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Best Neem Oil For Houseplants: - Our Top Picks 2024

Lorin Nielsen
  Mar 29, 2024 7:13 AM

If you’re looking for best neem oil for houseplants you’re in the right place. We spent a lot of time reviewing best neem oil for houseplants to come up with the thiings that we think stand apart from the pack in appearance, utility, and value. In this guide, we have researched all the items and provided the finest options accessible today for you.


Overview

Does that smell familiar? What the heck is that smell? It's time to crack up the hens' eggs! It's neem oil, not bleach! As an all-natural insecticide and therapeutic plant extract, this oil isn't particularly fragrant.

In fact, most gardeners who are serious about plant care have it stashed away in their tool chests.

This thick, pungent seed oil from the neem tree has been used in homeopathic medicine for hundreds of years, although Westerners are more familiar with neem as an effective pesticide (when used properly).

The problem is that many indoor gardeners find this alternative to chemical pesticides frustrating: When using neem oil on your plants, it's important to dilute it with water and mild soap to dilute the fatty acids and prevent leaf burn. This is true even if you don't use concentrate.

Neem oil for plants can cause burns, so be sure to read up on how to use this insecticide before drenching your soil or dousing your plants with it.

It's possible to make your plant's leaves look like spring just came every day of the week using neem oil when used properly, as it repels typical houseplant insects like aphids, mealy bugs, fungus gnats, and spider mites and destroys their larvae.

There are neem oils that can be used in your garden, as well as ones that can be used in your skin care routine, in this guide. Since neem oil does expire, it's crucial to know how much you'll need and how often you should apply it to your plants (see our FAQs for details). What we suggest is as follows:


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Last update on 2024-03-29 / Affiliate links / Images, Product Titles, and Product Highlights from Amazon Product Advertising API


Buying Guide

Neem oil for houseplants can be purchased in two ways in the market. Sprays that are ready to use or concentrates are both options.

Ready-to-use sprays

The biggest benefit of purchasing ready-to-use sprays is that they may be utilized immediately, saving you a step. Because they come in a bottle with a spray, they are also more convenient to use.

They are also frequently less expensive than purchasing a concentrated version.

When it comes to sprays, my greatest issue is that I don't know exactly what the inert chemicals are. In most nations, inert ingredients are protected by legislation. This means that the manufacturer can keep this information out of the public's hands.

Pure Neem Oil Concentrate

Pure neem oil concentration is the best option because you are manufacturing your own pesticide. You'll have a better idea of what's in there if you do it this way.

The problem is that pure neem oil concentration is quite potent when used incorrectly, so I must caution you. To avoid scorching your plants, dilute the concentrate first before applying it to them. Later, we'll get to that.

Choose a cold-pressed product as well if you're purchasing a concentrate. During the heat pressing process, a lot of nutrients are lost. Cold pressing, on the other hand, preserves all of the nutrients.

Dish Soap or Castile Soap

The oil of neem does not dissolve on its own in a solution of water. It'll float to the top of the water if you just add it. With this knowledge, you can use dish soap or Castile Soap to emulsify and distribute the neem oil molecules in water uniformly, making it easier for the oil to be absorbed.

Use a mild or natural dish soap if you must use soap.

A natural product like Castile soap decreases the chance of plant burn, hence I choose to use it.

Neem Cake

The neem cake is a byproduct of the extraction process that is left behind after the essences have been extracted from the seed. Your plant will benefit greatly from using it as a fertilizer because of this.

Nitrogen, Potassium, Phosphorus, Zinc, Copper, Calcium, and a host of other essential nutrients can be found in this mixture.

Neem Cake is a one-stop shop for all of your gardening needs. Azadirachtin oil, a natural plant antibiotic, is also present.

Root-feeding pests and fungal infections in the plant's roots can be prevented by using this product.

Take a small amount of neem cake and work it into the soil to break it down.

Neem Oil Soil Soak

There are several ways to keep bugs at bay, but one of the most effective is an oil soak.

Because it is sprayed on soil rather than directly onto plants, it keeps soil-dwelling insects away from plants and affects all pests that feed on them, making it an even better choice for indoor plants.

In fact, the pesticide doesn't kill the bugs outright, but rather inhibits their growth, renders them infertile, and progressively starves them of their nutrients.


Faqs

Is neem oil safe for bees?

Neem oil is not bee-friendly, and that is the best solution to your question. By disrupting bees' reproductive cycles, the University of California has found that naem oil is mildly harmful to honeybees when applied outdoors. Neem oil is safe to use around houseplants because it poses little risk to pollinators (unless you keep bees in your living room!). When plants are not blooming, i.e. when bees are not generally out foraging, UC recommends applying only in the late evening, night, or early morning hours. If you're looking for non-toxic pest management options for your garden, Bee Culture magazine has some excellent suggestions. Despite the fact that it is deemed safe for humans and other mammals, neem oil should nevertheless be used cautiously if you have sensitive skin. The National Pesticide Information Center has information about common responses and precautions.

Does neem oil expire?

Yes! Neem oil has an expiration date of 12 to 18 months from the date of purchase and should be clearly marked on the bottle. The potency and shelf life of cold-pressed oils far outweigh those of hot-pressed ones, so opt for the latter whenever possible. Store your neem oil in a cool, dark place to prolong its shelf life. If you don't mind warming up the neem oil in a water bath before using it, the refrigerator is an option. This is because the oil solidifies at temperatures below 60° F.

Is Neem Oil Toxic

Poisonous if taken in high quantities, Neem oil is not toxic when used as intended, but it can cause eye problems and even brain damage.

For millennia, Indians have relied heavily on Neem Oil. Although it is generally regarded harmless and non-toxic for skin application, people who are allergic to Meliaceae plants may experience an allergic reaction.

Is Neem Oil Safe Indoors?

One of the safest insecticides to use indoors is neem oil, provided it is applied correctly. When spilled outside the home, it poses only a minimal danger of secondary poisoning, and most wildlife will not be affected. There is a drawback, though, that most insects will either repel or kill when they come into touch with it.

When is the best time to apply Neem Oil?

Any time of year, and in any season, you can use neem oil if the temperature does not change significantly.

The best time to apply neem oil is at night or early in the morning to avoid scaring away beneficial insects. The foliage is more susceptible to sunburn when the temperature is too high.

How often Should you apply it?

Neem oil sprayings should be done at least once every 14 days as a preventative strategy in order to keep pests under control and prevent their spread.

However, if you're dealing with a pest problem, you can use it more often. Pretreatment with insecticidal soap is also required before using neem oil.

As neem oil doesn't go bad rapidly, it has a long shelf life. It is possible to extend the shelf life of neem oil for up to two years by storing it in a cool, dark place and away from direct sunlight.


Conclusion

Are you interested in learning more about neem oil? This natural insecticide can do wonders for your houseplants if you use the correct equipment, patience, and a close check on your plants (and maybe your face too let us know how that goes). We really hope that our overview of neem oil options has been useful to you in making an informed decision. All that's left is to take a deep breath and appreciate the beauty around you.


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