Neem oil for millipedes is naturally suitable and powerful when used as a treatment against these pests when they get out of control. The oil has compounds that repel millipedes, thereby leaving your plants and homes free from these unwelcome intruders.
Although we are not used to seeing millipedes indoors, they may find their way inside through doors, windows, and any other small openings. If you are looking for an easy way to get rid of millipedes, see more details in this article.
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How to Eliminate Millipedes Using Neem Oil: Effective Steps
To eliminate millipede populations from your plants using neem oil, be sure to buy the right type of Neem oil. You can spray the Neem oil directly on millipedes or on the plants. Also, consider using the soil drench method.
– Know the Correct Type of Neem Oil and How it Works
Indian Neem trees produce the best essential oils for millipede eradication. If you have access to these trees, you should squeeze the seeds and collect the oil which you can use in its pure form.
You can also add a suitable insecticide when necessary especially when you are also fighting other stubborn houseplant pests like spider mites, thrips, Japanese beetles, and mealybugs.
Neem oil does not kill millipedes directly as it is not a poison, but it interferes with their hormones and brains. When this happens, these pests stop eating and reproducing, which eventually leads to their death.
Before considering Neem oil in preventing and killing millipedes, you should know that the pests will not die instantly. It may take a few days or even months before you can completely wipe them from your places.
– Make a Neem Oil Solution
You can create your own Neem oil concoction at home as an alternative to purchasing one. Just get one teaspoon of mild liquid soap, 12 tablespoons of Neem oil concentrate, and a liter of lukewarm water. Combine these three and mix them well in a mixing bowl. Please, do not add any dangerous chemicals as they end up being harmful to humans, pets, and the environment.
You can also get commercially prepared Neem products from nearby gardening stores. Such Neem products have the quality to suppress and control several varieties of pests that include centipedes, mites, nematodes, millipedes, and other insects.
– Inspect Your Premises and Plants Before Spraying Neem Oil
You should undertake regular inspections of your properties to check on entry points that millipedes usually use as passageways. Some specific points that you should look at include door gaps, windowsills, foundation cracks, crawlspaces, and basements.
Millipedes are also attracted by debris or stagnant water so, if any of these are in your yard or in your garden, you should get rid of them. If your premises are completely closed and the outer boundaries are solid, you should close up any passageways into your premises.
In such cases, it is easier to deal with millipedes that are already on your premises and plants using a Neem oil spray. If the premises’ boundaries are penetrable, Neem oil can still do wonders. Remember, being a natural pest repellent, Neem oil can drive away current and imminent millipede infestations.
By inspecting your places, you should know the population of millipedes and any other pests that may be a menace to your plants as well as your well-being. If there are any habitats where these pests are reproducing or feeding, you should now know the areas to focus on when you are spraying the Neem oil.
Alternatively, you can use boric acid to fill in cracks that give refuge to millipedes. This substance causes thousands of tiny cuts on pests and insect bodies, which eventually leads to their death.
– Spray the Premises
Carefully pour the Neem solution into a spray bottle and start spraying in and around the premises. Also, concentrate the Neem solution on the spots where the millipedes hibernate and feed. Spraying this solution directly on the millipedes is the best way for hastening the demise of these pests.
If you can access the breeding places for the millipedes, spray Neem oil on the larvae or eggs. Unlike other anti-millipede treatment substances like vinegar that are not effective on millipede larvae and eggs, Neem oil destroys them. It’s possible to use insecticidal soap, diatomaceous earth, or baking soda as alternatives to Neem oil.
– Spray Neem Oil on Plants
If millipedes are causing plant damage to your beloved vegetation by feeding on the foliage, you should also spray these beauties. Start by spraying just a few leaves from a single plant and if Neem oil does not cause any damage after 24 hours, you can go ahead and spray the whole plant. Make sure the plants are well-wetted.
Move your houseplants out of direct sunlight before applying a Neem oil spray on them, and then take them back to their original places after they have dried up.
If you intend to spray Neem oil on plants that are planted on a spot that is exposed to direct sunlight, you should apply it during the early morning hours and in the evening. This way, the foliage will have enough time to lose moisture before the sun gets hotter.
Spray Neem oil continuously for a few weeks to prevent millipedes from accessing them and eliminate current infestations. However, you should not spray the plants every day, but check on them and apply a Neem solution every one to two weeks.
You should limit application on tender plants as doing so may put the foliage at risk of being destroyed. This is the main reason why you should add water to the solution for dilution and test the spray first before using it to treat the entire plant.
– Use the Soil Drench Method
Neem oil ingredients like Azadirachtin are absorbed into the plant’s system through the roots. This means that a Neem oil solution has to be poured into the soil so that it can be absorbed into the plant system.
When millipedes ingest any part of the plant, Azadirachtin enters their bodies. Please, keep in mind that the soil drench method also prevents the multiplication of millipedes by killing soil-dwelling eggs or larvae that are in the soil.
To make a perfect soil-drench concoction, you should get a single tablespoon of cold-pressed Neem oil, one-quart lukewarm water, and one dish of castile soap teaspoon. Mix these three ingredients and the solution will be ready for use.
If you are using Neem oil for millipede preventative purposes, you should spray the Neem oil only once a month. Remember that the soil drench system is more fruitful when used on potted plants where the soil gets soaked up completely.
If you notice millipede larvae or eggs in the soil, you should soak the soil once a week until they are completely wiped out. Just make sure to water the soil with a Neem solution when the plants are ready for irrigation to avoid overwatering issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
– Does Neem Oil Kill Beneficial Insects in Your Garden?
Neem oil does not kill beneficial insects in your garden because it’s an organic insect repellent, and is different from other synthetic pesticides. It does not create a death zone around your plants and premises. This oil is also not harmful to bees.
– Is Neem Oil Suitable for Use During Summer?
Neem oil is suitable during summer for pest and insect control. Whenever you notice a problem that requires Neem oil, you can use it without any problems. However, you should ensure that the environment is neither too hot nor overly cold, as is the case with most organic pesticides.
Intruders like millipedes and whiteflies can be a problem during the rainy season and a Neem solution application is among the best natural remedies that you can use. During summer, many plants will be in their active growing season and this attracts a wide range of pests and insects.
Some edible fruits will also be ripening, and Neem oil is useful in protecting them from pests. The most interesting thing is that you can still consume your fruits soon after a Neem oil application. You only need to wash the fruits and vegetables with clean running water, and they will be ready to eat.
– For How Long Does Neem Oil Stay in the Soil?
Neem oil stays in the soil for between three to 44 days. That’s because Azadirachtin, which is a major component in Neem oil, rapidly breaks down. Light and microbes quickly break down the pesticide when it comes in contact with water, soil, and plants.
The lengthy period makes Neem oil more effective in container gardening where it eliminates any intruders in the potting soil. It is also ideal for curbing stubborn situations like fungus gnat infestations.
When it is in contact with water, Azadirachtin’s half-life will range from 48 minutes to four days. Azadirachtin breaks down even more rapidly on plants as it lives only for one to two and a half days.
Conclusion
Besides cayenne pepper, insecticidal soap, and diatomaceous earth, Neem oil has proven to be an effective pest control measure. Listed hereunder are the main highlights of this millipede control guide.
- If you have access to Indian Neem trees, you should squeeze the seeds and collect the oil which you can use as a pesticide in its pure form.
- Make regular inspections of your properties and check entry points that millipedes might be using to gain entry.
- Neem oil ingredients like Azadirachtin can be absorbed into the plants’ system through the roots.
- Always start by spraying a few leaves of a single plant and if you do not notice any damage in 24 hours, you can now go ahead and spray the rest of the plant.
Using a Neem oil spray on your premise entry points as well as millipede-infested plants should keep them away. Now, get some Neem oil and kill millipedes!
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