Fact Sheet: Leonie's Pest Remedies

Its important to use natural ways to get rid of pests in the garden, ones that are bee and bird friendly, and that do not harm the environment. Here are a few recipes that are all these things.

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Fact Sheet: Leonie's Pest Remedies

Leonie Norrington shows how to make insecticides from garden ingredients

Presenter: Leonie Norrington, 08/01/2011



Darwin's a paradise for insects at this time of year. During the wet season, from October to May, the weather's warm, with high humidity and lots of rain. This brings about an explosion of leafy growth and that means food for sap-sucking pests such as aphids, scale, mites and thrips, as well as leaf chewing insects such as ladybirds, caterpillars and grass hoppers. These pests breed extremely quickly in the tropical conditions.

Leonie makes 'contact' insecticides which need to be sprayed directly onto the body of the insect pest. The insecticides will remain useful for a couple of days but it's generally best to make them fresh every time.

Pawpaw Spray (For soft-bodied insects such as aphids and mites)

1. Blend a bunch of pawpaw leaves with enough water to make a paste.
2. Add a litre of boiling water and let it sit for a few hours.
3. Strain the concoction and add two litres of water.
4. Add 10ml of potassium soap per litre.
5. Add 2ml of vegetable oil per litre.
Stir it well and strain it again.
6. Spray generously all over the plant every couple of days or until you see a result. Remember to re-apply after rain or if you've used a sprinkler.


Chilli Spray (This works on all the insects except grasshoppers and beetles.)

1. Blend a cup of Birdseye chillies with enough water to make a paste. Birdseye chillies are extremely hot so, while working with them, don't breathe the fumes or touch your face, eyes or other sensitive parts of your body with your hands. Wash your hands thoroughly afterwards. Really, it's advisable to wear gloves.
2. Add 10ml of potassium soap.
3. Add 1 litre of water.
4. Let the mixture sit overnight.
5. Spray on top and bottom surfaces of leaves.


White Oil (Works on aphids and other stationary insects by suffocating them.)

1. Mix or blend one cup of oil, one and a half cups of water and a couple of millilitres of potassium soap.
2. Use one part of white oil to 10 parts of water.


Potassium Soap (Effective against thrips and mites. Gentler on plants than other soap sprays)

1. Add 20ml potassium soap to one litre of water. Spray it liberally on the plant, focussing on where the pests are located.
2. Repeat every 2 days until insect numbers are reduced.


Important Considerations:

* Wear safety gear such as gloves, apron and glasses when making or using the remedies.
* Conduct a test patch first and wait 24 hours to see if it damages the foliage before continuing use.
* Don't be tempted to make the insecticides too strong.
* Store them in sealed containers and label them clearly. Never use old soft-drink bottles.
* Keep them out of reach of children and pets.
* Apply these remedies in the evening, when it's cooler, to avoid burning the plants.


Leonie says, "Pest remedies, even natural ones, should be the last resort in your garden. By keeping an eye on what's happening in the garden you will be able to treat problems as they arise."
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