Neem oil is soluble in water which makes it very easy to use.
1 liter of Neem oil makes up to 50 liters of spray mix.
- For plant treatment, dilute two caps of Neem oil (i.e. 2cl) for a liter of water. Put the mixture in a sprayer and spray infected plants once a week or once every two weeks.
- For the treatment of green spaces, prepare a 3% solution (three 1cl caps).
- To repel slugs and snails, spray the mixture on dry ground. Do not water immediately afterwards.
- To treat animals against flies and insects, spray the floor and walls of the barn, preferably twice a day when the animal is outside. It is not recommended to leave food or drink around during treatment as they may take on a bitter taste.
- To repel flies, mosquitoes and ticks, prepare a solution by diluting 5 to 10 caps of Neem oil (5 to 10 cl) in water, sweet almond oil or scent lotion. Apply the mixture directly to the skin.
- To repel ticks and fleas, use the product undiluted. Apply the oil directly onto the animal, leave it to act for 1 hour in the sun or outside and then rinse with shampoo.
- For hoof treatment, mix 5 caps of Neem oil (i.e. 5cl) in 1 liter of water, and dip the hoof in the mixture. Cows, sheep, pigs and pets can be treated in this way.
- Neem oil can be used undiluted to treat sheep, cats and dogs for example. In this case, leave it on for half an hour, and then rinse with water.
- Another possibility for treatment against parasites: give the animal successive water baths, with 20 to 30 caps of Neem oil (i.e. 20cl to 30cl) added.
Choosing the right Neem oil
Extra virgin, first cold-pressed Neem oil contains a hundred or so compounds. The best known compound is Azadirachtin, the residual content of which is an indicator of the product's active ingredient. The average content of Azadirachtin in a premium quality, unmodified oil is 2000 ppm. Some oils are fully soluble in water, which makes them easier to use.
Note that there are many different qualities of Neem oil on the market: a good oil is not automatically the one which has the highest azadirachtin content as it can always be increased artificially. An unpleasant smell should also alert consumers to the fact that the oil concerned is certainly mixed with oil of questionable quality. Some manufacturers do not hesitate to add poor quality oil such as Rotenone, for example... Undiluted Neem oil has a strong, but not unpleasant smell... Before purchasing any oil, we advise that you check with your retailer that the manufacturer guarantees that it is "extra virgin, first cold-pressed neem oil". It is also best to buy oil produced by a socially-responsible company under a "fair trade" label.
And finally note that Neem extract and Neem virgin oil are not comparable products. Extract is manufactured in the laboratory, and has no stimulating organic qualities. Relatively elaborate equipment also needs to be used to extract just a single active molecule.
Premium-quality, virgin Neem oil is virtually hand-made and imported directly from India where its use has very positive effects on the development of this country's trade.