The MGS Forum
Gardening in mediterranean climates => Pests and diseases => Topic started by: ritamax on September 26, 2012, 09:37:32 AM
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I bought pure neem oil through amazon, the prices vary a lot, so compare. As any vegetable oil it should be stored in a cool and a dark place. If stored in a fridge, it flocks, so it has to turn liquid again before using. The water for the solution should be min.15 degrees warm. It needs an emulsifier, will otherwise not mix with water, some liquid soap will do, but there is a special product called Rimulgan sold for that purpose. The solution against aphids, mealybugs etc. would be 1-2% neem oil to water. Use the solution in 4 hours, do not store. Spray only in the evening and don't use any sulfur-based fungicides at the same time to avoid leaves to burn. Neem oil functions as an insecticide and a fungicide. Usually 2-3 sprayings in 7-10 day intervals should be enough. If you have solution left, you can pour some on on the roots, mealybugs for example might be in the earth as well. And you can pour some in water tanks agains mosquitos. 2% neem oil in coconut oil will make a mosquito repellent for humans, that should function for 12 hours. There are many more ways to use neem oil and there are products, that already contain the emulsifier.
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I have decided to use Neem oil on my Grapes, Lemons, and Olives this year.
I am being a bit selective, because once the delivery costs are added it has become quite expensive.
(I used Amazon.co.uk, total cost £35.00p for 500ml, so if anyone has a better source, please let me know)
I have tried various ways of mixing it, with mixed amounts of success.
But yesterday I came up with the perfect method.
Get an empty 2 litre water bottle, add 10ml of neem oil.
Put warm water into a bowl, by immersing the bottom of the bottle in the warm water the neem oil becomes more liquid.
then add 20ml of gentle soap and shake the bottle until you get a good mix.
Top the bottle up with the warm water and continue shaking.
Once it is completely mixed, you are ready to go.
I know this method has worked. Because as I was spraying today,
for the first time I got the strong smell of Neem
and my spray gun was not all clogged up.
I intend spraying every two weeks throughout the Spring/Summer. Making sure all new growth is covered.
I will report my results later in the year.
Roy
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You can buy it online from "Neem Italia" at 30 euros for 1 litre. www.neemitalia.com/shop2007/catalogo.asp?scat=2
I don't know if they export or not, nor what the charge would be. If you want me to give them a call and find out, let me know and I'll do it tomorrow morning when the offices open again.
It certainly works on mealy bugs, aphids and spider mites.
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At amazon.de you can find it 21-25€ a litre (neemöl or niemöl in German). Yes, you have to warm it up a little and use some emulgator. Or buy the oil already mixed with emulgator, costs the same. I bought a litre of the oil and an emulgator called Rimulgan separately. I read it is not necessary to spray very often as it functions systemically. I got rid of the mealybugs in a ficus tree with one spraying only, pruning at the same time. I put neem pellets to the roots in addition to have the effect in the soil, too.
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Neem oil, just because it is a naturally occurring chemical cannot differentiate between good bugs and bad bugs . It should be used curatively therefore, only when the bad bugs are present.
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Roy, you mention using neem oil on your olives. Do you know if it is effective against the olive fly?
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Alice,
I read that Neem oil is effective on a number of Phytophagous(plant eating) pest insects, which include the Fruit fly.
It was also stated that is works on over 100 different species of insects.
http://urbangardenmagazine.com/2010/11/neem-oil/
I am not sure if there is any scientific data to study, but I decided it was worth a try.
Roy
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Thank you for a very good article! I keep reading in lot of sources, that neem oil is not harmful to pollinators and ladybugs, hope that is true!
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Yes, very useful article, Roy. Sorry for not thanking you sooner.
I will spray the olives just before the fruits ripen.
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Very useful information. I have mealy-bugs on the underside of my "Star Ruby" Grapefruit tree, giving the leaves a black, sooty type appearance against which I shall apply Neem oil using Roy's formula. Thank you.
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Update to David Dickinson's post...
His link is superceded by this one
http://www.neemitalia.it/home/olio-di-neem-solubile
Euro36 + P&P for premixed neem + emulsifier
I'm looking at buying some (cheaper) at
http://niem-handel.de/Niem-Rohstoffe/Niemoel-Neemoel-Emulgator-Rimulgan-1-Liter-1-Liter.html
They do other neem products, too.
I'm not endorsing either company or product; just sharing some research.