7 Homemade Bug Sprays For Indoor Plants

7 Homemade Bug Sprays For Indoor Plants

Having a go to DIY homemade bug spray for indoor garden plants is a must in my house. Years ago people only thought about plants belonging in the vegetable garden and out in the sun. 

They were used to placing them away from homes and indoor spaces.  But today, that’s just not the case anymore.

We love having plants in our homes and offices.  It’s one of the simplest ways to bring nature inside.  Whether you live in an apartment or you work in a high rise, you can grow your own little garden indoors in boxes, pots, or hanging planters.  They help us relax and bring some of the outdoors inside.

Houseplants are the best natural air purifiers.  They cleanse the air from toxic chemicals and raise the air’s humidity to protect us from dry coughs, sore throat, and respiratory problems.

If you’re feeling stressed at work, having plants in your office or home can lower your blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration.  They help reduce your stress and anxiety.

However, one of the pest problems you can face when keeping plants indoors is different bugs and adult fungus gnats especially.  These little insects and natural predators live and feed on the leaves of your plants.  They are not only annoying — they can do serious damage to your plants, too.

Make sure to do a closer inspection of your plant every now and then to check for signs of pests. If there is a sticky substance or black spots on your plant, that could be a sign you’ve got a pest you need to deal with.

However there are different ways you can get rid of these aphids, mites, and other creepy, crawly creatures, including beneficial insects.  You don’t have to use chemical pesticides, insecticidal soap, or even vegetable oil which large numbers of people used years ago to treat for bugs indoors but that made quite a mess. 

They are not only dangerous for you, your family, and your pets, chemical pesticides are also very expensive and do not always work.

But, we also want to be sure we use all natural pest control on the house plants and all natural garden pest control.  So if you’re looking for the best homemade insecticides, best indoor use bug spray, best organic common houseplant pest control, or just great natural pesticides and bug spray for your healthy plants, we have you covered. With these homemade sprays made, with more natural ingredients!

Instead of using store bought pesticides for chemical control with who knows what in them, (I mean, I know they print what’s in it on the product – but I am not a scientist, so I have NO idea what they are!) you can try these homemade bug spray recipes for your indoor plants. 

They are safer and more effective methods of getting rid of the indoor plant pests and indoor plant bugs your houseplants may encounter.  Most of the items to make these you might find you already have at home!

Let’s get started!

1. Soapy Water Homemade Bug Spray

Treating your infested plants with soapy water is one of the best recipes to use. Soap kills pests on contact. Soap will dehydrate the spider mites and aphids, and it won’t hurt your plants. However, always try a spot test to see how your plant responds. Make sure to get the whole infested plant, even the undersides of leaves to prevent severe infestations.

What You Need:

2 tablespoons mild liquid dish soap (be sure it’s a mild soap)
1 gallon water
Spray Bottle (always use a clean spray bottle)

What You Need To Do:

1. First step mix 2 tablespoons mild liquid soap for every 1 gallon of water in spray bottle.
2. Spray the mixture on the affected plants.  Use it about every 7 days until the problem is resolved.  Always try a spot test to see how your entire plant will respond.

2. Neem Oil Spray

Neem oil is a natural and organic product like diatomaceous earth, which effectively controls and eliminates common houseplant pests. It works by messing with the brains of the plant pests, so they stop eating, mating, reproducing, and they’ll eventually die off. This will help you keep up new growth and get rid of serious infestations.

Neem oil also has a residual effect so you don’t need to treat the new plant every day.  You also don’t see them die right before your eyes, it takes some time.  Always try a spot test to see how your plant responds.

What You Need:

1/2 ounce high-quality pure neem oil
1/2 teaspoon mild liquid soap or pure castile soap
2 quart of water (warm)
Spray Bottle

What You Need To Do:

• First place all the ingredients together in a mixing bowl. 
• Stir slowly. 
• Add the mixture to the spray bottle.
• Spray the mixture on the affected plants and the underside of leaves.
• Repeat the spray every few days or as long as you still see the insect pests on your plants.

3. Garlic And Hot Pepper Spray

If you don’t mind the smell, a hot pepper and garlic spray is effective in getting rid of aphids on your plants.  It stops bad infestations.

It does this by keeping them from eating the plants.  Always try a spot test to see how your plant and plant leaves respond to any spray, even this garlic oil spray.

What You Need:

2 to 3 garlic cloves
6 large chili peppers
Cheesecloth or coffee filter
Blender
Spray Bottle

What You Need To Do:

• First thing put the garlic cloves and chili peppers in a blender and puree them (this helps release the garlic oil, too).
• Strain the mixture through cheesecloth or a coffee filter.
• Pour the mixture into the spray bottle.
• Spray plants with mixture.
• Repeat the spray every few days or as long as you can see the common pests in your plants.

You might also be interested in this:  7 Herbs That Grow Well Together In Pots And Containers

4. Alcohol Homemade Insecticide

A rubbing alcohol solution is a great way to gain effective control over heavy infestations and for repelling insects from your houseplants.   Always try a spot test to see how your plant material responds.

What You Need:

1 or 2 cups of 70 percent isopropyl alcohol
1 quart water
Spray Bottle

What You Need To Do:

• Place all the ingredients together in a mixing bowl. 
• Stir slowly. 
• Add the mixture in the spray bottle.
• Spray the mixture on affected plants. 
• Repeat the spray every few days or as long as you can see the pests in your plants. This is safe even in direct contact in young plants.

5. Eucalyptus Essential Oils

Eucalyptus Oil is a good option for a natural pesticide for honey bees, wasps, fruit flies, and flies.  It also leaves a minty smell that works as a natural deodorizer in your house or office.  Always try a spot test to see how your plant responds.

What You Need:

1/4 teaspoon Eucalyptus Oil (there are many essential oil bug spray uses)
1 cups of water
Spray Bottle

What You Need To Do:

1. Mix the water and oil in a spray bottle.
2. Spray the mixture on the affected plants. 
3. Use it every 7-14 days until you don’t see them any more.

6. Pepper Spray

Black pepper, chili pepper, ginger or paprika — pests hate those.  All of them contain capsaicin which repels spider mites and other insects.  Always try a spot test to see how your host plant responds.

What You Need:

2 tablespoons red pepper
1 teaspoon mild liquid soap
1 gallon water
Spray Bottle

What You Need To Do:

1. Place all the ingredients together in a mixing bowl.  Stir slowly.  Add the mixture in the spray bottle.
2. Spray the mixture on the affected plants.  Repeat the spray every few days or as long as you can see the pests in your plants.

7. Chrysanthemum Flower Tea

Chrysanthemum holds a powerful plant chemical component called pyrethrum which invades the nervous system of insects and renders them immobile.  You can add some organic essential oil for added scent.  Always try a spot test to see how your plant responds.

What You Need:

100 grams of dried flowers
1 liter water
Spray Bottle

What You Need To Do:

1. Boil the dried flowers in a liter of water for twenty minutes.
2. Strain, cool, and pour into a spray bottle.
3. Spray the mixture on the affected plants.  Repeat the spray every few days or as long as you can see the pests on your plants.

Stop insect invasions before they have a chance to multiply!  Make your home an unwelcome place for these indoor bugs by quickly spraying them with these homemade plant sprays.

What homemade plant sprays have you found effective?  Share your recipes in the comments below.

You can also find gardening products I use in my videos here <---

I now have an Amazon Influencer’s storefront. I put the products I use, in my posts and Youtube Gardening videos, there. Shopping there is free and the site gets a percentage of sales. Thanks!

You can go to my storefront using this secure link <----

If you need seeds, this is the company I use <--- and if you use code: farmer1 at checkout, you'll get 10% off your order!

You can also find gardening products I use in my videos here <---

I now have an Amazon Influencer’s storefront. I put the products I use, in my posts and Youtube Gardening videos, there. Shopping there is free and the site gets a percentage of sales. Thanks!

You can go to my storefront using this secure link <----

If you need seeds, this is the company I use <--- and if you use code: farmer1 at checkout, you'll get 10% off your order!