I was interested in making the jadam wetting agent but I have a couple concerns. I wanted it to mix it with mint oil for aphid IPM as I have had infestations the last couple years with using just insecticidal soap alone. I see there is a peppermint dr bronners product, but it needs ordered and I cannot smell the fragrance in advance to determine if it is strong enough for my application. This would also be for testing this year before making an entire 5 gallon bucket of homemade soap next spring.
question: should I do my wetting agent experimenting this year with the plain Dr bronners or the variety that comes with Peppermint in it already? cost is the same.
Where do you live in the world? I can get peppermint Castile soap at Walmart. I love peppermint, I’m a peppermint freak. Peppermint season starts late November and I turn into a peppermint into until spring. I think the bronners is strong. Be careful around eyes and mucous membranes with undiluted soap. Girls, watch your bits. It will sting like a bitch if you shower with it.
I used a store brand tea tree Castile as insecticidal soap and am unsure of my option. I think the aphids here are made of something else. The ants farm them. Anywho. I’m very interested in seeing your soap experiments! Tag me if you think of it
JWA is awesome stuff. It’s easy but tedious to make. I made 3.5 gallons and it lasts a very long time.
I originally made it to emulsify essential oils for foliar sprays. Before using JWA I had used the Peppermint Dr. Bronners. Like Appalachian mentioned, the peppermint is STRONG. In fact, the cooling effect it has makes my favorite summer time soap… But really be extra careful around your bobs and bits.
For the essential oils here is the mix I used. The oils are NOT cheap and it’s important to use a different oil each foliar. If you make your own mix, you can save extra to do individual treatments.
Foliar Essential oil Blend:
This recipe is for 14.34oz. concentrated essential oil.
-Emulsify recipe at .25(7.35 ml.) to .50(14.7 ml.) ounce per gallon.
-Emulsify 120-240drops per gallon.
-MUST use an emulsifier such as Dr. Bronners Soap(1ounce per gallon prevention 2ounces per gallon infestation), Jadam Wetting Agent, Agsil16h, Yucca or Aloe.
27.77% Rosemary Oil - Camphor Type - Spain
+3.99 oz. / 117.9984 ml.
27.77% Eucalyptus Oil - Globulus- Australia/S. Africa
+3.99 oz. / 117.9984 ml.
27.77% Lemongrass oil - India
+3.99 oz. / 117.9984 ml.
5.55% Thyme - Red Thymol - Spain
+0.79 oz. / 23.36 ml.
5.55% Clove - Stem - Madagascar
+0.79 oz. / 23.36 ml.
5.55% Ginger - India
+0.79 oz. / 23.36 ml.
Total:
14.34oz / 424.08441ml.
Now days I use JWA and Jadam Sulfur. The essential oils smell a hell a lot better but I think the JWA+JS combo is not only easier but much more effective than oils. I’ve used both on my outdoor ornamental garden and where the oils did squat, the JWA+JS made all the difference.
What I’m saying is, if your going to go the JWA route, may as well go all in and make the sulfur as well, otherwise stick with dr bronners and rotate essential oils.
That brings up a great point I forgot to mention. Sulfur and oils do not play well. Spraying them within, I want to say 30 days time, will 100% fry them.
I don’t know why the JWA and JS work together, since the JWA is a vegetable oil base but, the only thing I can think of is that the veg oil in JWA is fully saponofied.
Super important not to mix sulfur with essential/horticultural oils
Did you check dollar general? If you’re polite society and don’t know about the DoGe take a trek to the hood or holler. Holler General’s a best kept secret.
Yep, the only way you can spray sulfur on an oil treated plant is by washing the oil off first! 30 days is a good time frame for it to wear off by itself.
I religiously spray dr. Bronners peppermint as a foliar spray on my outdoor once to twice a week. Where I am in Oregon I can get pretty bad aphids and I personally think it works great. It also kills bugs in contact so you’ll kill whatever else is on the plant on contact. I’ve been doing this for three years now and it’s helped me a lot. Oh! I also will spray the ground and everything around my plants. It also smells great when you do it.
Dr Bronners peppermint soap is an excellent emulsifier for oil extracts and will assist in helping suspend powders. It also is great for washing the plant along with other IPM products. You do NOT need much as peppermint Castile soap is rather strong. 2 tsp per gallon of water is more than strong enough. At higher doses it can burn.
Cinnamon Leaf Extract
Cinnamon Bark Extract
Lemon or Peppermint
Cinnamon bark and leaf stop and kill aphids, mites, ants hate it, thrips, leaf hoppers, spotted lantern ( I’m in OH), also stop powdery mildew before it forms.
Peppermint or Lemon is a deterrent and ruins the ants scent trails. Ants mark everything with pheromones. When you can disrupt those markers, it’s a great thing.
JWA + JS for me, too. Tested it outdoors on every infestation i could find before bringing it indoors and it killed everything it touched. I now add JHS made from braken/fern too it works wonders.
