Soap spray recipe

triotary

I found this online:

two tbls dishsoap (Dawn or good quality)
one tbl white vinegar
one tbl vegetable oil
one tbl baking soda
Mix into one gallon water...then put in spray bottle.
This is really great for roses...apply every seven days.

I'm wondering are they good to treat my azalea's minor aphids problem?

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midwestbonsai

If you use an oil you dont want to use a dish soap with a grease cutting agent such as dawn. It will break the oil down and make it useless.
-Paul

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sauce

Hi Trio, I have always used just Dawn and water with good results for spidermites and aphids. I'm not sure you need all of that stuff and as Paul mentioned the dish soap will probably break down the oil anyway. Have you ever mixed vinegar and baking soda in water? It's sorta like dropping Alka-Seltzer into a glass of water. Don't know if you want your trees "fizzing". Although it is great for cleaning sink drains! Do a search for a good sounding mix on this site from member clrosner. Carl has a good mix that I somehow have lost.

Joanie

Yes!! Sauce is right, I used that mix and it works great! Dried those little puppies up quickly.

It's water and Dawn and vegetable oil and rubbing alcohol. Search for "aphids" and it's there somewhere.

Joanie

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midwestbonsai

A good mix that I use is
1 tsp neem oil
1/2 tsp joy dish soap
1 quart of water.
-Paul

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triotary

thanks!

I was in doubt too. I will just use the basic 1Tspoon Dawn to 1 gallon water mix. Is there a specific time I should apply yhe solution? example: day or night?

triotary

I should try that out. Neem oil seems to be a wonder oil for plants.

sauce

Trio, there is no set time to apply it but you must be sure to saturate the tree, mainly the undersides of the leaves. That's where these varmints like to congregate. Then the process must be repeated about a week later as the solution does not kill the eggs that are left behind. Be vigilant because these guys multiply quickly and can destroy a tree in no time at all.

midwestbonsai

Joanie,
Why use Dawn dishsoap with an oil? As I stated above it will break the oil down. Through my experience it is much better to use a dishsoap such as Joy (it does not have the grease cutting agents).
Just MHO.
-Paul

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