How do I Make a Homemade Pesticide?

There are many different ways to make an organic homemade pesticide, many of which use common household items that most people will already have on hand. Some of them work for every kind of bug, while others work better in specific applications. In many cases, these homemade pesticides will not harm the environment, or the occupants in the area, including pets and children. They also seem to work better than most shelf products that can be found at the majority of home improvement stores, or local garden centers.

The first organic homemade pesticide that can be made to kill virtually every type of bug is the hot pepper spray. In order to make this, mix ½ cup (4 ounces) of hot peppers, 2 cups (16 ounces) of dish soap, ½ a cup (4 ounces) of horseradish and fresh spearmint, and ½ (4 ounces) a cup of green onion tops. Mix this together until a half of a gallon (2 quarts) is prepared, then mix in another half gallon (2 quarts) of water. Store this mixture in a cool area for two days and then spray it on any affected areas. This type of organic pesticide is safe for any type of plant, and is completely harmless to everything except the bugs.

Tobacco can make a good homemade pesticide. This mixture requires 1 cup (8 ounces) of tobacco and 1 gallon (4 quarts) of water mixed together in a bottle or bucket. This pesticide will work on many different bugs but is especially successful with caterpillars and aphids. It is safe for all plants except those in the solanaceous family, which includes peppers and tomatoes.

A common bug that people have problems with are slugs, which can easily be eliminated by using a basic soap pesticide. In order to make this homemade pesticide, save some old, soapy dishwater and pour it over the areas where the slugs are. This is safe for the plants, and the soil, but deadly to the bugs. If a slightly stronger dose is needed, simply add some more dish soap to the water before using it.

A spider mite infestation can be treated by using a salt solution. Mix up a batch of strong saltwater and pour it into a spray bottle. Spray all the areas where the mites are with the solution. This mixture also works well for cabbageworms, but it was designed by farmers to mainly kill spider mites.