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Becareful if you use Neem Oil.

Blackpool 2008Blackpool 2008 Posts: 52
in Problem solving

If anybody is thinking of using Neem Oil to rid your lilies of the dreaded lily beetle,

please be-careful it is deadly to Bee's and other useful friends in the garden, so spray after the sun's gone down

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Posts

  • Bee witchedBee witched Posts: 1,295

    Couldn't agree more Blackpool ....  we have 8 hives of honeybees in our garden so need to pick our times carefully for using the neem spray. At this time of year our bees our out until quite late.

    Neem oil does not hurt beneficial insects. Only chewing and sucking insects are affected. The main reason is that insects need to ingest the neem oil to be affected, and beneficial insects don't eat your plants. However, you can still kill beneficial insects if you smother them with neem oil, so I tend to spray late evening to be safe.

    I find neem really useful in the garden ... just a pity it doesn't work on slugs!!

    Gardener and beekeeper in beautiful Scottish Borders  

    A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
  • Blackpool 2008Blackpool 2008 Posts: 52

    Well it's been three weeks now since sprayed with Neem Oil and not one single critters.

  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,566
    I don't think I'd use neem oil indoors - I find the smell very unpleasant even when well diluted.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • garrythegardenergarrythegardener Posts: 21
    try it you will like it. I'm telling you
    plantgrower
  • garrythegardenergarrythegardener Posts: 21
    JennyJ said:
    I don't think I'd use neem oil indoors - I find the smell very unpleasant even when well diluted.
    its not that bad. Your plants will like it too
    plantgrower
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,566
    I use neem oil spray outside occasionally (late in the evening on lupin aphids that nothing seems to eat) and to me it absolutely reeks so I won't be bringing it inside. Fortunately I haven't had pests on any of my houseplants.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • Bee witchedBee witched Posts: 1,295
    Hi @JennyJ,

    I wouldn't use it indoors either.
    I do occasionally use it outdoors but more as a soil drench than as a spray.

    Bee x
    Gardener and beekeeper in beautiful Scottish Borders  

    A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
  • Slow-wormSlow-worm Posts: 1,626
    I never use it outside, for no reason whatsoever, but I've used it for 20 years, in which time I've been the only person who loves the smell. 😁 Someone else must be with me, surely? 
  • FireFire Posts: 19,092
    Is there any decent science behind the claims to efficacy? 
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,617
    I found this on the efficacy on head lice. 



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