Green soap is a frequent companion to gardeners. And this is not about hygiene at all, but about the destruction of harmful insects and weeds.
Not all remedies are effective in protecting the crop from pests. But experienced farmers say using green soap is the best solution.
But if this remedy fights insects, is it dangerous to human health? And what is soap for gardeners?
What it is?
Green soap is also called potash. By itself, it is a viscous liquid resembling toilet liquid soap. It is usually green or light brown in color. It dissolves quickly and well in water.
Green soap for plants requires compliance with the concentration of this tool. Usually it should not exceed 4%. If the plants are not damaged much, then 2% will be enough.
Green soap is allowed to be used both as an independent remedy and as an additional component with other plant protection products.
When soap is sprayed on the surface, residual white deposits can be detected. This does not mean any improper actions by the gardener; it is simply the result of incomplete dissolution of the soap in water.
The composition of green soap
It has a natural composition. Thanks to him, 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 basis of which was obtained by adding potassium salts and fatty acids.
So, the composition of green soap is simple:
- water;
- fats of animal origin - solid cattle or mutton fats;
- natural vegetable oils - sunflower or soy;
- potassium salts of fatty acids.
What is the remedy struggling with?
Green pest soap is able to cope with many plant diseases:
- Powdery Mildew Green soap will enhance its properties several times if added to a sulfur solution. With such a plant ailment, spraying should be carried out in hot and sunny weather, so that evaporation is faster. After the session, a second procedure is carried out after 2 weeks.
- Gray rot on plants. To get rid of the disease, it is recommended to mix the product with a solution of copper sulfate. For best results, repeat the procedure after a couple of weeks.
- Deciduous aphids. In this case, pure green soap is used, without any additives. Spraying is carried out in a direct stream to an accumulation of insects.
- Fungal diseases tend to spread to neighboring plants. Therefore, spraying should be carried out annually to prevent the spread of fungus. For this, a solution of three components is used: green soap, malathion and copper sulfate.
Where is this tool used?
Green soap from pests is applicable exclusively to plants, both indoor and garden and garden.
- Indoor plants must be treated with this tool for a 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 needs to be dried.
- Fruit trees and shrubs. It is recommended that fruit trees be sprayed with green soap in early spring as a preventative measure. If nevertheless after this diseases appear on them, then spraying should be repeated several more times during the garden season. Spruce bushes are sprayed at the end of spring, just before flowering, and also in autumn, 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 onions are processed during the growing season, and potato leaves as needed.
- Decorative street vegetation is subject to spraying as infection begins. Flowers on the flower beds are processed during the period of bud ovary and flowering directly. But in the latter case, green means on pestles and stamens should be avoided.
Operating principle
How does green liquid soap work? After the plant is treated with it, a thin, invisible to the eye film is formed on the leaves, which “paralyzes” the development of the environment, suitable for the reproduction of parasite insects and bacteria.
Insects and bacteria that were on the plant during spraying die soon, because 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 tool does not penetrate into the internal system of the plant, remaining completely on the surface. Green soap is easily washed off with water, therefore, during irrigation or rains, spraying should be carried out repeatedly.
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. The following proportions are used to bully any type of insect:
- from aphids and plant mites: 300 ml of soap per 10 liters of water;
- from the scab: 200 ml of green matter for every 10 liters of water;
- from bugs, a mixture of agents is effective: 4 parts of soap, part of turpentine, 2 parts of kerosene are dissolved in 12 parts of warm water.
Compatibility with other means
Green soap can be used as an independent tool, or in combination with other drugs:
- Tinctures and decoctions of tobacco, garlic, ash and herbs. Such agents are effective as preventive measures against the development of fungus and plant mold.
- With solutions of a chemical nature. The complex of soaps and chemicals allows not only to achieve a good result, but also to extend it. The chemical components that have settled on the plants are firmly sealed with the film that the green soap creates. As a result, they are not blown away by the wind and are not shaken off and have an effect on plant ailments.
- As an independent tool, soap for plants is effective in the initial stages of the development of infections and parasites.
Is it harmful to humans?
Reviews of green soap suggest that it does no harm to human health. The composition of the product, which confirms its naturalness, also testifies to this.
Also, it does not harm the environment, while effectively affecting problems with plants.
However, the use of green soap still provides for compliance with some recommendatory measures:
- the soap dissolved in water after thorough mixing is used only as a means of spraying on the above-ground part, it is contraindicated for the root system;
- manufacturers warn that you can’t use green soap for washing or washing; despite its naturalness, it is still an insecticide;
- during use rubber gloves should be worn;
- after finishing work, it is necessary not only to wash your hands thoroughly, but also the container where the product was bred, as well as the sprayer;
- if the product gets on the mucous membranes, immediately rinse them with plenty of water, and then put gauze soaked in 5% acetic acid solution at the site of contact;
- Do not ignore the instructions of the instruction, since only with its help you can achieve an effective result.
The described tool is low-risk and completely non-toxic. It has a 4th class of toxicity. From it there are no harmful fumes in the sun. After fruitful trees, shrubs and plants are sprayed with green soap, harvesting is postponed for 5 days until the protective film is completely washed off the fruits.
Conclusion
For a beginner grower, green soap will be a good, non-toxic tool that can overcome the diseases of their plant pets. But the main thing is to adhere to the recommendations specified in the instructions. And after just a few uses of spraying products based on green soap, you can independently select the desired concentration.