For more information on gardening home remedies, or to contact Holly Hayes with questions check out the links below.
San Jose Mercury News: www.mercurynews.com/homeandgarden
In general:
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Aspirin: Dissolve uncoated tablets in warm water; use to treat mildew, black spot and rust.
Baking soda: Has anti-fungal properties; good for rust and black spot.
Canola oil: Acts as a wetting agent and disperses in water better than other vegetable oils.
Cayenne pepper: Sprinkle on areas where you don't want cats to "do their business."
Hydrogen peroxide: Used in aphid recipe.
Liquid soap: Fels Naptha, Dr. Bronner's, Ivory, Murphy's Oil Soap. (Not dishwashing detergent.) Soap acts as a wetting agent to help your homemade mixture cling to the plant. It also smothers aphids, whiteflies and earwigs. Also: Safer insecticidal soap.
Rubbing alcohol: 70 percent solution. Desiccates insects.
Vinegar: Inhibits rust (see recipe). Also kills many types of small weeds.
The Recipes:
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Aphids
16 drops liquid soap
2 oz. rubbing alcohol
2 oz. hydrogen peroxide
Mix in a 32-oz. spray bottle; add water. Shake well before using. Use as a foliar spray when aphids are present.
Aphids
2 capfuls Murphy's Oil soap
1 gallon water
Use as a foliar spray when aphids are present.
Black spot
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 quart warm water
1 teaspoon insecticidal soap
Use as a weekly foliar spray.
Black spot
3 teaspoons baking soda
½ cup fish emulsion
2 quarts water
Use as a weekly foliar spray.
Rust
1 ½ teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon canola oil
½ teaspoon plain liquid soap
½ cup white vinegar
1 gallon water
Mix with whisk or spoon. Pour in spray bottle. Shake frequently, Apply to both sides of leaves in early morning so foliage has a chance to dry out during the day.
Mildew
2 teaspoons baking soda
½ teaspoon Murphy's Oil Soap
2 quarts water
Use as a foliar spray.
Mildew
2 uncoated aspirin tablets
1 quart warm water.
Dissolve aspirin in warm water. Use as a foliar spray.
Mildew
½ cup milk
4 cups water
2 tablespoons canola oil.
Use as a foliar spray twice a week. Refrigerate between uses.
Spicy garden spray for thrips
2/3 cup finely chopped onion
10 large cloves of garlic, chopped or put through a garlic press
1 jalapeno pepper, seeds included, finely chopped
1 quart of hot water
Mix ingredients in a bowl and let sit at room temperature for several hours. Strain through a piece of cloth such as muslin so the mixture doesn't clog the sprayer. Add 1 teaspoon canola oil and mix well. Spray in full sun. Start this regimen in early spring and repeat every two weeks. Store leftover spray in refrigerator in a screw-top jar or lidded plastic container.
Whiteflies
2 capfuls Murphy's Oil Soap
1 gallon water
1 tablespoon canola oil
Use as a foliar spray when whiteflies are present. Coat both sides of leaves.
