Captan and Neem Oil

Wednesday, May. 22, 2002 – 3:51 p.m.

2002-05-22 3:51

I didn’t get out to do my weekly spraying of the roses this morning. [sigh] The bed was just too nice and toasty warm. I guess I will need to do it when I get home tonight. This week is Captan again. However, this time I am going to see if I can get it to mix better. The only problem with using Captan (other than the fact that it seems to clog the sprayer) is that it is just a fungicide. I need to look at the other stuff on my shelf to see if there is an insecticide that is compatable. I pulled the use instuctions up on the web and it says that it is compatiable “with most commonly used fungicides and insecticides, with the exception of oil and strongly alkaline materials. I guess that excludes the combo with neem oil.

Neem oil is the extract from the seeds of the Neem Tree, a native of India. It has insecticidal and insect replelent properties. Hmmm, after doing a web search about it, it also appears to have antifungal properties as well. And it is non-toxic to humans, animals, birds, and (generally) benificial insects (bees, ladybugs, etc). It is only harmful to bugs that eat the leaves that have been treated with the stuff. Cool! I think I will forgo the Captan this week and spray with Neem Oil (I am pretty sure I have some).

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