The hydroponics store has always been a rip off selling bottles of water, oils and salts that cost pennies on the dollar. The DIY Flying Skull Nuke Em Project got me thinking about what goes into a good Integrated Pest Management product. They are typically some kind of active oils/other ingredients and emulsifier. There are some general guidelines when making your own IPM products and saving money over anything available commercially.
Active ingredients kill bugs or mold and have several modes of action. (Dosages are for Ready-To-Use, not concentrate)
Insecticidal soap (potassium salts of fatty acids) dries bugs and mold out and may suffocate pests. The dosage ranges from 20-75 ml./gallon depending on strength and environment. It also works as an emulsifier.
Vegetable oils like canola, corn or cottonseed oil suffocate pests and are typically used at 10-30 ml./gallon
Isopropyl alcohol is used to dry out bugs and mold. It is used 1:100 or ~0.5-1 oz./gallon
Essential oils use volatile organic compounds to disrupt reproduction, feeding or repel insects. It may also smother the spread of surface molds or mildews. The most commonly used are rosemary, eucalyptus, ginger, lemongrass, thyme, clove, cinnamon, peppermint, caraway seed and citronella. Aromatic oils are mixed at 7.5-15 ml./gallon.
Pyrethrum flower insecticides come from Chrysanthemum or Painted Daisies like Tanacetum cinerariifolium and Tanacetum coccineum. To use as a spray, soak ten grams of pyrethrum powder into three litres of warm water for three hours, after this it is ready to be sprayed. It is possible to use fresh flowers instead of dried but you will need to use up to four times the amount of plant material to get the same concentration of active ingredient. To apply as an insecticidal dust, simply apply the dried and crushed flowers on to the leaves of plants that require its protection.
Sulfur kills mold and may kill bugs. A commercial product by Safer uses it at 6.48% as a concentrate. It is also used in JADAM low cost farming in JADAM Sulfur (JS). It is used ~5 g./gallon.
Citric acid may act as a chelator, change pH or act as a preservative. It is typically used at .05% in several products.
Sodium Benzoate and Potassium Sorbate are preservatives that may kill or stop the spread of mold. Sodium Benzoate is used less than 0.13% and Potassium Sorbate is used at less than 0.3%.
Yeast may disrupt digestive activity of chewing insects and may outcompete mold. It is used ~3.7 g./gallon in DIY Nuke Em.
Other active ingredients may include enzymes, pool shock (sodium hypochlorite) and biologicals.
Emulsifiers create a mixture of two or more liquids that normally wouldn't mix.
Castile soap, Dr. Bronners soap and Murphy's Oil Soap are used 7.5-30 ml./gallon. Sals Suds is a detergent and is used at 7.5 ml/gal. They also help dry out bugs and mold. It is also very similar to JADAM Wetting Agent (JWA)
Agsil 16H is potassium silicate. Mix 1.5 grams (Just under 1/2 Teaspoon) AgSil 16H with 1/2 Ounce Ahimsa Pure Neem Oil to emulsify the oil. Then mix this emulsified oil with one gallon final volume spray solution. Spray every other week covering all plant surfaces (top and bottom of leaves) until it runs off.
Saponins are plant derived surfactants. They can be found in Yucca and soaproot and may have other plant benefits.
Lecithins like soy or sunflower lecithins come from plants and attract oil and water. Mammoth Biocontrol uses it at 5%.
Sodium Bicarbonate may act like potassium silicate and raise pH to kill mold. It may also reduce foam. It is typically used at ~2% by volume.
These are some general rules to put together your own IPM products. I'd like to also give credit to Build A Soil. I'd love to hear any feedback.
Now, here's some recipes.
Active ingredients kill bugs or mold and have several modes of action. (Dosages are for Ready-To-Use, not concentrate)
Insecticidal soap (potassium salts of fatty acids) dries bugs and mold out and may suffocate pests. The dosage ranges from 20-75 ml./gallon depending on strength and environment. It also works as an emulsifier.
Vegetable oils like canola, corn or cottonseed oil suffocate pests and are typically used at 10-30 ml./gallon
Isopropyl alcohol is used to dry out bugs and mold. It is used 1:100 or ~0.5-1 oz./gallon
Essential oils use volatile organic compounds to disrupt reproduction, feeding or repel insects. It may also smother the spread of surface molds or mildews. The most commonly used are rosemary, eucalyptus, ginger, lemongrass, thyme, clove, cinnamon, peppermint, caraway seed and citronella. Aromatic oils are mixed at 7.5-15 ml./gallon.
Pyrethrum flower insecticides come from Chrysanthemum or Painted Daisies like Tanacetum cinerariifolium and Tanacetum coccineum. To use as a spray, soak ten grams of pyrethrum powder into three litres of warm water for three hours, after this it is ready to be sprayed. It is possible to use fresh flowers instead of dried but you will need to use up to four times the amount of plant material to get the same concentration of active ingredient. To apply as an insecticidal dust, simply apply the dried and crushed flowers on to the leaves of plants that require its protection.
Sulfur kills mold and may kill bugs. A commercial product by Safer uses it at 6.48% as a concentrate. It is also used in JADAM low cost farming in JADAM Sulfur (JS). It is used ~5 g./gallon.
Citric acid may act as a chelator, change pH or act as a preservative. It is typically used at .05% in several products.
Sodium Benzoate and Potassium Sorbate are preservatives that may kill or stop the spread of mold. Sodium Benzoate is used less than 0.13% and Potassium Sorbate is used at less than 0.3%.
Yeast may disrupt digestive activity of chewing insects and may outcompete mold. It is used ~3.7 g./gallon in DIY Nuke Em.
Other active ingredients may include enzymes, pool shock (sodium hypochlorite) and biologicals.
Emulsifiers create a mixture of two or more liquids that normally wouldn't mix.
Castile soap, Dr. Bronners soap and Murphy's Oil Soap are used 7.5-30 ml./gallon. Sals Suds is a detergent and is used at 7.5 ml/gal. They also help dry out bugs and mold. It is also very similar to JADAM Wetting Agent (JWA)
Agsil 16H is potassium silicate. Mix 1.5 grams (Just under 1/2 Teaspoon) AgSil 16H with 1/2 Ounce Ahimsa Pure Neem Oil to emulsify the oil. Then mix this emulsified oil with one gallon final volume spray solution. Spray every other week covering all plant surfaces (top and bottom of leaves) until it runs off.
Saponins are plant derived surfactants. They can be found in Yucca and soaproot and may have other plant benefits.
Lecithins like soy or sunflower lecithins come from plants and attract oil and water. Mammoth Biocontrol uses it at 5%.
Sodium Bicarbonate may act like potassium silicate and raise pH to kill mold. It may also reduce foam. It is typically used at ~2% by volume.
These are some general rules to put together your own IPM products. I'd like to also give credit to Build A Soil. I'd love to hear any feedback.
Now, here's some recipes.
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You want a sugar based surfactant? Try yucca or sunflower lecithin. 
