non-organic pesticides out of the garden.
This is another excellent “how to DIY” (and why). Thank you for sharing this information, Laura!
Love Neem oil!
Very helpful tips and education!
Thanks for the timely information!
Good to know!
Love dyia thanks for sharing
Neem oil really sounds like a miracle oil for my plants. Thank you for all of the great information!
Seems easy
Thanks for this! I really had a problem with some sort of nasty bugs eating on my rose bushes last year. I am going to try this!
I have never heard of this so I appreciate the share.
I want to win so bad
I can definitely use this neem oil repellant while I am gardening!
Neem oil sounds very useful. Thanks for sharing!
This works so well!
I prefer natural methods over pesticides
Which brand neem oil you use?
So I don’t even see a brand on the Neem Oil I got! I purchased it on Amazon and it’s great. It says 100% pure cold pressed neem oil on it. Good luck!
It is unclear why “tap water” is a “big no no” ?
Our water in the USA from the tap is so polluted, you don’t want to be drinking it yourself and it’s also a no for your plants. When I don’t use tap water, choosing instead to use rain barrel water or water that has been sitting for over 24 hours (to allow the chlorine to evaporate) I’ve noted my peace lillies started to bloom again and they lost their brown tips.