Green soap has been around for decades. However, now, in times of passion for organic farming, this product is again gaining popularity. The main reason is its environmental friendliness.
Green soap (also called potassium soap) is a product used as a preventative and also to combat insect pests. In addition, in combination with copper-containing preparations, green soap is also used to protect plants from fungal diseases.
Application
Green soap is used in its pure form, diluted with water, or as an adhesive in solutions where an alkaline reaction is acceptable (the pH of the solution is from 7 to 8), or in a mixture with other agents (infusions of herbs, tobacco, etc.).
How to dilute green soap against pests:
- against aphids and mites 200-400 g of green soap per 10 l
- against scale insects 200-300 g of green soap per 10 l
- against aphids 200-400 g of green soap per 10 l
To combat bedbugs, green soap is used as part of a complex solution: 4 parts potassium soap, 1 part turpentine, 2 parts kerosene and 12 parts water.
For indoor flowers, the recipe is simple: dissolve 1 tablespoon of green soap in 1 liter of warm water. If a measuring cup is included, use it as directed.
Features of the drug
The effect of soap on insects and arthropods (ticks) is to envelop the body with a film and block the respiratory tract.
Green soap can be mixed with other insecticides, in particular with decis, karbofos, intavir, at the rate of 40-100 g per 10 liters of water; soap, in addition to its main properties (toxicity to pests), gives the pesticide solution better stickiness, i.e. the solution forms a more stable film over the surface of the sheet.
For the same reason, green soap is often used in combination with fungicides against a number of plant diseases, for example, powdery mildew, rust, and fungal spotting. Usually the main component is some kind of copper-containing preparation, for example, copper sulfate. To prepare 1 liter of solution, pour exactly 800 g of warm water into a 1-liter jar, add 30 g of green soap and mix. In another jar, 2 g of copper sulfate is dissolved in 200 g of warm water. Then slowly (in a thin stream) with continuous stirring with a wooden stick, pour the vitriol solution into the soap solution. This solution is sprayed on the plants leaf by leaf against fungal infections.
Gardeners often use a solution of green soap against powdery mildew and other diseases, in combination with soda ash. In this case, take 50-100 g of soap and 50 g of soda per 10 liters of water.
Another effective recipe for ticks: 20 g of ground dried garlic (40-50 g of fresh garlic), 200 g of green soap, diluted with water to 10 liters of water. If the garlic is fresh, you need to crush it in a mortar, if dry, steam it in a small amount of boiling water.
No more than 3 applications per season are allowed with green soap. Process for the last time no later than 5 days before harvest.
Toxicity
Green soap has a hazard class of 4 (low hazardous substance). Not phytotoxic. Practically non-toxic for birds, earthworms, soil microorganisms and bees (the border protection summer zone for bees is at least 3 - 4 km, the flight limit for bees is 48 - 72 hours).
Fruit or berry trees and shrubs can be processed at least five days before harvest. If green soap is not used in its pure form, but with the addition of other pesticides or turpentine, then treatments are carried out before flowering, or after harvesting, no later than 30 days before harvesting.
Security measures. Handle using gloves. While working, you must not smoke, drink, or eat. Dilute the working fluid solution exclusively in glass or porcelain containers. Do not use dishes that have come into contact with alkali for household purposes or cooking. Store the drug in a cool, dry room at a temperature from -10C to +35C, separate from food and medicine, out of the reach of children and pets! Storage of the working solution is not allowed. The shelf life of green soap is 1-2 years (see on the package).
First aid for poisoning: if the drug gets on the skin, rinse with plenty of water, to neutralize the alkali, apply a gauze bandage soaked in a 5% acetic acid solution to the affected area after rinsing (for 10 minutes). After removing the bandage, rinse the skin with water. In case of contact with eyes, rinse thoroughly with running water for 15-20 minutes. Then rinse the eyes with a 2% solution of boric acid and drip albucid. Do not hesitate to consult an ophthalmologist. If ingested, drink 3-4 glasses of water, induce vomiting, take several tablets of activated charcoal, and seek immediate medical attention.
How does green soap work on aphids?
The drug gets on the surface of the leaves and stems and creates a thin film. It is under it that pests find themselves. They suffocate due to lack of air and die. At the same time, insects cannot leave the dangerous place due to the strength of the film. Gardeners use green soap against aphids and ants, as well as a number of other common pests:
- slobber;
- herbivorous bugs;
- scale insects;
- thrips.
The product is produced in plastic bottles of different sizes - 250, 500 and 900 ml. Containers can only be stored at positive temperatures in the range from 7 to 40 degrees. Keep away from direct sunlight and keep out of reach of children. The shelf life is three years from the date of production. It is not advisable to store the drug at subzero temperatures.
Green soap allows you to destroy aphids and other dangerous pests
Composition of Green Soap and effects on pests
Green soap, also called potassium soap, is obtained by treating cattle fats or vegetable oils with potassium hydroxide. As a result of the chemical reaction, a greenish soap emulsion is formed, which easily dissolves in water. The main active ingredient of this drug is potassium salts of fatty acids.
Green soap is an environmentally friendly product for protecting plants from pests and diseases
Green soap is an environmentally friendly product, harmless to people and pets if you follow simple precautions:
- Storage in tightly closed containers, out of reach of children and animals.
- Work with gloves, goggles and a respirator or gauze bandage.
- Personal hygiene after spraying plants.
This drug is classified as the fourth group of harmful substances in terms of the degree of impact on the human body.
Interstate safety classes of substances for humans
Which hazard group a chemical compound belongs to is determined by the dose that causes death. Group 4 includes those substances that will become fatal if you swallow 50 grams or more per kilogram of weight.
In plant growing, green soap is used to control pests:
- aphids;
- thrips;
- slobbering penny;
- leafhoppers;
- earwigs;
- scale insects;
- spider mites.
Photo gallery: pests that Green soap can handle
The film that forms on the surface of plants after treatment with a solution of the drug has several consequences for pests. The most important thing is the destruction of the chitinous cover. In addition, they can no longer:
- breathe;
- move;
- eat.
What is the danger of aphids for currants?
Aphids pierce young leaves and feed on their sap. As a result, the leaf plate is deformed, red-brown swellings form on it, which leads to its drying out and death.
There is another type of insect that feeds on the sap of shoots, which interferes with their growth. Due to the fact that young shoots of the bush are affected, summer residents may be left without berries this year and next.
Parasites will not be able to destroy the bush, but it will wither, weaken and bear almost no fruit. In addition, pests are carriers of various viruses that cause diseases.
Instructions for use
To dilute the drug, it is better to use soft water with a low salt content. Shake the container with the drug, combine the product with water, determining the proportions depending on the purpose (instructions for using green soap are indicated on the container with it). The drug must be diluted in water thoroughly until completely dissolved. For processing - spraying or manual soaping - choose morning or evening time, the weather is dry and calm.
Pest control requires the use of the drug in the following proportions:
- against aphids - add 200-400 ml of green soap to 10 liters of water. Spray during the growing season 1-3 times a day, ending treatments five days before the first harvest;
- against thrips - 100 ml of soap is enough for the same volume of water;
- for scale insects - add 200-300 ml of the drug to the same amount of water;
- for pennies - mix 200 ml of the product with 10 liters of water. Plants are sprayed before flowering or after harvest;
- for pre-winter spraying against parasite larvae overwintering under the bark of trees, prepare an emulsion: 40-50 g of the drug is diluted in 1 liter of boiling water, cooled to a temperature of 50-60 degrees and, stirring continuously, combined with 2 liters of kerosene. A properly prepared mixture has the consistency of sour cream. When treating trees with a fine spray, it is diluted with water in a 1:1 ratio. You can repeat the procedure in the spring until the buds open.
Combination with other means
When large colonies of insect pests invade, the drug is used in combination with stronger pesticides - it improves the adhesion of their active ingredients. To the prepared pesticide solution, made according to the appropriate instructions, green pest control soap is added in the following proportions: per bucket, or 10 liters, of solution - 25-70 ml of product. When treating plants, follow the instructions for working with a specific pesticide.
An excellent fertilizer for cucumbers, tomatoes, eggplants and cabbage is obtained by combining 30 ml of soap with a solution of wood ash (1.5 kg per bucket of water). To prepare a combined mixture for fungal diseases, dissolve 25 g of copper sulfate powder in 2 liters of water. 200 ml of soap are diluted separately in 10 liters of water. The dissolved vitriol and soap base are combined and stirred thoroughly. Plants are treated three times every 10 days.
The approximate concentration is 50-100 ml per bucket of decoction or infusion.
Precautionary measures
The growing popularity of green soap is largely based on the fact that it simultaneously shows a high effect in the fight against plant pests and is safe for humans, animals, and the environment
However, you should adhere to the precautions stated on the packaging of the drug:
- The product is used only for spraying the above-ground, green part of the crop, trying not to get on the root part. This rule is especially significant when processing indoor plants. It is recommended to cover the soil in the pot under the stem with a bag or film;
- green soap intended for use in gardening and horticulture is not used as a detergent for washing, processing, or hand washing;
- when working with insecticide, you should use appropriate protective equipment - rubber gloves, mask, goggles;
- If the soap solution gets into the eyes or mucous surfaces, rinse them thoroughly with clean water.
It is important for gardeners and gardeners to remember: increasing the concentration of the drug above those prescribed on the package will not benefit the plants, but will cause significant harm. https://www.youtube.com/embed/rcCph5dknAE
Recipes with other ingredients
If the colony of insect pests is numerous, a solution of green soap is used in combination with other, more effective preparations. As a rule, these are potent insecticides. Here soap is necessary to improve the adhesion of liquid to the surface of stems and leaves. When processing plants, follow the instructions for the drug with a stronger effect.
Garlic mixture
This recipe is commonly used to combat spider mites. Fresh garlic in the amount of 15 g is crushed and mixed with 3 liters of boiling water. Leave the solution in a closed container to brew for 2 hours. Strain the liquid through cheesecloth. Then add 200 ml of garden soap to it. Spray the prepared solution using a spray bottle.
Advice!
It is better not to spray garlic green soap solution in a closed space due to the unpleasant aroma.
Mixture with soda ash
In combination with soda ash, garden soap is used as a top dressing. This remedy gives good results. The solution is prepared from 50 g of soap, the same amount of soda ash and 10 liters of water. After thoroughly mixing the ingredients, spray the liquid onto the garden crops. You cannot pour the solution under the root, otherwise the root system of the plants will suffer.
Mixture with copper sulfate
The solution prepared according to this recipe rids plants of insect pests. It is also used to treat fungal infections. For preparation you will need 2 bowls. One combines 800 ml of water and 30 ml of green soap. In the other - 200 ml of water and 2 g of copper sulfate. After dissolving the components, pour copper sulfate into a container with garden soap. The liquid is poured in a thin stream, stirring constantly. The prepared solution is poured into a sprayer and the plants begin to be sprayed.
Blend with tobacco
As a top dressing for cucumbers, tomatoes and other vegetable crops, green soap is used in combination with tobacco. You can also add a little wood ash there. Mix 500 g of tobacco dust and the same amount of wood ash in a bucket of water. After keeping the mixture for 24 hours, filter through cheesecloth. Pour in an additional 25 g of concentrate and dilute with the same amount of clean water. Spray the plants with this solution.
Composition and principle of action
The active ingredients of the drug are animal fats, various vegetable oils, water and potassium salts. Green soap can be used either independently or as an adjuvant to pesticides.
The product is characterized by the absence of preservatives. It does not have a harmful effect on humans and the environment. Green soap has other benefits:
- completely decomposes to simple components, without polluting the soil and water bodies;
- suitable for most plants;
- increases endurance to adverse weather conditions.
Green soap is effective in combating:
- powdery mildew,
- thrips,
- whitefly,
- leaf roller and other parasites.
After spraying, a film forms on the plant. It prevents insects from breathing and prevents the development of clutches of eggs and larvae. It can be used in the fight against sucking pests.
The soap itself is not a pesticide and is most effective as a preventative. It is used in the early stages of the spread of diseases.
Signs of defeat
You can determine that a currant bush is affected by aphids by some external signs. At first glance, this is quite difficult to do, since insect colonies are usually located on the back of the leaves. There are some indirect signs by which you can determine the presence of aphids:
- cessation of shoot growth;
- bending of branches;
- leaf deformation;
- a large number of dry branches;
- the formation of red swellings on the leaves;
- the presence of garden ants on currants.
Ants
Among all the negative signs, it is the appearance of garden ants on currant bushes that indicates the presence of gall or gooseberry aphids. The fact is that ants feed on the sweetish secretion that aphids secrete, so the ants take care of the insects, cultivate their colonies, and even transfer individuals to fresh, untouched bushes.
If small black ants appear in your garden plot, you should expect aphids to appear in the near future. The destruction of underground anthills plays an important role in the fight against aphids.
Curling leaves
Another characteristic sign of the presence of aphids on garden bushes will be the presence of leaves twisted into a tube. When insects suck the sap from the foliage, they damage the thin veins that hold the leaf open. When there are a large number of insects, the leaf is so damaged that it simply curls up. Unfortunately, many gardeners perceive leaf curling as a lack of minerals, and begin to actively feed currants, only aggravating the situation.
Laundry soap for aphids
Aphids on the site can negate all efforts to grow vegetables, berries and fruits. It not only sucks juice from plants, but is also a carrier of many dangerous diseases.
You can buy many effective chemicals for aphids in gardening stores, but it is better to try to fight them with the help of improvised means.
In this case, the fruits and berries will be environmentally friendly, which is important for maintaining health. 1
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Traditional methods of fighting aphids
Gardeners destroy aphids in a wide variety of ways:
- wash it off with water;
- spray infected plants with infusions of fragrant herbs;
- attract insects and birds that feed on aphids to the garden;
- sprinkle the areas where aphids accumulate with bulk materials (ash or ashes).
One of the most effective folk methods is the use of laundry soap. Read on to learn how to use it to kill aphids.
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Soap solution from laundry soap
It's very easy to do:
- Grate 300 g of laundry soap on a coarse grater.
- Pour the shavings into a ten-liter bucket and pour in 2 liters of warm water.
- Wait until the soap dissolves. To speed up the process, stir it with water using any long object (stick, old spoon, metal pin).
- Pour 8 liters of water into a thick soap solution and stir until smooth.
Aphids can also be destroyed using liquid laundry soap, which is intended for washing very dirty clothes and vegetable bags. It needs to be dissolved in water in the same way, but for 10 liters of liquid take 125 ml of liquid soap.
Tar soap has also proven itself well in the fight against aphids. You will need even less of it - only 100 g per bucket of water. But the effect of such a solution on aphids will be the most effective.
Tar, which is present in soap, will help heal small wounds and cracks on plant stems.
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Ash-soap solution
If you have wood ash, use it along with soap:
- Sift the ash through a fine sieve until you have three hundred grams of it.
- Place a bucket with 10 liters of water on the fire and pour ash into it.
- Bring to a boil and cook for 30 minutes.
- Cool the ash solution, and then dissolve 40 g of grated laundry soap in it.
Take 1 heaped tablespoon of baking soda and a quarter of a grated bar of soap. Place everything in a ladle and pour in 1 liter of hot water. Stir until smooth.
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Soap and tobacco solution
Grind 200 g of dry tobacco leaves into dust, pour it into a bucket of water and add a couple of fresh hot peppers, cut into small pieces. After infusing for a day, add 2 tbsp to the bucket. l. grated soap and 2 tbsp. l. ash.
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Soap and tomato tops solution
To control aphids, use leaves or tops from tomatoes. Take 4 kg of raw materials and chop finely. Place in a bucket and fill with 10 liters of cold water. Leave for 4-6 hours, and then set to simmer. After boiling for thirty minutes, put 50 g of laundry soap in a bucket and boil until it dissolves.
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How to use soap-based solutions
All of the above solutions can only be used when cooled to room temperature. Typically, bushes and trees are treated using a garden sprayer.
To prevent it from malfunctioning due to solid particles of soap, ash, or plant stems getting into the tube, any solution must be filtered through cheesecloth before use. It is also possible to treat plants against aphids using an ordinary household broom.
It should first be dipped in a bucket, and the bushes should be shaken. For this method, it is not necessary to filter the prepared solution.
Start controlling aphids as soon as you first see them on your plants. Do not put off treatment for too long, because aphids multiply very quickly. There is evidence that during spring, summer and autumn, aphids provide life for fifty of their generations. Also destroy ants, which are carriers of aphids throughout the area.
Prevention
Fighting aphids is a long and tedious task. To prevent insects from infecting berry gardens, follow these simple rules:
- Perform annual pruning of bushes, removing all damaged branches and shoots.
- Regularly pull out weeds around the bush.
- Dig up the soil under and around bushes.
- Eliminate garden ants.
- Plant aphid repellent plants.
- Let ladybugs and lacewings live in your garden.
- In spring, scald the bushes with boiling water.
- Whitewash trunks and branches.
You have learned ways to combat the currant pest - aphids. Which one to choose is up to you. Practice and experience will help you make the right choice. Fighting aphids is a methodical, responsible and constant activity. Simple preventive measures will help alleviate it.
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Purpose of the drug
Processing of fruit trees and berry bushes. Berry bushes (raspberries, currants, gooseberries) should be sprayed both before flowering and in the fall after harvesting. Fruit trees (plum, pear, apple) are treated in early spring to prevent diseases. If necessary, repeat treatments up to 4 times during the summer season.
Vegetable crops. Cucumbers and tomatoes are treated during seedling cultivation as a preventive measure. Bulbous crops (garlic, onions) are processed during the growing season. The main advantage of the drug is the ability to process vegetable crops both during the growing season and during the harvest period.
Ornamental garden plants Garden flowers and other ornamental plants are treated at the first sign of infection. During budding, try to spray without getting on the opened flowers. Use for indoor plants Treatment of indoor plants against pests is carried out throughout the entire calendar year. During processing, protect the soil around the trunk from getting green soap by covering it with film. After treatment, the plant is dried, the solution is not washed off.
Prices in rubles
You can purchase this product in most stores that have departments with household or garden chemicals.
The price directly depends on the volume of the bottle; today the two most common options are:
- A container with a volume of 0.5 liters costs about 120-150 rubles on average.
- A container with a volume of 0.25 liters costs about 60-75 rubles on average.
The product is also sold via the Internet, but when choosing this method of purchase, it is necessary to take into account that the cost of the drug will also include payment for a service such as home delivery of the purchased product.
Onion peel
An infusion of onion peels is extremely effective in combating aphids. As you peel onions in winter, you don’t have to throw them away, but gradually put aside the peels.
Take 200 g of onion peel, put it in a bucket of warm water and leave for the next 15 hours. Use gauze or a sieve to strain the resulting infusion.
The resulting composition, without additional dilution, is used for spraying against aphids (with varying degrees of infestation and as a preventive measure).
Aphids can pose a serious threat to your garden. Timely measures taken will help cope with the pest in a short time and without significant losses.
Aphids are the worst enemy of gardeners. Once in the garden at the beginning of summer, the pest multiplies rapidly. One female produces hundreds of thousands of offspring. The insect's favorite delicacy is young shoots and plant leaves. Folk remedies will help in the fight against aphids.
Efficiency
Treating plants with green soap The drug helps against aphids if the product gets on the insect during treatment.
Therefore, you should pay special attention to the back of the leaves and stems. The natural insecticide is not absorbed by plant tissues. Acts exclusively by contact. It is advisable to use the product when plants are slightly infested with aphids in the garden. Shows high efficiency when processing indoor flowers. It is used to consolidate the result after spraying crops with insecticides.
Reviews about using green soap are mixed.
The main method of using green soap against pests
The concentrate is shaken, eliminating possible natural sediment. Then the substance is diluted with clean water; It is advisable to take an enamel, plastic or glass container for this purpose. The solution is used to irrigate the foliage (covering the underside) and plant shoots. The most effective is fine spraying from a high-quality pump sprayer; it is possible to “bathe” the branches in a container with the drug. The standard dosage is 200 grams (that’s 100 ml - that is, half a glass) per bucket of water; It is permissible to make it stronger - up to a glass per bucket. For indoor flowers - a tablespoon per 2 liters of water.
Scope of action of the insecticide
Environmentally friendly preparations, not being strong poisons, are especially effective at the initial stage of plant colonization by pests; Large colonies and massive invasions are not easy to eliminate. green soap has proven itself well, primarily as a means of suppressing all types of aphids on a wide variety of crops (vegetables, berries, fruits, ornamental foliage, flowers, including greenhouses, indoors). The drug is also used against mites (including spider mites), scale insects, thrips, sawflies, honey psyllids, and pennies.
Environmental aspect
Of course, the use of any drug requires caution: precise dosages, compliance with protective and hygienic requirements (keep children away, work with gloves, protect eyes, etc.)
It is advisable (unless otherwise stated) to use freshly prepared mixtures. Residues should not be poured under the roots of plants. Unlike many other insecticides, our soapy liquid solution does not pose a danger to bees and other pollinating insects, but it is better to apply in the evening so that everything is dry by the morning. The diluted product is also considered harmless to plants, earthworms and soil microorganisms, inhabitants of water bodies, birds, beneficial insects, animals, and humans. But you definitely need to wait five days from processing to harvesting.
How to prepare a soap solution?
Standard
The standard solution is easy to prepare
When preparing it, it is important to observe the dosage of substances so that the mixture is truly effective and completely destroys aphids
The concentrated mixture is diluted with 8 liters of chilled water, after which it is also thoroughly mixed. The solution should settle, after which it will be completely transparent without sediment. Next, the resulting mixture can be sprayed on the plants.
From liquid soap
A solution of liquid soap is prepared by analogy with the standard method, only the dosages of the substances change. So, 125 milliliters of liquid soap will need to be diluted with 2 liters of warm water, and then with 8 liters of cold water.
Precautionary measures
Green soap has a fourth class of danger. It is low toxic to people and animals. It is necessary to protect your hands from droplets throughout the entire working process. During spraying, smoking and drinking are prohibited.
- The working solution is diluted in a glass container. In case of contact with eyes, rinse them with plenty of water and apply sodium sulfacyl drops. If discomfort does not disappear, you should consult an ophthalmologist.
- The solution that gets on the skin is washed off with running water. If soap gets into the gastrointestinal tract, you must induce vomiting and drink activated charcoal. If symptoms of poisoning do not disappear, you should seek medical help.
The drug is stored for two years from the date of manufacture, in a dry, dark place. It is acceptable for sediment to form over time. The container with liquid should not be accessible to children and animals.
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Yellow leaves on tomatoes
Safety class and safety measures
The fungicidal agent is completely safe for the environment, humans and animals. No manifestations of allergies or cases of poisoning were recorded. Moreover, the product itself is not toxic to earthworms and bees. But you should remember the specifics of using soap on fruit-bearing crops - the treatment should be carried out during the absence of fruit. In other words, either after the harvest or before its formation.
We suggest you familiarize yourself with Horse manure in the fall and what plants to use
As already mentioned, this drug does not have toxic properties dangerous to humans. But still, certain precautions should be observed when using it:
- Do not use the product to treat roots. The soap is for spraying only.
- Green potassium soap is not intended for household use (for example, for washing). In other words, its purpose is to process plants.
- When working with the drug, it is recommended to protect your eyes and hands with personal protective equipment.
- After carrying out all work, it is necessary to thoroughly wash the tools used.
- It is not recommended to deviate from the dosage indicated in the instructions. If it is exceeded, it may have an undesirable effect on plants, and if it is decreased, it may demonstrate low efficiency.
- When using green soap for indoor plants as a nutritional supplement, it is necessary to protect the soil surrounding the trunk with a film.
Green soap is also produced as a bath soap - for dandruff, psyriasis, lichen, fleas, lice. Its composition differs from “garden oil” in the selection of vegetable oils (cedar, sea buckthorn, milk thistle, pistachio, etc.) and the presence of pine extract, which, by the way, greatly enhances its repellent properties. Potassium soap for private household plots is not classified as a pesticide and a hazard class is not assigned to it.
4th grade in some publications is, of course, not harmful, but still the fantasy of their authors. However, any green soap irritates the conjunctiva and mucous membranes, and can cause skin irritation in sensitive people and allergy sufferers. Well, taking green soap internally is no more beneficial than a glass of shampoo or regular liquid soap instead of appropriate drinks.
Personal protective equipment for working with green soap
- Regular work clothes for the season.
- A headdress or, when processing tall trees from the ground, a shower cap to match your hair.
- For eyes - any protective glasses.
- For the respiratory system - any respirator or 4-5 layer gauze bandage.
- On hands in the open air - latex gloves (household or disposable medical examination gloves can be used.
- In hot weather (especially) - have a bottle of table vinegar diluted in half and cotton wool.
When processing indoor plants or when working in a small garden greenhouse in the summer, it is advisable to wear textile, moisture-proof, vapor-permeable gloves (see figure).
Protective gloves for working with green soap in conditions of high temperature and humidity
In latex gloves, hands sweat a lot, and contact with green soap on steamed skin can cause irritation even in a person who is insensitive under normal conditions. In this case (i.e., if the drug gets on the skin), it is neutralized with a cotton swab moistened with diluted vinegar and the affected area is washed with water.
In case of contact with the eyes, wash them generously open under running water, then neutralize the remaining drug with a 2% solution of boric acid, put 1-2 drops of albucid into each eye and contact an ophthalmologist - he will determine whether further treatment is necessary. If the drug gets on the mucous membranes without being swallowed, rinse first with water, then with a 2% boric solution. If ingested, cleanse the stomach using the “folk” method, take 2-4 tablets of activated carbon and consult a toxicologist.
Tar soap for aphids: recipes for various solutions
Despite the fact that our article is devoted to tar soap as the main method of control, we will also talk about other options. To kill aphids, tar soap is a very effective remedy, but you can also use laundry soap, liquid soap, and others.
Tar soap
A solution based on tar soap is prepared according to the same scheme, but the concentration should be reduced: use one hundred grams of soap per ten liters of water. Tar not only helps to cope with pests, but also has a healing effect, restoring tissue and healing damage. Tar soap has a rather pungent odor that lingers on the foliage for some time and repels harmful insects. By carrying out preventive treatments with such a solution, you are guaranteed to protect your summer cottage.
Soap and ash
If you have a sufficient supply of wood ash, then you don’t need to come up with anything else: it is a pest repellent, a cure for diseases, and a fertilizer. In the case of aphids, the effect of ash is based on the fact that it causes irritation on the skin of insects, and makes the juice of plant leaves bitter and unsuitable for aphids. The soap in this solution acts as a glue, helping the ash to stay on the plants longer.
This product is somewhat more difficult to prepare; you will need 300 grams of ash sifted through a sieve, ten liters of water and 20 g of tar soap (can be replaced with 40 g of laundry soap). Add the ash to the water and place on the stove; when the solution boils, reduce the heat and cook for another 30 minutes. After the solution has cooled, add soap and stir thoroughly. This remedy, like all others, must be prepared immediately before use.
Baking soda
For ten liters of water you will need half a piece of laundry soap (can be replaced with a quarter of a piece of tar soap). Dissolve the crushed soap in water, add 10 tablespoons of soda and mix the solution well. Experienced gardeners recommend this remedy as one of the most effective.
This solution is also very popular. It is multi-component, preparation takes time, but the result is worth the effort, since all components enhance the effect of each other. You will need 200 grams of dry tobacco leaves, 3 pods of hot pepper (fresh if possible, not dry), 100 grams of laundry or 50 grams of tar soap, 3 tablespoons of ash and ten liters of water.
Grind dry tobacco leaves, finely chop the pepper, mix with water and leave to steep for 24 hours. Then add soap, ash and mix well - the solution is ready, it will help get rid of not only aphids, but also many other pests.
Of all the options proposed above, this is the only composition that can be prepared in advance, and the soap can be added immediately before use.
You can use tops of tomatoes or potatoes, which must first be chopped. For ten liters of water, take 4 kg of plant material and 50 g of any soap.
Wood ash is known for its beneficial properties. It is often used by summer residents as soil fertilizer. It is also excellent at getting rid of insect pests. Preparing a special remedy for aphids is easy:
- you need to sift about 300 grams of wood ash through a sieve;
- dissolve it in a 10-liter bucket of water and put on fire;
- bring the solution to a boil, cook for 30 minutes;
- cool the mixture and dissolve 40 grams of grated laundry soap in it;
- Soap ash solution for aphids is ready for use.
Plants that repel aphids
Owners of garden and summer cottages effectively use the insecticidal properties of plants. In addition to potatoes, tomatoes and celandine, flowers with a strong aroma can also repel insects. Therefore, it is necessary to plant marigolds, calendula, lavender, saffron, and chamomile around the currants.
Attention!
You can also sow yarrow and wormwood. If you don’t want to sow them, you can simply lay out their branches under a bush. Tomato tops and garlic leaves are also suitable for this purpose.
An excellent combination will come with onions, thyme, and garlic, which are planted near the bushes. When the black elderberry enters the flowering stage, its branches should be cut off and spread over the berry garden.
Is it toxic to humans
Moreover, chemists do not say this unfoundedly, but back up their words with many years of experience in using such a drug.
Moreover, this product does not harm domestic bees and earthworms.
Security measures
No matter how harmless the drug is, it must be used wisely.
- Do not use it for root treatments.
- You cannot wash your hands or wash your hands (even gardening mittens) with this product.
- When going out to work, take care to protect the skin of your hands, as well as your eyes (you can even wear simple glasses, although of course, ideally, these are special glasses and a respirator).
- Rinse the empty spray bottle thoroughly with clean water.
- Dilute soap as recommended by the manufacturer. Don't pour it twice or three times as much.
- If soap gets on your skin, do not ignore this fact. Rinse the area thoroughly under running water.
- If you or someone in your household accidentally swallowed the composition, rinse your stomach with plenty of water (you can add a little potassium permanganate to it).
Advantages and disadvantages
Green soap is considered an affordable product that is widely used.
The composition has many undeniable advantages:
- Has a wide range of applications. Garden soap can be used on all plants.
- Has a natural composition. The substance contains no artificial impurities.
- Can be used to prevent various diseases. The composition effectively increases resistance to external factors.
- Harmless to humans.
- It is a biodegradable composition.
- Used by professional gardeners. This confirms the high efficiency of the composition.
Soap is completely harmless to people and animals. During the entire period of its use, allergic reactions or intoxication of the body have never been recorded. The composition does not harm bees and earthworms.
The only disadvantage of the product is the need to be careful when using it on fruit-bearing crops. Such plants need to be processed before fruit formation or after harvesting.
A bowl of ash diluted in water
One day, an old gardener told me how she fights aphids. Everything is very simple. You need to take water, ash and laundry soap. In a basin or large bowl, the ash is mixed with water, after which laundry soap, also diluted in water, is added. It turns out to be a wonderful remedy for killing aphids. All components are taken “by eye” in arbitrary proportions. This wonderful cocktail does not need to be infused or strained. Incompletely burned pieces of wood and coals fall into the ash from the fire. This does not interfere with the preparation of the solution. In my opinion, just the sight of the contents of the basin should scare the aphids to death.
You definitely need to take care of yourself, or more precisely, of your clothes. Hide your hair under a scarf or hat and prepare rubber gloves. An old sponge becomes a working tool. After all the preparations, you can start processing the plants. Of course, it is useless to do it before the rain.
It is more convenient to take a small container so that you can raise your hands with the bowl up. From time to time the contents of the basin have to be replenished, so I sometimes prepare the entire solution in a bucket, pouring it into containers as needed.
There are a lot of aphids on young plum shoots. It is enough to bend thin branches and lower the affected ends into a basin, washing off the aphids with a sponge directly in the solution. You can just rinse them in a basin
It is necessary to very carefully tilt the brittle branches of some trees and shrubs, for example, apple trees and mountain ash. The aphids are washed off with a sponge; only a portion of the liquid from this “killer” agent gets to the less accessible places favored by the aphids
It is impossible to reach the top of the tree; it remains untreated. Apart from a purely symbolic action. It is enough to take a broom, dip it in the solution and shake it in the direction of the upper branches. For convenience, you can stand on a stool or stepladder
It is important to prevent branches and shoots of plants from breaking off
After such treatment, the garden looks terrible, but we don’t plan to invite guests to enjoy the beauty immediately after the battle with the pest. Imagine this picture: thin shoots of trees and bushes hang under the weight of the black solution remaining on them. Dark liquid flows from the branches to the ground. Wet ash and coals stuck to the once green leaves. But after a couple of days the garden looks neat and beautiful again. The main thing is that he is healthy. The aphids are gone for good. She died even where individual droplets of the solution fell. Rain and morning dew quickly put the plants in order.
If the next day after the operation to destroy aphids, you look closely at the treated branches, you can see the “corpses” of the pest. It seems that the aphids were glued together and dried directly on the leaves and shoots. On the untreated top of the tree, aphids gradually become smaller. I don’t know why it disappears, because it’s impossible to reach all the top and numerous side branches with a sponge or broom.
Fighting aphids with soap
As for insects that threaten plantings, a soap solution can also be used to exterminate them. Its use gives 100% results when it comes to pests with a thin chitinous cover. The viscous liquid clogs their spiracles, which leads to their inevitable death. The most common uninvited guest at a summer cottage is considered to be aphids.
If you find that your plantings have been attacked by spider mites, laundry soap will help solve this problem. Its use is effective in the initial stages of infection, so plants must be regularly inspected so that they have a chance of survival. If the pest has attacked indoor plants, rub a sponge with soap and wipe parts of the plant with it.
Every summer resident runs the risk of encountering an infestation of caterpillars in the warm season. These pests cause serious damage to the crop, devouring everything that comes in their way. Collecting them by hand is long and tedious. You don’t have to bother yourself, just treat it using soap and herbs.
We suggest you read: How to get rid of mold on a flower
In most cases, the pest attacks window plants. Together with the seedlings, it can move to a greenhouse or greenhouse. Insects can cause serious damage to plants and are quite difficult to control. If you are able to detect a nascent colony on plants, take action immediately. In such a situation, also use a soap solution.
For 1 liter of water you will need 20-30 g of shavings. Treat the leaves and stems with the liquid, do not forget to water the soil in the pots with it
Pay special attention to the back of the leaves and where the stems emerge from the soil. After 2-3 hours, rinse the plant in the shower
To eliminate mealybugs, you need to spray once every 7 days. As soon as it disappears, the procedures should be stopped.
Laundry soap against insect pests works especially well when the latter have a thin chitinous cover. In addition, the viscous soap solution clogs their spiracles and the insects die.
Laundry soap against spider mites works a little differently, but is also an effective remedy, especially at the initial stage of plant infection. If the pest has settled on indoor plants, soap the sponge and wipe it on the leaves and stems of all window flowers (if the leaves are small and there are many of them, spray them with a soap solution) and leave for 2-4 hours.
The caterpillars of numerous butterflies that attack our plots in the warm season often become a real disaster for the gardener. They devour lettuce, cabbage, root vegetables, berries and fruits and almost everything they encounter on their way. Some people collect them by hand, sparing no effort in searching for and destroying clutches, while others prefer folk recipes based on soap and herbal infusions.
The most common in the fight against caterpillars can be considered an infusion of chamomile (1 kg of leaves per 10 liters of water, 40-50 g of soap) and an infusion of tobacco leaves (400 g of dry leaves per 10 liters of water, 40-50 g of soap). This mixture stays on the plants for 7-10 days, after which the spraying must be repeated.
As a rule, mealybug settles on indoor plants, but with seedlings it can also move to a greenhouse or hotbed. These tiny white insects are dangerous pests that are not easy to get rid of.
If you find a nascent mealybug colony on your plants, laundry soap will help, just as it does with aphids. Dilute soap in hot water at the rate of 20-30 g per 1 liter and spray the leaves and stems of plants, as well as the soil in pots, with this solution. Do not skip the undersides of leaf blades and where stems emerge from the soil, and do not forget to wash off the solution 2-4 hours after application. Treatment for mealybug must be carried out every 7 days until it completely disappears from the plants.
What is it and what does it consist of?
In fact, soap can have a color from light green to yellowish. Why is that? The product contains potassium salts, plant extracts (for example, nettle or pine needles), water, glycerin and natural vegetable oils. And, if hemp or olive oil was used in its production, then it really turned out green. This is where the name comes from - green soap.
Over time, the recipe changed. Now they use sunflower, flaxseed and other unsaturated fatty acids, so the color may be different. But despite this, the name was retained so that the product would be recognizable to customers.
Classic 40% green soap in cosmetology, pharmacology and veterinary medicine has long and reliably held its position.
But, there are other forms of it. Potassium soap can have a concentration of 20, 40 and even 70 percent. Such varieties are used in other areas. Where exactly?
- It occupies an honorable place in pharmacology. It is often used as the basis for special disinfectants and cleansers for skin. Added to various ointments.
- A popular product in cosmetology. Used in the creation of protective creams and ointments. Also available as an essential additive for body care bath lines.
- Veterinary medicine widely uses potassium soap to treat hands and surgical sites on the body of animals.
- Agriculture has also adopted this remedy. It is added to preparations to combat various diseases and plant pests.
- Green soap is also used in the production of detergents. It is used as the basis for a wide variety of household and chemical products. What is its advantage over its synthetic counterpart? Eco-friendly and hypoallergenic. This means that it will not cause allergies and will completely decompose without harming the environment.
Not so widely, but it is also used in other areas of life: in mechanical engineering, in the chemical industry, in construction.
A simple DIY soap recipe
Making natural soap at home is very easy. To do this you will need:
- 200gr. fragrance-free baby soap or the same amount of glycerin soap base;
- 10g. aloe vera extract or gel (you can use the juice of the plant, but it is less concentrated);
- 15g. mixtures of chamomile and calendula flowers;
- 5 gr. glycerin (when using baby soap);
- a few drops of vitamin E;
- essential oils - optional;
- 1 capsule of chlorophyll or 10 g. colorless henna.
First of all, you need to melt the solid base in a water bath. In order for the process to go faster, it is recommended to first crush the bar of soap (or glycerin base) with a knife or using a grater.
Once the soap base is completely dissolved, add the remaining ingredients: crushed flowers, aloe extract, a little glycerin and fat-soluble vitamin E.
A beautiful emerald shade is achieved by adding chlorophyll or colorless henna. If desired, you can add a few drops of essential oils to give the product your favorite aroma - mint, lemon, fir, juniper, etc.
Heat the resulting mixture in a water bath, stir thoroughly and pour into a convenient form. The soap should sit in a cool, dark place for a day until it hardens completely. If you experiment with proportions and increase the proportion of flowing ingredients, you can make liquid soap.
Details about the benefits of green products for hair and body
Is green soap good for your scalp? The natural composition of potassium salt, vegetable and essential oils is suitable not only for just washing. It has a beneficial effect on skin of any type and can successfully replace shower gel. And the smell when used is comparable to the effect of aromatherapy. By the way, using it in a bathhouse rather than in a bath, you will feel a richer aroma.
Natural components and extracts included in the soap soothe the skin, relieve burning and itching, and also help normalize blood circulation. Green soap does not disturb the lipid and alkaline balance of the dermis, since no aggressive chemical additives are used in its production.
We suggest you familiarize yourself with: Green soap for whiteflies
Now let’s answer the question: what does green soap help with? We can confidently answer that systematic use on the scalp leads to a cure for seborrhea or, as it more commonly sounds, dandruff. A striking example of how, with the help of a simple, but proven over the years, drug, you can solve a serious problem.
A huge number of manufacturers promise to save us from various problems with the help of advertising. Including such troubles as dandruff, dry and itchy scalp and seborrhea.
Even harmless perfume fragrances can irritate already suffering skin. Not to mention the synthetic origin of most hair care products. We conclude that it will not harm healthy skin, but it is dangerous for damaged skin.
We are looking for a solution at the pharmacy, because the drugs created by pharmacists do not contain preservatives. Our skin needs a natural and harmless product, so for you, an ointment based on green soap is a worthy substitute for shampoo.
Believe it or not, the mixture was developed back in the USSR and has excellent cleaning properties of green soap. And the sulfur in its composition normalizes the functioning of the sebaceous glands. In addition to this, there is borax, which enhances the properties of the drug. Thus, green soap will help against dandruff or prevent its occurrence.
You will most likely receive the following recommendations for the ointment: rub into the scalp several times a week. Leave for 20 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with plenty of warm water. It is advisable to carry out not one, but several courses of therapy. The break between them should be at least one month. And so on until the problem completely goes away.
How to use it correctly
This simple tool can be used in several ways. Much depends on the degree of damage to plants or the type of insect itself. Depending on who the composition is used against, you will need to prepare the following solution:
- Aphids and mites. Dissolve 200 g of the product in 10 liters of warm water. The maximum amount of soap should not exceed 400 g.
- Shield. 300 g of soap per 10 liters of water.
Treatment with green soap against aphids includes the following steps:
- Shake the bottle with the product to dissolve the sediment.
- Pour the required amount of product into warm water.
- Stir.
- Spray infected crops with soap solution.
Treatment must necessarily affect all the rear areas of leaves and branches. Soap can be used as a stand-alone product or in combination with other drugs.
Using green soap to control insects
The optimal time to combat aphids is in the morning or evening after sunset. In order not to provoke a negative reaction of the body to the insecticide, you should not eat processed foods for 5 days after spraying.
Treatment against aphids must be carried out in accordance with the established schedule:
- before bud break;
- during flowering;
- before harvest.
It is allowed to use green soap for one plant no more than 3 times per year.
Green soap for pests is applicable exclusively to plants, both indoors and in the garden.
- Houseplants must be treated with this product throughout the year. After spraying, the soap is not washed off the leaves, but the plant itself should be covered with a bag or film and left for a few minutes. But you can’t leave it on the leaves of orchids. Their surface needs to be dried.
- Fruit trees and shrubs. It is recommended to spray fruit trees with green soap in early spring as a preventative measure. If, after this, diseases appear on them, then spraying should be repeated several more times during the gardening season. Fruit bushes are sprayed at the end of spring, just before flowering, and also in the fall, when the harvest is harvested.
- Vegetable plants - tomatoes, cucumbers, cabbage - need to be sprayed at the seedling stage to prevent the development of plant diseases. Garlic and onions are processed during the growing season, and potato leaves as needed.
- Decorative outdoor vegetation must be sprayed as infection begins. Flowers in flower beds are treated during the period of bud formation and flowering itself. But in the latter case, you should avoid getting the green product on the pistils and stamens.
Reviews
Many flower growers and gardeners have already tried using green soap to treat plants, kill parasites or take preventive measures; below are their impressions of using this product:
- Olga: “I’ve heard a lot about green soap, but I’ve never used it. This time, too, I didn’t specifically look for it, I just happened to meet it at a flower shop and decided to buy it. I used it according to the instructions, that is, I treated the flowers not with the product itself, but with its solution. One plant was affected by red mite, the others were healthy, but I sprayed them as a preventive measure. The only thing that was not indicated in the instructions was whether the drug should then be washed off from the leaves or not. Just in case, I did this after two days, but the soap helped, the affected plant was completely restored.”
- Maria: “I tried to use this soap against ticks. I heard from someone I know that the product does not help against all species, but best destroys the red variety. Apparently this is actually true, there was another mite on my plants, I don’t know its name, but it is very small, barely visible and white in color. Even after repeated treatment, nothing happened to it.”
- Veronica: “I wanted to buy green soap in the store, but the consultant said that it was a budget product, the consumption of the substance was high, and the effectiveness was low. Instead, he advised me to purchase insecticide in ampoules, but after such treatment I miraculously saved my boxwoods. Since then I haven’t used any store-bought chemicals, and green soap has eventually become my faithful assistant; it helps both against ticks and as a simple preventative.”
Compatibility with other tools
Green soap can be used as a stand-alone product or in combination with other drugs:
- Tinctures and decoctions of tobacco, garlic, ash and herbs. Such products are effective as preventive measures against the development of fungus and plant mold.
- With solutions of a chemical nature. The complex of soap and chemicals allows you not only to achieve a good result, but also to prolong it. The chemical components deposited on the plants are firmly sealed with a film created by green soap. As a result, they are not blown away by the wind or shaken off and have an effect on plant diseases.
- As a stand-alone product, plant soap is effective in the initial stages of the development of infections and parasites.