Treating your indoor plants for pests – DIY white oil recipe
It’s important to inspect your indoor plants for pests regularly and control them as soon as they’re noticed. We recommend giving your plants a quick check over every time you water, being sure to inspect both sides of the foliage and along the stems. Keep an eye out for sticky residue and black, white, or grey spots.
If you do find any pests, first clean with a damp sponge or cloth before applying white oil to the affected and surrounding area.
Horticultural white oil is commonly used in gardening to control sap sucking pests. The types you may find affecting your indoor plants include mealy bug, scale, aphids and thrips. The oil works as a suffocant, coating the pest and blocking the pores which allow it to breathe.
There are commercially available horticultural oils which do a great job, including organic options such as neem oil. However you can very easily make a homemade concentrate with 2 common household ingredients.
Here’s a simple recipe for homemade horticultural white oil concentrate:
Ingredients:
2 cups of vegetable oil
1 cup of liquid dishwashing detergent
Instructions:
Add oil and detergent in a 2 to 1 ratio and mix thoroughly – this is the concentrate and must be diluted with water before use.
Add to your spray bottle and dilute with water at the ratio of 20 ml. of oil to 1 litre of water.
Shake thoroughly then spray directly on to the affected plant.
Repeat every 2 to 3 weeks until the pests are no longer an issue.
Tips:
If your indoor plant gets direct sun, particularly hot afternoon sun, the foliage may burn when covered with oil. Apply on an overcast day or move the plant out of direct light
If the pot is on carpet or close to fabric covered furniture or curtains, be careful not to spray the oil on these items to avoid staining.
If the pot is on a hard floor check the area for slippery residue after applying.