How do you make homemade pest oil?

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Take an empty jar or plastic bottle, pour in a cup of ordinary cooking oil and ¼ cup of dishwashing liquid. Give it a good shake - you'll see it turn white. That's your white oil concentrate. Label the container with the correct dilution rate – 'one tablespoon per litre of water'.



Similarly one may ask, what is white oil made of?

The quantities vary depending on the source, but a typical mixture is 4 parts of vegetable oil (a non-mineral oil) to one part of dish-washing detergent (for washing by hand). It may be blended in a mixer until homogeneous to be stored. Diluting 1:50 with water may be used for spraying leaves from above and below.

Similarly, is white oil the same as pest oil? Horticultural oils are among the safest and most effective ways of controlling a range of sap sucking and chewing pests in the garden. The other difference is that the modern horticultural oils are based on petroleum and are expensive to buy. White oil is cheap and better still, you can make it yourself.

Herein, how do you use pest oil?

Directions for use

  1. Shake well before using. Keep bottle agitated during use. Spray foliage to the point of run off.
  2. DO NOT use if temperatures exceed 32°C, (35°C for citrus) or when soil is dry and plants are suffering from moisture stress.
  3. DO NOT spray more than 4 times per season.

Can you spray white oil on tomato plants?

DIY White Fly Spray Using a small spray bottle we fill it with water and add a tablespoon of vegetable oil, a tablespoon of dishwashing liquid, give it a good shake and spray on the flies. They basically can no longer fly so die. Don't spray it on a hot day or you may deep fry your plants.

37 Related Question Answers Found

How often should I spray white oil?

Never apply white oil when the temperature is 30 degrees or more. And to apply it - once every three weeks - cover both sides of the leaves cover all the stems right the way down to the base of the trunk. Remember this is a suffocant - not a poison, so pests will never evolve a resistance to white oil.

Can I use olive oil to make white oil?

Homemade White Oil
Take an empty jar or plastic bottle, pour in a cup of ordinary cooking oil and ¼ cup of dishwashing liquid. Give it a good shake - you'll see it turn white.

What does white oil kill?

Yates White Oil Insecticide Aerosol. Kills scale, mitres, aphids, mealybugs & whitefly. For citrus, ornamentals and indoor plants.

Can you spray white oil on fruit?

Directions. scales, aphids, mealy bugs, mites and citrus leaf miner on fruit trees, roses and ornamentals. Take an empty jar or plastic bottle, pour in a cup of ordinary cooking oil and ¼ cup of dishwashing liquid. Give it a good shake - you'll see it turn white.

Is white oil toxic to humans?


White oil, Winter oil or Dormant oil is a substance most gardeners use. Because the oil does not poison the pests, you need to spray well on the top and underside of leaves and stems for it to work. You can use it against mealy bugs, red spider, aphids, scale, mites, fruit moths and white flies.

Why is my engine oil white?

Another (and more concerning) reason for the milky residue is because coolant has mixed in with the engine oil. This is a serious concern that could indicate a head gasket leak or engine damage. If you notice water droplets on the oil cap in addition to the milky residue, then most likely it's just condensation.

What does white oil mean?

White oil is a home made insecticide spray used for controlling a wide range of insect pests in the garden. The spray works by blocking the breathing pores of insects causing suffocation and death. It is effective in the control of aphids, scale, mealybug, mites, citrus leaf miner and smooth skinned caterpillars.

Will olive oil harm plants?

Function. Vegetable oil, when sprayed on plants, helps to kill insects. The oil coats the bodies of the insects as they come into contact with the oil, breaking down their outer shells. The vegetable oil will then wash away in rain or wear away in the sun, leaving no harmful chemicals on the plants.

When Should I spray my horticultural oil?

The recommended practice is to spray trees in spring, just before flower buds open. Do this during a period of mild weather when temperatures are expected to stay above 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Never apply horticultural oil in very warm weather (above 80 degrees) because heat increases risk of leaf injury.

Does scale spread to other plants?


Scale bugs can be found indoors or outdoors. Finding scale inside generally means that you brought an infested plant indoors. It's easy to spread them to other houseplants, so check your plants carefully! A plant which is suffering from scale infestation may show signs of premature leaf drop or yellowed leaves.

What is horticultural oil made of?

Horticultural oils are made from a complex mixture of petroleum hydrocarbons produced from paraffinic crude oil. Horticultural oils are from 92 to 99 percent pure. After distillation and filtration, they are formulated with an emulsifier to make it easier for the oils to blend with water.

Does oil kill bugs?

The primary way oils kill insects and mites is the same—by suffocation. Insects breathe through structures called spiracles. Oils may also act as a repellent in some cases, especially with some of the plant-based oils, and some oils, such as neem oil, have anti-feeding properties.

How do you use Yates pest oil?

Directions for use
DO NOT spray if shade temperatures exceed 32°C, (35°C for citrus) or when soil is dry and plants are suffering from moisture stress. more likely to be required in Summer and Autumn). Start spraying when flushes are about 4cm long. Ensure that all immature leaves are thoroughly wetted on both sides.

How often can you use horticultural oil?

Horticultural Oil is usually best sprayed from Feb 15 into March or as long as the plant is still dormant. Labels advise 1 or 2 applications, depending on the population. One application with complete coverage might be sufficient as a preventative.

Does pest oil kill bees?


Apply insecticidal soap or neem oil to the infested plants if the other measures don't work. This will kill any insects it touches but if you watch carefully you will be able to avoid applying the product to any bees. Insects that come after the oil or soap is applied won't be harmed by it.

Is white oil good for roses?

Brunnings White Oil kills scale and controls a wide variety of insects on citrus, shrubs, roses & ornamentals.

Does white oil affect bees?

Not only do oils leave no toxic residues, they are safe to use around people, pets, and wildlife; have low impact on beneficial insects; and won't harm honey bees unless applied directly to flowers during the time of day that bees are foraging.