Green soap is a frequent companion of gardeners. And this is not about hygiene at all, but about the destruction of harmful insects and weeds.
Not all products are effective in protecting crops from pests. But seasoned growers say using green soap is the best solution.
But if this remedy fights insects, isn't it dangerous for human he alth? And what is gardening soap?
What is this?
Green soap is also called potassium soap. By itself, it is a viscous liquid, reminiscent of toilet liquid soap. It is usually green or light brown in color. Dissolves quickly and well in water.
Green soap for plants requires compliance with the concentration of this product. Usually it should not exceed 4%. If the plants are not badly damaged, then 2% will be enough.
Green soap can be used both as an independent product and as an additional component with other plant protection products.
When spraying soap on the surface, a residual white coating may be found. This does not mean any wrongthe actions of the gardener, it is simply the result of the incomplete dissolution of soap in water.
Composition of green soap
It has a natural composition. It is thanks to him that green soap effectively fights harmful insects and plant diseases. Despite the name, this is still not a foaming agent, but simply a viscous solution, the base of which was obtained by adding potassium s alts and fatty acids.
So, the composition of green soap is simple:
- water;
- fats of animal origin - solid fats of cattle or lamb;
- vegetable oils of natural nature - sunflower or soy;
- potassium s alts of fatty acids.
What does the remedy fight?
Green Pest Soap Can Control Many Plant Diseases:
- Powdery mildew. Green soap will increase its properties several times if you add it to a sulfur solution. With such a plant ailment, spraying should be carried out in hot and sunny weather so that evaporation takes place faster. After the session, the second procedure is carried out after 2 weeks.
- Grey rot on plants. To get rid of the disease, it is recommended to mix the remedy with a solution of copper sulfate. For best results, repeat the procedure after a couple of weeks.
- Foliar aphid. In this case, pure green soap is used, without any additives. Spraying is carried out with a direct jet on the accumulation of insects.
- Fungal diseases tend to spread to neighboring plants. Therefore, spraying should be carried outannually to prevent the spread of the fungus. To do this, use a solution of three components: green soap, karbofos and copper sulfate.
Where is this remedy used?
Green soap against pests is applicable exclusively to plants, both indoor and garden and garden.
- Indoor plants need to be treated with this tool during the year. After spraying, the soap is not washed off the leaves, and the plant itself must be covered with a bag or film and left for several minutes. But on the leaves of orchids it can not be left. Their surface must be dried.
- Fruit trees and shrubs. Fruit trees are recommended to be sprayed with green soap in early spring as a preventive measure. If, nevertheless, after that, diseases appear on them, then spraying should be repeated several more times during the garden season. Fruit bushes are sprayed at the end of spring, just before flowering, and also in the fall, when the crop is harvested.
- Vegetable plants - tomatoes, cucumbers, cabbage - need to be sprayed at the seedling stage to prevent the development of plant diseases. Garlic and onion are processed during the growing season, and potato leaves as needed.
- Decorative street vegetation to be sprayed as infection begins. Flowers in the flower beds are processed during the period of the bud ovary and directly flowering. But in the latter case, you should avoid getting the green agent on the pistils and stamens.
Operation principle
How does green liquid soap work? After the plant is treated with it, a thin, invisible film forms on the leaves, which “paralyzes” the development of an environment suitable for the reproduction of parasitic insects and bacteria.
Insects and bacteria that were on the plant at the time of spraying die soon, because the green soap interferes with the nutrition and respiration of insects. It is thanks to the fats and acids that make up the green product that a dense barrier film is created.
The described agent does not penetrate into the internal system of the plant, remaining completely on the surface. Green soap is easily washed off with water, so spraying should be done repeatedly during watering or rainy seasons.
Instructions for use against pests
Green soap (the instruction of which is attached to the package) is dissolved in warm and not hot or cold water. For baiting any kind of insects, the following proportions are used:
- for aphids and plant mites: 300 ml of soap per 10 liters of water;
- from scale insects: 200 ml of green substance for every 10 liters of water;
- A mixture of remedies is effective against bedbugs: 4 parts of soap, a part of turpentine, 2 parts of kerosene are dissolved in 12 parts of warm water.
Compatibility with other products
Green soap can be used both on its own and in combination with other preparations:
- Tinctures and decoctions of tobacco, garlic, ash andherbs. Such products are effective as preventive measures against the development of fungus and mold.
- With solutions of chemical nature. The complex of soap and chemicals allows not only to achieve a good result, but also to prolong it. The chemical components that have settled on the plants are firmly sealed with a film created by green soap. As a result, they are not blown away by the wind and are not shaken off and have an effect on plant ailments.
- As a standalone soap for plants, it is effective in the initial stages of the development of infections and parasites.
Is it harmful to humans?
Reviews of green soap say that it does not cause any harm to human he alth. This is also evidenced by the composition of the product, which confirms its naturalness.
Also, it is environmentally friendly while effectively treating plant problems.
However, the use of green soap still requires compliance with some advisory measures:
- soap dissolved in water after thorough mixing is used only as a means of spraying on the aerial part, it is contraindicated for the root system;
- manufacturers warn that green soap cannot be used for washing or laundry; despite its naturalness, it is still an insecticide;
- rubber gloves must be worn during use;
- after finishing work, it is necessary not only to thoroughly wash your hands, but also the container where you bredagent, as well as a sprayer;
- if the product gets on the mucous membranes, you should immediately rinse them with plenty of water, and then apply gauze soaked in 5% acetic acid solution to the site of contact;
- do not ignore the directions of the instructions, because only with their help you can achieve an effective result.
The described remedy is low-dangerous and completely non-toxic. It has the 4th class of toxicity. From it there are no harmful fumes in the sun. After fruit-bearing trees, shrubs and plants are sprayed with green soap, harvest is delayed for 5 days until the protective film is completely washed off the fruit.
Conclusion
For the beginner grower, green soap will be a good, non-toxic remedy that can overcome the diseases of their plant pets. But most importantly, follow the recommendations specified in the instructions. And after several applications of spraying agents based on green soap, you can independently select the desired concentration.
