What Plants Not To Use Neem Oil On?

Whether you’re using plants for decoration or are a genuine lover of gardening, keeping those tiny house plants alive can be a real struggle. With many people facing such similar issues to your own, you might have seen rave reviews about neem oil and its ability to take care of plants. An all-natural and local solution, neem oil is great for the greens- until it is not. 

For all such cases, we at Aromachology Oils have compiled a complete guide explaining what plants not to use neem oil on and its other possible alternatives.

Understanding Neem Oil and Its Effects on Plants

All parts of the neem plant can be used to make something of use. While the leaves are still  used in Indian dishes as a flavour enhancer, its bark was used to make traditional tooth brushes. The only remaining part, the seeds, is where the oil comes from. The seeds bear kernels and the kernels bear the oil. And this neem oil is extremely good for plants. 

If you consume neem oil, you would be shocked and digusted by its bitterness and it turns out so are the pests and the insects. Neem oil messes with their natural life cycle and eventually causes them to die. This is why spraying neem oil is such a good option to get rid of the tiny pests destroying your plants. But what if the plant itself can’t tolerate the neem oil? Let’s take a look at the plants sensitive to neem oil. 

Categories of Plants Sensitive to Neem Oil

1. Delicate Leafy Greens (e.g., Lettuce, Spinach, Kale)

You must have seen how easily the leafy green wilt when kept out in the open for too long or added to a salad too early. That is because the leaves of these vegetables are quite thin. Thus, spraying neem oil will do more bad than good on such thin leaves and cause them to darken and burn instead.

2. Herbs with Tender Leaves (e.g., Basil, Cilantro, Parsley)

Avoid spraying neem oil on the basil leaves to keep them fresh smelling for your pesto. The thickness and the pungent scent of neem oil coats the little leaves of the herbs and masks their scent and causes them to wilt.

3. Young Seedlings and Newly Transplanted Plants

Using neem oil on baby plants and saplings would be like committing a serious crime. For developled plants and trees, you can even use undiluted neem oil. Otherwise it is a big no-no as it can actually kill the plant before it can even grow.

4. Plants in the Nightshade Family (e.g., Tomatoes, Peppers, Eggplants)

While peppers wreck havoc on our tastebuds, using neem oil on peppers can be your revenge. Kidding. Please don’t, because the oil will scorch the leaves and then the efforts of growing your own pepper would be in waste. 

5. Indoor Plants with Waxy or Hairy Leaves (e.g., Calathea, African Violets)

While the ability of larger water retention is good for summer plants, it can prove to be fatal if something like neem oil was to be sprayed on the leaves.

Factors That Increase Plant Sensitivity to Neem Oil

You might have heard this somewhere, “ Talking to plants can help them grow.” Whether this is true or not, I cannot verify myself. But one thing that I’m quite sure about is that plants are just like humans. You will understand it better after reading about the know-hows of what makes neem oil irritating to some plants.

• Application During High Sunlight or Heat

Just like extreme sunlight and heat increases skin sensitivity for humans, it does the same for plants. Applying the potent neem oil during the time when the sun is high is certainly a choice to avoid. 

• Using Undiluted or Highly Concentrated Neem Oil

Even plants require gentle care to grow. Using undiluted neem oil is not the way to go about it because it will collect on the leaves or will char them, causing them to become brown and fall off. Plus, this neem oil plant damage can be irreversible. 

• Frequent or Excessive Application 

I consider taking care of young plants somewhat similar to skincare. You need to know when to stop. Even something as minute as watering too much can fell plants, so using undiluted neem oil more than twice a week will definitely be detrimental to your plant’s health.

• Pre-existing Plant Stress or Disease

Have you ever gone on a vacation and come back to find that all your plants have died? That could be because they did not have enough water or it could be because it was too sunny and hot. Weather extremities and smog can cause plants distress just like humans or animals. Spraying the plant with neem oil under such conditions will not be able to erase it, but cause it further stress. 

Safe Alternatives and Best Practices

Now that we have seen which plants hate neem oil and when not to use neem oil on plants, let’s look at the loopholes and tips you could apply instead-

Spot Testing Before Full Application

Spot testing is an important part of plant grooming that people are often careless about. Even for plants like succulents that require little care, patch testing homemade or store bought insecticides beforehand should be a must. 

Using Neem Oil During Cooler Parts of the Day

It's always better to tend to your plants during early mornings before the sun has fully risen. This will not only save you from sunburns and sweatiness but also act as a barrier against increased sun sensitivity for your plants. 

Diluting Neem Oil Properly

It is honestly a no-brainer that neem essential oil needs to be diluted before using it for plants. Mix it in soapy water and spray from a distance. Or you can simply buy neem hydrosol for direct use. 

Considering Alternative Organic Pesticides

You can make DIY essential oil blends out of  turmeric essential oil, citronella essential oil, gingergrass essential oil as other viable solutions that work to remove insects, dust and slugs from plants. I believe it to be a weird twist of fate, but crushed tomato leaf spray itself can be used as an organic pesticide. 

Conclusion: Ensuring Plant Safety with Neem Oil Use

The best part about growing things yourself is the control you have over the ingredients you use. We look for the best quality of soil, seeds, pots and space to provide our plants a conducive environment to grow. Use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers is thus out of the question. But for plants which hate neem oil, do we just let them be? Not at all! Neem oil is just one the most popular treatment solutions out there, but that does not mean it is the only one. Of  course,  there are other options you could consider. 

But still if you're newbie at this plant growing business, and find using neem oil relatively easier, just don’t forget to follow these few above mentioned steps!