Botanical

If you have a garden and tend to your plants regularly, you may recognize before long that there are pests present that may be the threat to your plant's health. If you want to address the pest problem while also making it so your plants are unharmed, using a Botanical pesticide would be a wise choice.

On this page, we will cover Botanical pesticides, what they are, how they work and why they are an effective organic means of pest control. You can also browse this page to shop our top recommended Botanical pesticides to protect your garden from pest infestations. 

What are Botanicals?

Botanicals are pesticides where the active ingredients are extracted from plants or botany that have insecticidal properties. Among the most popular types of Botanical pesticides is pyrethrum. This is a class of insecticide that is derived from chrysanthemum plants. Other botanical active ingredients include neem oil from the tropical neem tree, hot pepper wax or powder which naturally contain the chemical capsaicin and various other plant extracts.

How Do Botanicals Work?

How a botanical pesticide functions in killing insects depends on the active ingredient being used. For instance, pyrethrum attacks the insect's nervous system, resulting in the pest not functioning normally, going into convulsions, paralysis and eventual death.

Neem oil affects insects by interrupting their ability to develop and grow and hinders the ability for pests to lay eggs. Neem oil can also be used as a repellent to discourage pests from feeding on the plant it is applied to. Capsaicin-based products also have repellent properties, deterring pests and rodents from feeding on plants and causing destruction due to the heat.

Benefits of Botanicals

Botanicals carry many advantages over conventional pesticides if you would rather not use toxic synthetic chemicals. Since they are derived from plant extracts they are usually more affordable and safer to use. Botanical products also break down quickly and easily in the environment, causing less pollution.

Drawbacks of Botanical

While Botanical products are generally safer than most conventional insecticides, that doesn't mean they are totally non-toxic and harmless. Some Botanical pesticides can cause allergic reactions to people with sensitivities and others can be toxic to fish and animals so you will have to be careful in how you apply it.

Botanical pesticides usually do not have a long residual effect so you may have to apply them on a regular basis if you want continued control and protection. 

Are Botanical Pesticides Safe?

Botanical pesticides are safe to use when applied carefully according to the product directions. Even though they are safer than most products, they do have some toxicity and should be respected by wearing the proper PPE before handling or applying these pesticides.

What To Expect

After following the label and applying the Botanical pesticide, you should monitor the specific pest situation to observe if there are changes in behavior and activity of the target pest. Since botanicals do break down quickly where applied, you should expect to perform follow-up applications or follow an application schedule especially if you have a significant infestation.  

Featured Products

Pyrid Aerosol - Pyrid Aerosol is a powerful botanical insecticide made with natural ingredients. It controls a wide range of flying and crawling insects on contact. Pyrid is safe to use indoors or outdoors, and does not contain harmful propellants or any ozone-damaging chemicals.

Stryker 5-25 Misting Concentrate - Stryker 5-25 Misting Concentrate is a pyrethrum-based misting concentrate designed to quickly knockdown mosquitoes and other flying insects. Stryker 5-25 is water-based and contains a combination of two active ingredients, Pyrethrin and PBO which works by shutting down the insects nervous system to guarantee a residual control and instant knockdown of insects while being environmentally-friendly. Stryker is great to use if you have an automatic mosquito misting system.