Bayer Natria Neem Oil Concentrate

[alpeldunas]

I was reading up on neem oil, the pros and cons and am considering using it to combat the aphids I'm beginning to see. I'm also considering buying lady bugs ...I'm just not sure how effective they will be against other potential pests or how long I can convince them to stay around. I still have a lot of research to do ...

Anyway, I was reading that in order to remain effective, the process used to extract the oil must still preserve the azadirachtin in the oil. I have searched, but I cannot determine whether the Bayer Natria Neem Oil concentrate is cold pressed or if another method that removes the azadirachtin and renders the neem oil ineffective is used.

Does anyone know the answer to this? I intend to call Bayer to find out ...but it's pretty late now and tomorrow is Sunday so I don't expect to find out much until next week ...if I can get someone knowledgeable to take my call. It says it's only 70% clarified hydrophobic extract of neem oil ....which makes me think it's no good after reading all the posts that say to look for 100% neem oil.

If the answer is no, their neem oil is not effective, can someone recommend a preferred brand/source ...or, perhaps, an alternate means to address aphids and other harmful pests? I do not want to use chemical pesticides and would like to use something that's as mild as possible while still remaining effective.

[mdvpc]

I used to have a real aphid problem. Tried ladybugs, which worked in my greenhouse, but outside they took off-they are hard to keep around. So I switched to green lacewings, and they took care of the problem. Once you establish them, they should overwinter also.

[alpeldunas]

Disregard the questions in my post. I did a search and found a thread that had lots of info. I know I should have done that first ....

Thanks for the reply. I saw mention of green lacewings as well. Can you explain how you establish them? Is it just a matter of letting them free and trying to keep them fed and happy? Are there some sources I could read about this or other threads you can refer me to?

[TomNJ]

Could you link the thread you found? I am also interested in your questions about neem oil.

Thanks!

TomNJ/VA

[alpeldunas]

http://www.tomatoville.com/showthrea...reen+lacewings

Hopefully I did that right!

[JamesL]

Dynagro makes a good neem product.
http://www.dyna-gro.com/pureneem.htm

Ladybugs- you need to feed them before release. They come out of the bag starving.
If you feed them first, they get real lazy and hang out laying eggs. So you get a few generations.
They go after the aphids next.
Sugar water for hummingbirds works or you can buy a specialty feed.
I don't usually have a big aphid problem but I buy ladybugs every year anyway cause my kids love them and it is nice having them around.
http://www.nwbeneficials.com/nectar.htm

[Heritage]

With neem oil, the cold pressed will contain azadirachtin as one of the active ingredients. Otherwise, as in the Bayer product you list, clarified hydrophobic neem oil will be listed (on the label) as the lone ingredient. This is neem oil with the azadirachtin removed, so will not have the benefits of azadirachtin, but will still have the general effectiveness of an oil pesticide/fungicide.

Steve

[ginger2778]

http://www.saferbrand.com/store/garden-care/5612
Active ingredient is azidirachtin. 14.99 for the concentrate.
Marsha

[indigosand]

I have been using green light neem oil concentrate this season, and it's been great. I've gone thru one bottle already and about to order another. Regarding pest control with beneficial insects, I have had the very best luck with praying mantises. lacewings, ladybugs tend to fly away if their choice of food isn't available in the quantity they'd like. Now that it's June and there's few if any aphids on my plants the ladybugs are long gone. The mantises will stick around and eat a greater variety of bugs. They will eat the much larger insects as they get bigger, including the moths and flies, the june-bugs that incessantly try to invade my strawberry beds and even the horn-worms - and not much is looking to eat them for a quick dinner.