What is neem oil?
Neem oil is an organic pesticide extracted from neem tree seeds (Azadirachta indica). This tree, also known as nimtree and Indian lilac, is native to India and Burma. Its leaves and oils have been used for therapeutic and cosmetic purposes for more than 4500 years. The neem tree is also grown in subtropical and tropical areas of Asia, America and Australia, due to its multiple properties. Although neem oil can be extracted from several parts of the tree, ideally, it should be done directly from the seeds because these have higher azadirachtin content, the compound acting as an insecticide and antifungal agent. In fact, neem oil-derived products have played such an important role in the Hindu culture that they have their own legend. According to Hindu mythology, Indra, the King of Heaven, accidentally spilled some ambrosia (the food of the gods) on the neem tree, endowing it with miraculous healing powers.
Effective organic pesticide and antifungal for fighting cannabis plagues
Neem oil is very effective against the pests that usually attack cannabis plants. This is possible thanks to azadirachtin, which is a chemical compound that prevents certain insects from feeding and developing larvae. This deathly substance also blocks the airway of some insects, causing them to die. Neem oil can be used as a preventive remedy but also for fighting the plague once it has settled in our cannabis plant. It is particularly useful for getting rid of white fly, aphid, cochineal and spider mite pests. Neem oil can also work as an antifungal agent, preventing the appearance of dreaded fungi such as powdery mildew, botrytis or downy mildew. Another great asset of neem oil is that beneficial insects such as ladybirds and lacewings, which contribute to the prevention of plagues, are immune to its effects, meaning both can be used at the same time. The unique drawback of neem oil is that it can only be used during the vegetative phase because its bitter taste can affect the flavour of our buds.
How to apply neem oil
- Foliar spray: Neem oil is generally used as a foliar spray, mixed with water. If you're growing outdoors, avoid applying it during the hottest hours of the day because the leaves could end up burnt. You'd better play it safe by spraying at night.
- Systemic treatment: Adding some neem oil to the irrigation water is also another choice.
- Powder: The so-called neem powder can also be used for spraying the top soil. This method is usually aimed at preventing insects from laying eggs on the substrate while blocking the life of those larvae that are already there.
Environmentally friendly
On top of all that, neem oil is 100 % environmentally friendly and it isn't harmful to other species. When applied to the substrate, azadirachtin takes 3-44 days to fully break down; if mixed with water, from 4 minutes to 4 days; and, as a foliar spray, it disappears in about two days. Moreover, the remaining active ingredients are eliminated by the microbes present in most soil and water environments. Azadirachtim is non-toxic to all animals except for some fish and other aquatic animals.
How does neem oil affect people's health?
As explained above, neem oil is to be used only during the vegetative phase in order to make sure its bitter taste doesn't pass to the buds. These could be the only noticeable effect of consuming buds grown used neem oil, and it can easily be avoided by limiting its use to the vegetative period. Even if neem oil is non-toxic to most mammals, some studies claim that long exposure could lead to liver damage in children.