Despite the fact that this pesticide made from rhubarb leaves should NOT be utilized on edible plants, you can still use this recipe to help the rest of your garden.
When harvesting rhubarb, ensure you trim off all of the leaf of the plant. The leaves contain elevated amounts of a toxic substance called oxalis acid – that makes its ruffled, rounded red-stemmed leaves toxic to people and pets. However, don’t throw them away just yet! It also kills plant-infesting bugs like aphids when processed into pesticide spray.
Rhubarb leaves can be used to make an effective, organic pesticide which functions admirably to control leaf eating pests and it is incredibly easy to make.
Before you begin making this pesticide, you should also be aware NOT to use it if you have dogs! They might be attracted to the soap in the mixture and licking it might be deadly.
How to make rhubarb leaf pesticide
You will need:
- An old pot and a stirring spoon that won’t be used again for food preparation.
- A clean bucket and a spray bottle.
- Water
- Dish detergent or soap flakes – do not use laundry detergent
- Storage jar or bottle
How to prepare it
- Select three or four large leaves that weren’t sprayed with chemicals. Pinch the leaves from the stalks of rhubarb growing in an organic garden, or cut them from the stalks of store-bought, organically grown rhubarb.
- Put the rhubarb leaves on a cutting board, and chop the leaves roughly.
- Place 4 cups of water in a medium-size glass, ceramic or stainless-steel saucepan. Boil the water in the saucepan by using a stove-top burner.
- Put 2 cups of the coarsely chopped rhubarb leaves into the boiling water. Turn down the burner’s heat, and simmer the leaves for 30 minutes in the water.
- Remove the saucepan from the stove top, and allow it to cool.
- Strain the rhubarb mixture into a bowl or pitcher, pressing the leaves in the strainer to extract all of its compounds. Afterward, the bowl or pitcher will contain a rhubarb leaf infusion.
- Mix 1 teaspoon of liquid dish soap with 2 1/2 cups of cold water in a container.
- Blend the rhubarb leaf infusion with the soapy water. Pour the resulting solution into a clean spray bottle. Reserve leftover solution in a tightly capped jar.
Utilize this pesticide for controlling aphids, slugs, caterpillars and other pests that eat the leaves of your decorative plants.
