Ammonia

Ammonia is a common household cleansing product that can also used in home gardens for the control of plant pests.

Mix 1 part ammonia with 7 parts water.

Spray on few infested plants first. Some plants have leaves that are sensitive to ammonia solution.
Do not apply on hot weather.
Do not apply on drought stressed plants.

Spray in the early morning or late afternoon.
Use utensils for the extract preparation that are not use for your food preparation and for drinking and cooking water containers. Clean properly all the utensils every time after using them.
Do not have a direct contact with the crude extract while in the process of the preparation and during the application.
Make sure that you place the extract out of reach of children and house pets while leaving it overnight.
Harvest all the mature and ripe fruits before extract application.
Always test the extract formulation on a few infected plants first before going into large scale spraying. When adding soap as an emulsifier, use a potash-based one.
Wear protective clothing while applying the extract.
Wash your hands after handling the extract.

External links

Ellis, B.; Bradley, F. (1996): The organic gardener's handbook of natural insect and disease control. Rodale Press. Emmaus, Pennsylvania.

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