Horticultural or neem oil and Passiflora

[kg5]

In the past have used fingers and mentholated spirits to good affect. Have watched the ants carry the scale & mealy bugs from their nests up into the trees so they can harvest the execration from the scale & mealy bugs. It is a very communal happening. Amazing to watch.

[Fuerte Rav]

Hi
Still 'Neem' but off of the original tack of this thread - hope that's OK?

I gave all my Phals their monthly shower of Neem and Hort soap today, no problem there BUT I forgot that I had a tray of rooted Milkweed cuttings that I had just potted up nearby. Now Neem and Monarch caterpillars don't mix well and I'm sure these young plants will have caught some spray/drift. Has anyone any idea how long the Neem will stay active in the Milkweed plants? I've put netting over these milkweeds for the time being to stop the butterflies laying eggs on them but I'm going to have to construct a cage with fine mesh that caterpillars can't get in through from other parts of the garden as well.



It's actually been quite a good learning point. I was going to put the milkweeds in a border amongst some hibiscus but I have to spray the hibiscus with Neem or a chemical pesticide 3 or 4 times a year against cochineal so I need to think again about where I plant them!

Any advice about longevity of Neem gratefully received!

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Fuerte Rav

Hi
Still 'Neem' but off of the original tack of this thread - hope that's OK?

I gave all my Phals their monthly shower of Neem and Hort soap today, no problem there BUT I forgot that I had a tray of rooted Milkweed cuttings that I had just potted up nearby. Now Neem and Monarch caterpillars don't mix well and I'm sure these young plants will have caught some spray/drift. Has anyone any idea how long the Neem will stay active in the Milkweed plants? I've put netting over these milkweeds for the time being to stop the butterflies laying eggs on them but I'm going to have to construct a cage with fine mesh that caterpillars can't get in through from other parts of the garden as well.



It's actually been quite a good learning point. I was going to put the milkweeds in a border amongst some hibiscus but I have to spray the hibiscus with Neem or a chemical pesticide 3 or 4 times a year against cochineal so I need to think again about where I plant them!

Any advice about longevity of Neem gratefully received!

I don't think that Neem has that much of a residual effect - it kills what it hits, just like the horticultural oil. The smell may have some slightly lasting effect but I don't think that it will harm the Monarchs. A wash with soapy water would certainly remove it. You probably do want to plant your milkweed where it's not going to get hit when you spray other things. And certainly if a pesticide is involved you don't want to get that on the milkweed.