Want to keep your plants pest-free without using chemicals? Treehugger.com has a few tips
If you grow plants in your kitchen garden or the balcony, you'd be familiar with the pests that attack them sooner or later. These tiny creatures eventually destroy both, the plant and the soil. Using chemical insecticides to keep them away is never a good idea as the chemicals also deteriorate soil quality. Here's a range of insecticides that can be made at home using ingredients from your kitchen:
Tomato leaf as a natural insecticide
Tomato is part of the nightshade family and contains alkaloids such as tomatine, which can effectively control aphids and other insects. To make tomato leaf spray for a natural insecticide, chop two cups of fresh tomato leaves (which can be taken from the bottom part of the plant) and mix with four cups of water. Leave the mixture overnight. Strain the plant material and spray the liquid on your plants to keep pests away.
Chilli pepper insecticide spray
Chilli pepper spray is a great homemade natural insect repellent that can be used against a variety of different pests. This can be made from either fresh hot peppers or chilli pepper powder. To make a basic chilli spray, mix a tablespoon of chilli powder with four cups of water and several drops of mild liquid soap. This mixture can be used full-strength on the leaves of affected plants. To make chilli spray from fresh chilli peppers, blend or puree half a cup of peppers with one cup of water, then add four cups of water and bring to a boil. Let it sit until cool, then strain the chillies, add several drops of liquid soap to this and spray as desired (Caution: Be sure to wear gloves when handling this natural insecticide. Keep the spray away from your eyes, nose, and mouth).
All-in-one homemade insecticide spray
Puree a bulb of garlic and one small onion, add a teaspoon of cayenne pepper powder and let steep for an hour. Strain the mixture, add one tablespoon of liquid soap and mix well. To apply this homemade insecticide, spray it full-strength on the upper surface as well as the underside of leaves. This can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week if desired.
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