Gardening: Go natural, make neem for your plants

Neem oil is extracted primarily from the seeds or leaves of the neem tree.

The oil is diluted with water and applied to plant leaves to control diseases and pests such as aphids, caterpillars, mealybugs, leafhoppers, or spider mites on your plants.

“Besides being a natural and mild insecticide, neem also has medicinal properties and is largely used to make cosmetics and beauty products,” Dr Henry Galiwango, a lecturer and researcher at Makerere University, School of Education, says.

Galiwango carried out research that shows that spraying plants with organic pesticides is healthier than using artificial ones.

According to him, organic pesticides protect the farmer and final consumer from ingesting chemicals in edible plants, which can lead to fatal diseases like cancer, that are sometimes caused by exposure to artificial pesticides.

Galiwango says neem oil is one of the organic pesticides that generally works well on all plant types; including houseplants, herbs, flowering plants and vegetables. However, he advises that before applying neem oil to your plants for the first time, it should be tested on one leaf.

“Check for any signs of stress on your plants after hours of using the mixture. It is generally better to avoid using neem oil on babies or transplants because they are in the tender stage of growing.

Wash the leaves thoroughly with clean water to get rid of any dirt and allow the leaves to drain in a sieve or spread on a flat surface.

Below are the steps to follow to make neem oil at home

Step 1

Detach your neem leaves from the branches

Step 2

Wash the leaves thoroughly with clean water to get rid of any dirt and allow the leaves to drain in a sieve or spread on a flat surface.

Step 3

After drying, put them in a mortar and pound them. OR put them in a blender and blend into tiny pieces and transfer them into a container

Step 4

To the container add your carrier oil such as cooking oil, or any oil of choice, to cover the leaves.

Step 5

Put water in a saucepan on top of a burning charcoal stove.

Step 6

Add oil to the blended neem leaves and pour the contents into the saucepan and proceed to heat.

Step 7

Continue boiling and stirring until the colour of the leaves changes or fades while the oil takes the greenish colour of the neem leaves. Once this occurs, your oil has been infused with the nutrients in the leaves.

Step 8

Remove from heat and drain using a fine strainer.

Step 9

Your Neem oil is ready for use; it can be stored in a clean dark bottle.

Step 10

Most essential oils such as neem oil are unstable when exposed to light; it may not work optimally if you place in direct sunlight. Neem oil, therefore, should be stored in a dark place.

Detach your neem leaves from the branches

Tips

• Apply the mixture early in the morning or late in the evening because during this time, insects that are beneficial to plants are usually inactive. 
• Strong neemcan cause the tissues of the leaves to get sunburned. Ensure that neem oil is properly mixed with water. 
• Keep the batches of your mixture small, prepare it on the day you wish to use it or else the mixture will start separating with time. 
• You can add essential oils to your mixture, as certain pests are repellent to the smell of essential oils such as mint, lemon, etc