Control Caterpillars In Your Garden With Pepper And Oil Spray

“Just when the caterpillar thought her life was over, she became a butterfly”! It’s funny how butterflies have to go through this gross caterpillar stage! Well, this is life. But, until caterpillars turn into butterflies we have to deal, or not, with the damage they produce over our gardens.
Caterpillars love eating plant and tree leaves and they can actually ruin a tree in a few days.
As a matter of fact, I was visiting my grandma the other days and her trees and cabbage were full of small holes. Caterpillars ate all of her fall veggies, leaving a total mess behind. Grandma was about to remain out of crops because of these future-to-be butterflies.
Thanks to our neighbor, which is a professional gardener, I helped grandma get rid of this fall caterpillar invasion.

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Pepper Spray

You need:

  • habanero peppers
  • 6 garlic cloves
  • 2 cups of water
  • 1 teaspoon of dish soap
  • 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil
  • spray bottle
  • rubber gloves
  • coffee filter

You can prepare caterpillar killing spray with fresh peppers. Wear gloves and eye protection and finely chop enough habanero peppers to fill 1/2 cup, then crush the garlic cloves. Puree the peppers and garlic with water, vegetable oil and dish soap in the blender. Pour the mixture into a quart glass jar and cap it tightly. Set it in direct sun for two days. Strain the pepper solution through a coffee filter into a spray bottle. Spray caterpillars generously.

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Oil Spray

You need:

  • 2 tablespoons of canola oil
  • 1 teaspoon of dish soap
  • 2 cups of warm water

Mix the canola oil and dish soap with 2 cups warm water. Funnel the solution into a spray bottle and spritz caterpillars liberally. Don’t use this on orchids, squashes or hairy-leafed plants.

Another option is to hand-pick the caterpillars from plants but it will take awhile. However, its worth trying!

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