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24 Amazing Benefits and Uses of Neem Oil for Plants https://shar.es/aH4Po8
With everyone wanting to grow gardens,the earnest efforts of new gardeners when faced w/hungry pests in a time of climate disruption will be challenging. DON'T fall for chemical company siren songs; toxic pesticides/fungicides weaken your plants,& YOUR immune system.Try Neem oil!
Im not hawking Safer products personally, just liked this article.Used many DIY neem products w/ success for years-gardened in a Zone 11 on the frontlines of extreme climate events; gardening isn't as easy as it was when my town was a Zone 9-which makes Neem an excellent ally.
If you live in an area w/ few frosts,you can grow your own Neem trees for a guaranteed supply of these leaves,which also treated our cats fleas & her skin irritations instantly! Neem is sourced from India ,so growing it yourself in a time of shipping disruption might be smart!
Finally,if finding classic Neem leaves is a problem, there's evidence that a neem species, Melia azaderach (Chinaberry Trees)- a common ornamental seen in the U.S. South w/fragrant,tiny orchid like mauve flowers has many of A.indica's insecticidal benefits for treating plants.
http://Permies.com has an interesting thread on the use of Chinaberry leaves & berries as an insecticidal agent,as well as suggesting allopathic characteristics, so I might not use it in compost,but it seems to be quite insecticidal,& should have fungicidal benefits.
Chinaberries are quite poisonous & have killed children & pets unlucky enough to ingest them. Extracts from the bark & leaves kill roundworms & the leaves have been used to treat oocysts in goats.The bark is resistant to rot & fungus which suggests Chinaberry leaf is fungicidal.
There are a number of Azaderach species,& the leaves of each have varying levels of chemicals common to this group;all have similar applications, it's just that w/ pets,who have livers that metabolize things differently, caution is important. Stick to classic Neem leaves for them
The http://Permies.com thread even suggests a few dried Chinaberry leaves to keep weevils & pantry moths out of flour; I'm wishing I had known this long ago as Florida is weevil central! I freeze all flour I buy 1st which reduces the chance of finding unwanted diner guests.
If I'd known Chinaberry leaves had such strongly bug repellant properties, I'd have saved those beautiful gloves I bought my son that moths made mincemeat of!
Of COURSE he lost the yarn they included 2 darn up such moth depredations as well,condemning him 2 sad gloves!
Of COURSE he lost the yarn they included 2 darn up such moth depredations as well,condemning him 2 sad gloves!
