Natural Insect Spray For Plants (A DIY That Really Works!!)
Tired of pesky pests taking over your plants? Check out this amazing all natural insect spray for plants, made with all-natural ingredients like garlic and mint. Easy to make and use, this homemade garden garden spray was tested on badly attacked basil plants & a flowering vine and worked with only 2 applications! Say goodbye to harmful chemicals and hello to a healthier, greener garden.
“SIX Stars!! Oh my goodness…..this is the BEST insect plant spray I have come across!!! I was so tired of grasshoppers (or something) eating and destroying my dwarf cantas! They were still trying to bloom, but they looked awful! Mixed this and sprayed. THREE days later, my cantas have new, shiny, beautiful leaves again!! This stuff is AMAZING!” -Cheryl B.
Welcome to one of my most popular gardening DIYs: how to make a natural insect spray easily from pantry ingredients like garlic and mint – that actually works! Be sure to check out these other resources for more information on this bug repellent:
- A follow-up video showing how to make it, apply it, and how it worked on green beans, too.
- A Frequently Asked Questions page with answers to most questions I’ve gotten, plus reader testimonials about how this has worked in their gardens – both good and bad.
Okay, I’m SO excited to finally share with you the results of a get-rid-of-nasty-garden-bug experiment I’ve been conducting on my poor, bug-eaten basil plants and trumpet vine. I know I’ve teased you with my testing for long enough – we all deal with bugs, so I know you’ll be as happy to see the results as I was!
The background to this experiment is a tale known to many organic gardeners (and maybe even would-be gardeners who gave up when faced with seemingly destroyed plants?):
- Years of either ignoring the issue (and losing plants or living with damaged plants).
- Trying many different remedies from diatomaceous earth (works on many things though tedious to apply, sometimes hard to find, needs a lot of reapplication, may kill good bugs) to soap and water (this never really did much in my garden).
And for some reason, while I don’t have much of a problem beyond cucumber beetles in our large, main garden (and most years I don’t lose plants to them), our herb garden hosts something(s) that have eaten the basil every year since we added it to our backyard.
Because of this I created a spray (adapted from a Keeper of the Home article) to use on the basil, but didn’t really keep track of it (because I wasn’t sure it would work…), although I do remember that it did, in fact, work.
So the following year when our basil was hit particularly hard, as well as some marigolds I planted among the herbs and a trumpet vine growing up the gazebo nearby, I mixed up a batch, wrote it down this time and documented in pictures so if it really did work, I could share it with you.
And you’re not going to believe how well it worked – in fact, as I was putting this together I was thinking I was going to have to add disclaimers on the photos like “I promise these really are the same plants” or something, so you’ll believe me!
DIY Natural Insect Spray For Plants: The Experiment
1. Bug Eaten Basil
So I’m pinky-swearing or whatever you need from me: the three photos in the collage above really, honestly are the same plant from beginning to four weeks later. I know, can you believe it?
And also honestly: even after 20+ years of growing things, seeing stunted, bug-eaten plants like my poor basil makes me want to throw in the towel sometimes. It’s just…ugh. These were three basil plants that I grew from seed, nurturing them along and to see them look like this in just a few weeks after planting out? It’s hard.
And so I sprayed my homemade garlic-mint spray all over that poor plant, but I didn’t really think it was much for this world. It had only one growing tip left, but seriously, look at it (above left) – who would give that guy a chance?
Well, I started seeing results within days – new growth! After a week I still was a bit skeptical – was that old bug-bitten leaves or new?
But by week 2, I knew we had a winner and I snapped a picture before applying one more light spraying and then waiting another 2 weeks.
Look at this beautiful, healthy basil plant!
There’s a bug-bite here and there, but I can live with that (and we organic gardeners do, often, a-hem), but most of the new growth is blemish-free and I’ve started harvesting and making our not-so-secret-ingredient frugal pesto to freeze.
2. Almost Dead Basil
Now, I had to share this with you as well, even though the photos were not taken in great light. The plant on the left, above, was the worst of the three basils – stunted beyond anything I had seen with every growing tip eaten off and the remaining leaves were hard and leathery.
It was so bad I actually did dig it up and was just about to drop it in the compost (which I probably would’ve done if I hadn’t been planning on sharing this with you all, ha!), but at the last minute I planted it in an empty spot out in the main garden, spraying it with the garlic-mint spray.
And while it took longer to rebound, I took the photo on the right just a few days ago, hardly believing what I was seeing.
Is this stuff a miracle worker, or what? I should probably mention, too, that when I applied it the first time, we got a ton of rain the following week and I was sure it wasn’t going to work.
Garden M-I-R-A-C-L-E.
3. Trump Vine Damage
And, you can probably see where this is going (should I have saved all the afters for the end? I was just too excited to share with you!) but here we have a reminder of the trumpet vine damage.
This insect (I still don’t know what – I’ve never seen anything so it must be nocturnal) ate leaves like other bugs, but seemed to zero in on the new growing tips, which is a sure way to kill a plant.
And now the vine is growing like trumpet vines are supposed to (that would be out-of-control, for those not familiar with trumpet vines, ha!), full of lovely leaves and new growing tips.
I think this thing has grown 3 feet in just a couple weeks, that’s how much the insects had stunted it.
All Natural Insect Spray Video (with even more examples)
How to Make A Natural Insect Spray for Plants
So, are you dying to know what is in the spray and how to make it?
It’s super easy and uses easy-to-find (or grow) ingredients – I created it by combining a couple of sources, none of which had a clear ‘recipe’ (I credited one source above) so I’m writing it out for you so you can make it whenever you need it (see recipe card below for exact measurements).
- Use a food processor or blender to grind up fresh mint and a LOT of garlic.
- Transfer the mixture to a large stockpot with 12 cups of water and some cayenne.
- Boil, remove from heat and let sit overnight.
- STRAIN with a fine-mesh strainer into a couple spray bottles or large gallon garden sprayer – add a couple squirts of biodegradable dish soap.
That’s it! Shake well before using and spray all over and under the plant’s leaves one time. See how the plant responds after a week or two and reapply if needed (I only need a couple applications before the plant is strong enough to withstand the bugs).
I’m so happy to share this with you because I think you’re going to love it as much as I do!
Oh, and the mint? It makes this smell good – no yucky concoction here for you to suffer through (Update: some commenters have said the garlic-pepper part did bother them, so when you’re boiling, use adequate ventilation.)
Testimonials and FAQs
Don’t forget to read the Testimonials & FAQ where you’ll find answers to the most common asked questions as well as results from those who’ve used it!
Looking for more easy gardening ideas?
Want to save this?
Enter your email below and you’ll get it straight to your inbox. Plus you’ll get easy new recipes, gardening tips & more every week!
Natural Insect Spray for Plants Recipe
Tools
- Food Processor
- Large Stockpot
- Strainer
- Spray Bottles
Materials
- 2 whole HEADS garlic, cloves separated and peeled
- 3 cups mint leaves and stems, too – I just throw it all in now
- 2 teaspoons dry cayenne pepper
- 12 cups water
- 2 small squirts of biodegradable dishwashing liquid
Instructions
- Add the garlic and mint to a food processor and pulse for a few seconds.
- Transfer mixture to a large pot and add the cayenne and 12c. water.
- Bring to a boil; remove from heat and let sit overnight.
- Strain into a couple spray bottles (or gallon garden sprayer) and add the two small squirts of dish soap.
- To Use:
- Shake well before each use.
- Spray all the leaves on affected plants, including the undersides – preferably on a cloudy day so as not to burn the plants.
- Wait a few days to see the effect and then apply more if needed (many times I’ve only needed to do one application)
Video
Notes
Hi does this mint and garlic spray harm or repwll lady bugs
It may repel lady bugs, since it repels other insects. I just use it long enough for the plants to grow strong enough to withstand the other insects.
Can this be used on tomato plants without damaging them?
Yes, I successfully used it on tomatoes. I sprayed in the morning, though, to make sure the leaves didn’t burn. You can always test a small area for a day to see how they react.
Click the green arrow, Jeannie!
Can I use the mixture I made last summer or should I make a new batch?
You can try, Elaine – it won’t hurt your plants. But when I used an old batch (I think it was 3 months old), I found it didn’t work as well. 🙁
Thanks! I made a new batch ????
I’m wondering why we need to peel all that garlic if the whole mix is going to go thru the food processor, then be strained. It seems like the skins wouldn’t get thru the strainer. Maybe I’m missing something, but I really don’t like peeling all that garlic if there is a way to avoid it.
Go ahead and leave the peels, Becky – you’re right, maybe it doesn’t. I just do it out of habit. 🙂
Are you talking about PEPPER MINT PLANTS in your bug recipe ?
Either peppermint or spearmint has worked for me, Don. I think any strong scented mint would work (there are some that are more mild).
I would like to make some of this but I’m unsure what type of mint you’re using. Is it Peppermint, Spearmint, etc. The bugs are eating our garden and I don’t want to use a toxin. Thanks for sharing.
Any strong mint works for this, Jerry. I’ve grown and used both spearmint and peppermint.
We just made this! Ironically every plant has pests eating away in our garden. Except the mint! So I know they hate mint and won’t chomp on their leaves. I saw this recipe with mint and new I needed to try it 🙂 thank you!
Fingers crossed it works for you like it did for me!
Can I use Dr. Bronner’s Fair Trade & Organic Castile Liquid Soap instead if dish soap?
Yes, I’ve done that and it seems to work.
Hello-
It is so nice to read about someone who cares about other “garden people” and not selling some book or other literature! I am not in need of the bug juice, but just love to read about gardening tips. I am so stoked that I finally was able to kill my aphids. My poor hibiscus (50+ in all colors) were caked in the damned things. I read about a mixture of water and liquid dish soap. I used 1 tablespoon to a liter of water because they were so bad and sprayed them all twice in one week. What a job, thank god my bogan villas seem pretty hardy. The weather can get pretty hot here so I might have made a mistake planting 6 gardenias. After the summer season is over, I will find out how hardy they are. I figured that if the nursery sells them, they must be able to survive here! I have never been much of a plant lover but moving here got me into planting mode. Take care and best wishes from Leise in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
50 hibiscus? Wow, would I love to see that! It sounds stunning. I have used the soap-and-water method to get rid of aphids, as well – it’s a good one. I hope you will find more gardening tips you can use here, though I know that warmer climates don’t get as many of the bugs as we do up north, but then you do have to deal with the heat.
I hope your gardenias make it too, Leise! Though I hate to tell you that in my experience the nurseries will sell anything they think people will buy, whether it’s a good fit for the climate or not. 🙁 If they seem stressed or don’t produce buds, you can try growing them in containers in order to move them to shade when it gets hot and keep an eye on making sure they’re watered enough. Hopefully they’ll do great where you have them.
Do you know if it would work on fire ants? I have chickens along with my garden so I don’t want to use anything to harm the chickens either. I hate fire ants! I’ve been bitten so many times already the last couple of months I’m ready to kill them ALL ?
Well, this acts more of a repellent than a pesticide and we don’t have fire ants (though I feel your pain!), so I can’t say. Maybe something like straight vinegar down the hole? Have you explored other natural option? Sorry I can’t be of more help!
what is c.water?
“c.” stands for cup, our standard American measure. 1 cup = 8 oz., so the 12 cups water needed for this recipe would equal 96 oz. (or 3/4 of a gallon/3 quarts).
Thanks
I tried it out on my bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) and my Moringa trees that had been bug ridden. The effect on the bitter leaf was miraculous, new growth and beautiful leaves in a matter of weeks. The moringa trees loved it too. Thanks for sharing.
Hi
Thank you for the recipie! I ve taken peppermint tea, since there was no fresh mint at the store. I dont have bugs, but i thought maybe it is preventual!?!
I use it only when I have a bug problem.
Hi would this work for something eating my strawberry leaves ???
It may, Karen – it’s worth a try. You’d know within a couple days to a week.
I haven’t read all the comments, but the first thing I thought of when I saw the pictures was slugs. That is exactly how my plants look after a night of slug feasting, even my hollyhocks.
I’m just curious how does the bio-degradable soap do for the mix?
Do you mean what it does for the mix, Aleena? It helps the mixture stick to the plant better.
I just found this article when I googled organic bug spray. My tomatoes are COVERED in Aphids. I’m debating whether or not to make some now and use it immediately or wait until next spring. We can have a killing frost anytime here in Colorado… There were a gazillion posts on this thread an I only read about half of them. What have you heard about using this spray on roses? I’m glad to read that bees are not affected.
I haven’t tried it Jennifer, but I don’t think it would work on aphids since it’s a repel-by-smell type of bug spray. I have had some luck on roses for Japanese beetles, but they were not heavily infested. It’s kind of a try-and-see sort of spray – it works for some things and not others. 🙂
It will work! I had the same problem and my plants looked dead. they came back like magic.
I’m wondering why the need to cook the ingredients? Is the idea to extract more oils? I would have guessed that cooking rather than just soaking the garlic would actually reduce it’s effectiveness but seems perhaps not.
It’s what allows the scents to infuse into the water, just like any infusion.
I live in Southwest Va.. I have Hibiscus and I have the non shiny leave ones. There are many small hole in a lot of the leaves mainly on the bottom of each stem. Will this work? The other issue in my backyard is Japanese Beetles… Black spots on my rose bush too. Something is eating my rose bush leaves , holes in them. I put up a small above ground pool and the Japanese Beetles love it and are floating in the pool everyday even though I bough that hanging thing to bag them. I do get a lot with the bag too. Is Dawn Bio-degradable?
I don’t have experience with hibiscus, Kathleen, but I have tried this on my roses for Japanese Beetles and it seemed to help some. BUT I didn’t really have that bad of an infestation – not sure it would repel them if they aren’t going to the bag. Dawn is not biodegradable – you want to use Seventh Generation, Mrs. Meyers, or castile soap – or another that specifically says biodegradable.
Thanks Jami.. I do have the beetle bags up and catching them. I had the beetles in Vermont too. They love water.. I am more worried about my Hibiscus. It is so pretty , there is a photo ,I used it on my timeline photo.
It is Beautiful.
THANKS