How to make essential oil bug spray to repel bugs and other pests in your garden. This natural homemade bug repellent for plants can be used indoors or outdoors. It's easy to make, and you can just set it by your plants and spray as needed.

There are few things more frustrating than spending time and money planting a garden only to have it destroyed by pests. Not only do we have big pests like rabbits and deer, but we also have bugs and small pests to contend with.

The deer pose a bigger challenge, but luckily bugs are easy to contend with. Learn how to make essential oil bug spray to control bugs on your plants.

This homemade bug spray for plants is an easy recipe from the June 2021 Simply Earth Essential Oil Box that I wanted to share with you. I've been getting the box for a few years now, and I love the easy recipes.

How to Make Essential Oil Bug Spray

This essential oil plant spray is one of the recipe from the June Simply Earth box. If you're not familiar with the box, it's a monthly subscription box for essential oil users.

For just $40 a month, you'll get 6 full size essential oil bottles plus supplies to make 6 easy recipes. The oils alone are worth more than the price of the box!

Plus if you use code EVERYTHINGPRETTYFREE when you order, you get your free bonus box with more supplies and a $40 gift code for a future purchase!

The June 2021 box is about summer and natural living. It has:

You'll use these supplies to make peppermint infused oil, summer lip balm, a summer diffuser blend, bug off roll on, citronella floating candle, and this essential oil plant spray.

For new users, the box is wonderful because you learn about 3-4 oils (sometimes it's 4 oils, other months have a blend) in small chunks so it's not overwhelming.

You can also buy just the oils and some supplies from their site. They have free shipping for orders over $29.

Why Do My Plants Have Holes in the Leaves?

Small holes in your plant leaves is usually caused by pests and not from disease. Luckily, you can learn how to make essential oil bug spray to repel bugs to keep your plants healthy.

How Do I Keep Bugs From Eating My Plants?

Unfortunately, bugs are part of your garden's eco system, and they will turn your plants into a buffet. However, you can keep bugs away from plants by using a garden netting or making a homemade bug spray for plants.

We have a large garden, so netting just isn't an option for us. Instead, I make a natural homemade bug repellent for plants.

How Do You Get Rid of Bugs on Plants Naturally?

There are several natural ways to get rid of bugs and pests on your plants. You can make an essential oil plant spray or use one of these sprays:

Soapy water
Neem oil
Pyrethrum spray (derived from chrysanthemum flowers)
Pepper spray
Herbal water with sage, thyme, rosemary, mint, or basil
Isopropyl alcohol

You can also plant basil or garlic in your garden. Their strong smell helps repel pests naturally. Learn more about companion planting with herbs.

How Do You Make a Natural Bug Spray for Plants?

There are a few ways to learn how to make essential oil bug spray. The Simply Earth recipe calls for water and essential oils.

However, you can also use liquid castile soap in your natural homemade bug repellent for plants.

Is Soapy Water Bad for Plants?

Using soapy water in a homemade bug spray for plants is controversial. Soapy water is often used to kill soft bodied insects, but it can also kill the good bugs.

Dish soap, even a mild dish soap, has cleaning agents and surfactants that break down grease and dirt so they can be removed from the surface. When you spray this on a plant, it can remove the outer waxy coating of the plant.

Once this layer is gone, the plant is more susceptible to fungus and other microbes. The waxy coating also helps the plant trap moisture in it, so this can actually lead to a plant's demise.

Liquid castile soap, by contrast, is mild and natural. It doesn't have dyes or added ingredients that can harm your plant. Liquid castile soap is also not a detergent, so it won't strip away the waxy coating on the plant if you use it in a natural homemade bug repellent for plants.

Liquid castile soap is option in this homemade bug spray for plants. I don't add it unless I have some stubborn bugs. However, I'll have it listed as an optional ingredient in the recipe in case you want to use it in your essential oil plant spray.

Will Essential Oils Kill My Plants?

No, you can safely use essential oils on your plants with an essential oil plant spray. However, you will want to dilute them before using them in this homemade bug spray for plants.

Since you're not spraying them on your skin, you don't need to worry about mixing them with an oil or using a natural solubizer.

What Essential Oils are Good to Spray on Plants?

You can use the following oils to make an essential oil plant spray:

Peppermint to repel spiders, ants, beetles, and aphids
Tea tree to repel ticks, mosquitoes, and ants
Rosemary to repel moths, ticks, mosquitoes, and flies
Clove to repel ants, wasps, aphids, and roaches
Lavender to repel spiders, flies, fleas, and mosquitos
Lemongrass to repel ants, gnats, mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks
Citronella to repel mosquitoes, gnats, spiders, and fleas

Homemade Bug Spray for Plants Ingredients

I made 16 ounces at a time and store it in a mason jar. Then I fill 2 ounce spray bottles to keep outside. I don't allow glass on the patio, so using plastic lets me keep it outside where I need it.

To make a natural homemade bug repellent for plants, you will need: