Recommendations for Properly Mixing Neem Oil

There are several ways to correctly prepare a mixture for the use of Neem oil. Our Neem oil is 100% Azadirachta indica, cold pressed.

Correct Choice of Emulsifier:

Neem oil should not be applied directly to plants as it is too strong. It needs to be mixed with water and "emulsifiers". Liquid soap is often recommended online. However, many users do not want to apply soap to plants. To solve this issue, we turned to our customers who have been using Neem oil for a long time and asked them how they dealt with it. According to their experience, beer or milk can be used as an emulsifier instead of liquid soap. Beer, in particular, seems to bond very well with Neem oil. In this case, use the same amount of beer or milk as you would have used for liquid soap (example: if you used 50ml of liquid soap, use 50ml of beer or milk). It is also important to heat the water to about 40 °C during mixing to create the optimal mixture for use. Keep in mind that the mixture should be used within a maximum of 8 hours to maintain its effectiveness.

Determine the Mixing Ratio:

Neem oil is very concentrated and must be diluted before use. The suitable dilution ratio depends on the purpose of use. Common dilution ratios range between 0.5% and 5% Neem oil concentration.

Calculate the Required Amount:

Determine the amount of Neem oil you need based on the dilution ratio and the desired final amount. For example, if you want to prepare a 2% solution of Neem oil in a 1-liter container, you will need 20 milliliters (ml) of Neem oil and the same amount of emulsifier (milk, beer, or liquid detergent). Mix the Neem oil well with the liquid soap, beer, or milk and water. Shake the mixture well. The Neem oil should be evenly distributed throughout the container. Check that the mixture is not too strong by applying it to only a part of the plant. If the mixture is optimal, it will not damage or burn the leaves.