An aesthetic-looking bonsai makes the day for every bonsai lover. But, on the other hand, it is really heartbreaking to see the plant becoming an insect buffet day by day and hear annoying bugs nibbling.
If your Japanese maple, Chinese elm, Bald cypress, or any other bonsai is attracted by insects and pests, don’t worry, as using the neem oil can be the easiest but most effective remedy for these.
Is neem oil safe for bonsai?
Undoubtedly, yes. Neem oil can help you to elude around 200 different species of pests and insects. It is natural, organic, non-toxic, and harmless. The neem oil is 100% safe for your bonsai or any other tree, because it has been used as a plant pest and disease controller for centuries.
It’s great that the neem oil is safe for plants. But you have to apply the oil to your plant’s soil to get its benefits. That’s why it’s essential to know its application process. Here we discuss everything conveniently. Keep reading
What Is Neem Oil?
The people of India and the subcontinent know about neem, as they use it for many health benefits. But if you are a European or American, then it’s pretty natural that you don’t know much about it.
Neem is a natural and organic plant, and the oil extracted from its root is called neem oil. The oil looks brown to yellow, smells like garlic or sulfur and tastes bitter.
Benefits Of Using Neem Oil For Bonsai
Would you like to use neem oil on your loving bonsai without knowing its benefits? Most probably, you are saying no by shaking your head. Never mind, and we appreciate your answer, as your growing tree is a child of your many hours of hard work.
There are countless benefits of using neem oil on your bonsai or other plants. But here we like to uplift a few of the advantages that you love to know.
- The professional entomologist suggests using neem oil, as they get the proof that the oil is 100% effective in killing insects and pests, like Leaf Hoppers, Aphids, Scales, Mites, Spiders Mites, Thrips, Whiteflies, Mealy, Bugs, Fungus gnats, and many more.
- This oil is naturally extracted, and there are no harmful ingredients used during processing.
- Because of the oil’s non-toxic nature you can directly use the oil on your bonsai.
- There is no health risk to people and animals if you use the oil on your indoor bonsai.
- You can easily apply the oil to the root and soil of your plant. That is entirely hassle-free and time-saving.
How To Apply Neem Oil To Bonsai
There is nothing complicated about using neem oil on bonsai, but you have to follow a specific way. Otherwise, you may use an obscene amount of oil that won’t meet your desire or ruin the bonsai root.
The Things You’ll Need
- A spray bottle
- 2-3 ml neem oil
- 1-liter water
Step 1: Dilute the oil in the water
Pick a spray bottle and pour one-liter water into the bottle. Now pour 2-3 ml neem oil into the water, and shake the bottle to properly mix the oil and water. You can add one teaspoon of dish soap into the solution to help the oil to mix with the water.
Note: Counting 2-3 ml of neem oil without any measurement is tricky. Approximately 20 drops are equal to one ml. So you can add 40-60 drops of oil to the water as 2-3 ml.
Step 2: Apply the solution
First, identify most pests and insects attacking areas of your bonsai. Then spray the oil on the spots for 20-30 seconds. You should apply the solution on the fewer pests spots for only a few seconds.
However, you can spray all over the plant from up and underside the leaf to the root to prevent the tree from attacking other pests and insects.
Read More: Do Bonsai Trees Attract Spiders? [Reasons and Solutions]
Frequency Of Using Neem Oil On Bonsai Tree
One application of neem oil won’t be efficient in freeing your tree from insects and pests’ attacks. You have to apply the neem oil every two weeks until you see there are pests on the tree.
Can I water after applying neem oil?
Since watering your plants before or after spraying neem oil won’t create much difference, you can water them after applying neem oil. But, there is little chance of soil drench watering after neem oil application.
If the soil is drenched, the effectiveness of the neem oil may be lower than potent. So it’s best practice not to water your plants immediately after applying neem oil.
Where To Collect Neem Oil For Plants?
The local nursery may be a good fit to collect neem oil for your bonsai or other plants. But, if you don’t find neem oil in your nearest nursery, an e-commerce website like Amazon is an excellent place to buy neem oil with some clicks.
But how to know which is the best neem oil for your plants when there are multiple options?
Don’t worry! After scanning all the neem oil, we choose the best one for your bonsai plant, and it is Organic Gardening neem oil from the Bonide brand.
Bonide Captain Jack’s Neem Oil
Bonide Captain is one of the purest, organic, and natural neem oils widely used as a pest killer and controlling solution. It is called 3 in 1 solution for miticide, insecticide, and fungicide. Let’s have a look at some of the key features and benefits of using this neem oil to your bonsai.
Key Features
- Bonide neem oil comes in a spray bottle to make it easy to use.
- The oil is biodegradable, which makes it safe to use on your plant and environmentally-friendly.
- The oil is applicable to indoor and outdoor herbs, flowers, and lawn gardens.
- It can control most pests and insects like whiteflies, fruit flies, aphids, mites, and beetles. Because it kills the larvae, egg, and adult stages of the pests.
- Preventing your plant’s tissue from fungal attack is another great feature of this oil.
Read More: Why Is My Bonsai Dying? [9 Most Common Reasons]
When To Use Neem Oil On A Bonsai Tree?
Using neem oil at the right time is a blessing for your bonsai. But, conversely, using the oil at the wrong time may harm your tree or lead to death. So it’s crucial to know when to apply neem oil to your plant.
It’s best practice to apply neem oil or other insecticides on your plant after sunset. If you use the oil during the day, the sunlight may react with the oil and overheat your bonsai tree. As a result, the plant can be seriously harmed, or the root can be rotten due to overheating.
Since there is no heavy heat when you use the neem oil after sunset. The neem oil can effectively work in cold weather, which helps prevent damage and keep your plant safe and healthy.
Final Words
No other insecticide is as purest and safest as neem oil. Therefore, you should use neem oil on your bonsai to protect your tree from harmful insects to ensure its proper growth and appearance.
You have to use the right amount of neem oil on your plant, during the right time, and following the proper process to get the maximum results. That’s all.