Pyrethrum Containing Daisies
Pyrethrum is the insecticide made from the crysanthemum flower, also known as a daisy. It has been used for centuries as a powder in gardens and also even for the riddance of head lice in the early 1800s. If you are growing a good crop of perennial daisies, you should consider using the flowers to make your own pyrethrum insecticide. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Pick the daisies just after they have opened their blossoms. This is when the pyrethrum levels are the highest. Hang them upside down to dry in a dark place. Once the flower heads have dried, they are ready for use.
2. Grind up the flower heads into a course powder simply by grinding them in a mortar and pestle until they are only very small particles. Sprinkle this mixture over your plants that are being bothered by insects. Some people use an electric kitchen blender that has been set aside for non-food use.
3. Soak the dried flower heads in warm water for several hours. Usually a couple of tablespoons of dried flower material to a quart of water is recommended for a good concentration. If you add a tablespoon of vegetable oil to the water with a drip or two of dish soap for an emulsion, the insecticide will stick to the plant much better and longer.
4. Spray your plants with the strained insecticide you have made. Coat both the tops and bottoms of the leaves so you make direct contact with any insects. It seems to work better in cooler temperatures. Apply in the early evening after the heat of the day has passed.
5. Repeat the application after every 48 hours or after a rain if you continue to have a problem with pests on your plants. Store any extra solution in the refrigerator in a well-marked container. The dried and ground powder can be stored in the freezer until ready to use.
Tags: flower heads, your plants, dried flower