Yarrow Tea

1 cup of yarrow plant pieces
Strong brewed Coffee
1/4 tsp castille soap

Soak yarrow in 16 oz of water for 24 hours or more. Brew it in the sun like tea. Strain and mix with 1 gallon of water. Mix in strongly brewed coffee (caffeine makes the insects hyper and confused) and soap. Spray on aphids and other soft bodied pests every 1-2 weeks. Or may be use as a preventative.

Controls: Aphids and soft-bodied insects. Also an excellent general plant tonic.

Houseplant Leaf Gloss

The leaf gloss you buy generally clogs the pores of the leaves and is not good for the plants. This way doesn't. Put a few drops of glycerin on a cloth and swab the leaves with it. Glycerin is not a dust collector.

Alcohol Sprays

Use only 70% isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol)
mix 1 to 2 cups alcohol per quart of water, can be mixed at up to a 50/50 solution. Never use undiluted alcohol as a spray. Can also be substitued for half the water required in an insecticidal soap spray

Controls: aphids, mealybugs, scale insects, thrips, slugs, earwigs and whiteflies. Can cause leaf damage on African Violets, and Apple trees.

Soap Spray

To rid your houseplants or garden plants of soft-bodied insects such as aphids, spider mites, or mealy bugs you can use a soap spray. An application of soap spray requires spraying the pests directly, not just the plant and usually kills them in about an hour

2 tbsp baby shampoo -or-
3 tbsp of Fels Naptha -or-
3 tbsp of Ivory Snow laundry detergent -or-
3 tbsp of Ivory bath soap shavings -or-
1/4 cup Murphy's Oil Soap -or-
3 tbsp of insecticidal soap available in garden supply stores

Mix ONE of the soaps above with one gallon of lukewarm water. Spray with a hand sprayer, thorough coverage of the pest is necessary so spray both sides of the foliage until it drips from the leaves. A few hours after a soap spray is applied, rinse the plants with clear water. Some plants are susceptible to soap damage, chinese cabbage, cucumbers and melons are especially prone to damage from soap spray. Leaves of the plant will turn brown around the edges and curl as a sign they've been damaged. Use a maximum of 3 tbsp. per gallon of water, more soap increases the chance of harming the plants. Thorough coverage of the pest is necessary. Avoid using on plants with hairy leaves or with very thin waxy coverings on the leaves. Test on a small area of the plant. Wait 2-3 days and check for any damage. Reduce potential injury by rinsing plant with fresh water a few hours after the soap spray application. Water the plants the day before the soap spray application.

Controls: soft-bodied insects such as aphids, spider mites, or mealy bugs

Soap/Oil Spray

1 tsp liquid dishwashing detergent
1 cup of vegetable oil
Mix and shake well
add the mixture to 1 quart of water.
Add 1 cup of rubbing alcohol
shake vigorously to emulsify. Pour mixture into a spray bottle and use every ten days.

Oil spray

Mix 2 tbsp cooking oil + 2 tbsp baby shampoo in 1 gallon of water
If a fungus is also present add 2 tbsp of baking soda and shake well before and often during the application.

DO NOT SPRAY IN SUN ! Avoid using on plants with hairy leaves or with very thin waxy coverings on the leaves like squash and other crucifers. NEVER use oil on orchids. Water the plant the day before you spray. Test spray on a small area of the plant, wait 2-3 days and check for damage. Spray with a hand sprayer, thorough coverage of the pest is necessary so spray both sides of the foliage until it drips from the leaves. Spray thoroughly at the first sign of disease. Spray every 5-7 days as needed.

Controls: aphids, spider mites, thrips, whitefly, lacebugs, scale and mealybugs
With the additon of bakingsoda, blackspot and mildew on roses, powdery mildew on summer squash, early blight on tomatoes, and alternaria leaf blight on melons.

Resources: Rodale's Chemical-Free Yard and Garden
Rodale's The Encyclopedia of Natural Insect and Disease Control.