You guys. I feel almost guilty about posting this recipe! It is so simple, so easy and so cheap. But let’s not start there, shall we? Let’s start at the beginning.
You see….. I had a bit of an aphid problem in my garden. A few plants had aphids and since we are at the VERY beginning of the fall gardening season here in Phoenix, I wanted to nip that problem in the bud. I went right on over to Home Depot and bought some insecticidal soap and I sprayed the little buggers. Then I did it again the next evening just to be sure. It worked like a charm!
The problem is…. that bottle of insecticidal soap was NOT cheap (at least by my definition) and using it on several plants over two days depleted it. So, what’s a girl to do? Keep buying these expensive bottles of soap? No way. I took to the internet determined to make my own and here’s what I came up with. It is simple, cheap and organic. Doesn’t get much better.
- 1/4 cup grated Fels Naptha Soap
- 4 cups Water
Directions
1. Heat the water to boiling or almost boiling.
2. Pour the grated soap into the hot water.
3. Remove from heat and stir until the soap is dissolved in the water.
4. Let cool and transfer to a 1 quart mason jar or some other container that will hold it for a good long while.
That’s it guys. See? I told you. Almost too simple to post.
**Note** I call out “Fels Naptha” in specific as the soap to use. There are other soaps you can use but it has to be “real” soap – not detergent, not something with antibacterial this or deodorant that. Fels Naptha fits those requirements, is easy to find in the detergent aisle of most grocery stores and can be used as a stain stick, of sorts, after you grate your quarter cup.
Source: Five Little Homesteaders
