Wednesday Works: Making Natural Pesticides at Home

Know Thy Enemy: Identifying Pests First

Before you start spraying, let’s be clear: not all bugs are bad bugs. Ladybugs, lacewings, and even some beetles are on your side. So it’s essential to ID your pest problem before going to war.

Common indoor pests:

• Aphids – Tiny, soft-bodied, and usually green or black. They cluster on new growth and suck sap.

• Spider mites – Almost invisible but leave behind webbing and speckled yellow leaves.

• Mealybugs – White, cottony clumps in leaf joints.

• Fungus gnats – Small black flies hovering near the soil surface.

• Scale insects – Brown, shell-like bumps stuck to stems and undersides of leaves.

Look closely with a magnifying glass or zoom lens and make sure you know what you're dealing with—because certain treatments work better on some pests than others.

The Natural Arsenal: Ingredients That Pack a Punch

Odds are, your kitchen already contains the key ingredients for making powerful, natural pesticides. Here's your bug-banishing lineup:

• Garlic – A natural insect repellent with antibacterial and antifungal properties.

• Neem Oil – Derived from the neem tree, it disrupts insect hormones and deters feeding.

• Castile or dish soap – Breaks down bug exoskeletons and suffocates soft-bodied pests.

• Chili powder or fresh chilies – The capsaicin irritates and deters most insects.

• Citrus peels – Especially effective against ants and aphids due to their natural limonene content.

• Baking soda – Great for treating fungal infections and mild infestations.

Garlic Chili Spray

Best for: Aphids, mites, whiteflies
You’ll need:

• 1 head of garlic

• 1 tsp chili powder or 1 hot pepper

• 1 quart water

• A few drops of dish soap

How to make it:
Blend garlic and chili with water, let steep overnight. Strain through cheesecloth or fine sieve, then add soap. Pour into a spray bottle and use within a week. Apply in the early morning or evening—avoid spraying under direct sun.

Soapy Citrus Spray

Best for: Aphids, ants
You’ll need:

• Peels from 2–3 lemons or oranges

• 2 cups boiling water

• 1 tsp mild dish soap

How to make it:
Steep the citrus peels in boiling water overnight. Strain and add soap. Shake and spray directly on affected areas, especially under leaves.

Boric Acid Bait

Best for: Roaches
You’ll need:

• 1 part boric acid

• 1 part sugar or cocoa powder

How to make it:
Mix the dry ingredients thoroughly and sprinkle a light dusting in dry, out-of-the-way areas—under the fridge, behind cabinets, or near entry points. Keep away from pets and children.

Diatomaceous Earth Dusting

Best for: Roaches, ants, silverfish
You’ll need:

• Food-grade diatomaceous earth

How to use it:
Dust a light layer along baseboards, in corners, under appliances, and in cracks. Leave dry and undisturbed for several days. Reapply after cleaning or if it gets wet.

Neem Oil Solution

Best for: Mealybugs, scale, fungus gnats, spider mites
You’ll need:

• 1 tsp neem oil (cold-pressed, organic)

• ½ tsp mild dish soap

• 1 quart warm water

How to make it:
Mix soap into water first, then stir in neem oil until fully emulsified. Shake before each use and spray every 5–7 days until pests disappear.

Baking Soda Leaf Wash

Best for: Fungus, mildew, prevention
You’ll need:

• 1 tsp baking soda

• 1 quart water

• ½ tsp dish soap

How to make it:
Mix thoroughly and spray on leaves every 5–10 days to prevent or treat powdery mildew. Helps maintain pH balance on leaf surfaces.

Citrus Oil Repellent Spray

Best for: Roaches, ants, spiders
You’ll need:

• 10 drops orange or lemon essential oil

• 1 cup water

• A dash of mild dish soap

How to make it:
Combine ingredients in a spray bottle. Shake well before use and spray along baseboards, windowsills, and any known insect entry points.

Spicy Garlic Pepper Spray

Best for: Roaches, ants, general insect deterrent
You’ll need:

• 1 clove garlic

• ½ small onion

• 1 tsp cayenne or chili powder

• 1 quart water

How to make it:
Blend all ingredients together and let steep overnight. Strain through cheesecloth or a fine mesh strainer. Pour into a spray bottle and spray in roach-prone areas—especially corners, cracks, and under sinks. Avoid using directly on edible indoor plants due to the strong smell.

Low-Waste, Low-Cost, High Impact

Natural pesticide recipes aren’t just good for your plants—they’re good for your wallet and the environment too. By using what you already have, you're reducing waste and skipping the plastic-heavy, chemical-laden products that crowd garden aisles.

And hey—there’s something pretty satisfying about beating bugs with chili powder and a lemon rind.

Want more DIY plant hacks?

If this guide inspired your wall-to-jungle transformation (or helped you finally put that empty corner to use), help us spread the upward-growing joy:

• Tag us on Instagram @PlantMyPlants so we can cheer on your creativity

• Use the hashtag #WednesdayWorks o show off your setup and inspire fellow vertical visionaries

• Forward this to a friend with blank walls and big plant dreams—they just might be one drill away from their own green masterpiece

We’ll feature our favorites—because when we share our growing spaces, we build more than gardens—we build a community that sees potential in every corner and beauty in every climb.