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Most gardeners are aware of the effectiveness of pyrethrum in killing pest insects. Pyrethrum spray is made from the heads of Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium or Chrysanthemum roseum. This mixture will be effective against most insects in the garden.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon flower heads of either Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium or Chrysanthemum roseum.
- 1 liter (0.3 US gal) / 33fl.oz hot water
- Pinch of soap powder
Steps
Community Q&A
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QuestionWhere can I buy chrysanthemum liquid?
Community AnswerIt's available as an essential oil for aromatherapy, but I doubt that would work as an insecticide. If you're going to buy liquids, you might as well go store-bought and buy a pyrythrin-based insecticide. Sprays made to knock down and kill wasps are mostly pyrythrin. The stuff works fast. -
QuestionWhat soap powder do I use with pyrethrum water mix?Community AnswerCare should be taken not to mix pyrethrum with lime, sulphur, or soap solutions, since pyrethrum is broken down by both acid and alkaline conditions.
Warnings
- Spray with care - this will also impact beneficial insects.⧼thumbs_response⧽
- This is a controversial pesticide. Many web sites say it is harmless to humans and mammals and that it degrades quickly, but some studies indicate that it is very harmful to humans, dogs, cats, and that it lingers in dust. See Cox, Caroline, 2002, Insecticide Factsheet Pyrethrins/Pyrethrum, Journal of Pesticide Reform, Vol. 22, No. 1, 14–20.⧼thumbs_response⧽
Things You'll Need
- Bucket
- Sieve
- Spray bottle
