DIY Soap spray for insect control

[MateoinLosAngeles]

Hey everyone!

I usually use the Potassium Salts of Fatty Acids products for pest control on orchids, such as the Safer Insecticidal Soap.

My experience is positive with this product. Seems to be both effective and harmless to the plants. However, 16 oz of this product, which requires to be mixed at 2.5 fl oz (5 tbsp) per gallon, costs about $10 on Amazon.

A product like Dr. Bronner's Peppermint Oil Castile Soap, which seems generally recommended by orchid growers, can cost anywhere from $5.99 to $12.99, depending on whether you buy it at the supermarket or online. But at least it's available at the supermarket, and it's labeled for many more uses than insecticidal soap, such as cleaning, showering, etc.

Finally, a product like Dawn dish soap costs about $5 for 32 oz. I've heard people having issues with dish soap, but I'm not clear on whether there's some basis for why one shouldn't use this or if it's just anecdotal evidence that can't rule out over-concentration of the mixture or mishandling of the application.

Do you have recommendations for DIY soap-based sprays? Do folks stick to insecticidal soaps or have you successfully ventured into DIY solutions, and does anyone mix water and alcohol in these solutions to make them more effective?