Description
Essential Oils for the Home & Garden
If you are trying to limit your exposure to toxic and synthetic chemicals in your garden and home essential oils can be valuable tools. They are well-known for their wellness virtues for humans, and can also be precious allies to protect your plants naturally and ecologically.
These oils have been used for thousands of years for their medicinal and cosmetic benefits, and their power lies in the hundreds of chemical constituents they contain. Whether you are trying to chase away garden pests from your vegetable or flower garden, protect your plants against diseases, or simply to improve their overall health, we can use these natural defences to our advantage in both our home and garden, using products you can store in your medicine chest. How cool is that!
May Chang Essential Oil
Distilled from the small, pepper-like fruits of a tropical tree native to China but which is now grown widely across Southeast Asia, our responsibly sourced May Chang Essential Oil (Litsea cubeba) is bright, clean, and citrusy. The fruit is similar in size and shape to a peppercorn, therefore May Chang is often referred to as ‘Pepper Mountain’ or ‘Chinese Pepper’.
May Chang essential oil is equally as good for your home and garden as it is for your health. Its antiseptic properties are used in homemade disinfectants and insect repellents, or diffused to discourage pesky annoyances like mosquitos.
In the Garden
Litsea cubeba essential oil contains high amounts of citral (neral and geranial), limonene, and pinene, making it highly effective against specific destructive agricultural pests as well as crop-destroying fungi. The high citral content contributes to its distinctive lemony fragrance and potent antimicrobial qualities.
As a Pesticide
For stored product insects
Researchers separated five constituents from May Chang essential oil for the first time in 2014, finding that they contained strong fumigant and contact toxicities for stored product insects.
Cigarette or Pantry Beetles (Lasioderma serricorne)
May Chang Essential Oil has proven highly effective against the destructive Cigarette or Pantry Beetles. These cosmopolitan pests occur widely in South Africa, and are prevalent in the region’s warm, humid climates. They are opportunistic feeders that infiltrate homes and warehouses, and are named for their affinity for raw and processed tobacco. In South African homes, they are a common household pest that infiltrates pantries and cupboards, breeding in dry pet food, spices, seeds, and grains, cereals, flour, biscuits, and dried fruits and herbs.
Yellow Mealworm Beetle (Tenebrio molitor)
Mealworms are the larval form of the yellow mealworm beetle, a species of darkling beetle. The mealworm beetle prefers a warmer climate and higher humidity.
This beetle has a cosmopolitan distribution and In South Africa, the species primarily exists in two contexts:
As a Pest: It naturally infests stored grains, flour, and food storage facilities.
In Captivity: It is widely reared in captivity by academic institutions like the University of Pretoria and by local pet owners for use as a high-protein feed for reptiles, birds, and fish.
Book Lice, Pantry Lice (Liposcelis bostrychophila)
May Chang essential oil strongly repels and kills book lice. This cosmopolitan, indoor pest thrives in grain stores, pantries, and even museums wherever dry plant matter or starches are stored. They are not true lice and do not bite, sting, or carry diseases.
They are particularly prevalent during warm, humid months, and you will frequently find them indoors in damp areas like bathrooms, kitchens, or walls affected by leaks or condensation.
In unsealed stored food products like packets of grains, flour, and cereals, they feed on microscopic mould. They also feed on paper products such as old books, cardboard boxes, and stored wallpaper.
To reduce them, remove and dispose of all infested products. Books and paper products can be wiped down with a damp cloth and a few drops of essential oil and allowed to dry thoroughly before repacking.
Reduce humidity if necessary using a dehumidifier. Try to keep indoor humidity below 50%, which deprives them of the mould they eat. Fix leaking pipes, wipe down damp surfaces, and ensure good ventilation. Spray with essential oils to deter them, or apply the oils to cotton wool balls to tuck around the storage facility.
Caterpillars and Moths
Cabbage Looper, Koolblaar Wurm (Trichoplusia ni)
These pale green caterpillars with thin, white stripes running along the body are easily identified by their distinct “looping” or inchworm-like movement. This pest attacks many Brassica crops such as Cabbage and Broccoli, and also Beans, but primarily targets Tomatoes and Potatoes.
Watch out for look-alikes in your vegetable patch like the common Tomato Semi-Looper (Chrysodeixis acuta). The Plusia Semi-Looper (Thysanoplusia orichalcea) is yet another common caterpillar that causes holes and blemishes on vegetable foliage.
Outbreaks can be severe for a season and then remain scarce for 2 to 3 years, largely due to natural predators like parasitic wasps.
Spraying these crops with May Chang acts as a natural deterrent against destructive larvae like the Cabbage Looper (Trichoplusia ni), disrupting the nervous systems of pests upon contact, and preventing them from eating foliage.
Sap-Sucking Insects
The strong citrus vapour deters common piercing pests like Aphids, Whiteflies, and Spider Mites from colonizing leaf surfaces.
Mosquitoes
With its strong, sweet, and bright lemon-citrus aroma, it naturally repels mosquitoes and other bugs.
Fungal Diseases and Pathogens
Research shows that the essential oil of May Chang disrupts the cellular plasma membranes of fungi, causing structural abnormalities and stopping spore germination.
Fusarium Wilt and Rot: Strongly suppresses Fusarium oxysporum and Fusarium graminearum, which cause vascular wilt, root rot, and ear rot in fruit, vegetable, and grain crops.
Anthracnose: Inhibits Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, the fungal pathogen responsible for dark, sunken lesions (anthracnose) on fruits, vegetables, and tree leaves.
Fruit and Crop Rot: Prevents Penicillium oxalicum, Aspergillus niger, and Cladosporium, which cause premature rotting, mould, and spot diseases on berries and orchard fruits.
Blight and Stem Rot: Fights off Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (white mould) and Rhizoctonia solani, pathogens that cause damping-off in seedlings and severe stem rot.
Garden Spray
Mix 15-20 drops of essential oil with 1 teaspoon if liquid soap as an emulsifier and add to 1 Litre of water. Agitate and spray.
Indoors and around patios etc. cotton wool balls soaked in the essential oil and tucked into vulnerable areas will deter many pests.
In the Home
The thin, pale yellow oil of May Chang is fresh, lemony, and citrusy with a soft spicy note. Its top note perfume blends beautifully with lavender, geranium, and cedarwood. The essential oil is cherished for its refreshing aroma and uplifting effects, and is a favourite for emotional balance, air purification, and skin care.
Known for its mood-brightening properties, May Chang is ideal for combating mental fatigue and promoting emotional clarity. It’s often used in morning diffusions or energizing body sprays.
Purifying & Antiseptic: Its natural antiseptic and antifungal components make it a popular choice in homemade cleaners, deodorants, and skincare products for blemish-prone skin.
Digestive Support: When diluted and massaged onto the abdomen, it may help ease bloating, indigestion, and general digestive discomfort.
Calming Effects: Though lively in scent, May Chang also offers mild calming benefits that help reduce nervous tension and promote relaxation.
If diffused it will repel many of the pests mentioned above.
- Add a few drops to a diffuser to create a peaceful, meditative atmosphere.
- Dilute with carrier oil for use in massages or skincare applications.
- Combine with Epsom salts and other relaxing oils for a deeply calming bath soak.
How to Use Essential Oils for Pest Control
When it comes to organic gardening, prevention is better than cure, and spraying crops regularly with essential oils to prevent insect infestation and disease is the most effective method. This will not only chase pests away, but also make your garden smell great!
Always use pure essential oils, and because they are so potent, always dilute them first.
How to dilute essential oils
One of the drawbacks of using essential oils in the garden is that the levels of terpenes and other constituents can vary greatly depending on the region where the plants are grown, genetics, climate and other seasonal factors. Therefore, maintaining consistency in the chemical profile of the oils is hard.
For example, Rosemary oil extracted from plants growing in two different regions of Italy will contain varying levels of α-pinene, ranging from 11% to 36%. Another study showed that essential oils extracted from different chemotypes of garden thyme did not have the same toxicity against the bean weevil.
This is the reason why, if you look for exact recipes for the oil you wish to use in the garden, you will find many different quantities of oil versus water used.
Another factor to take into account is the actual number of drops in a milliliter can vary greatly depending on the thickness of the liquid: Thicker liquids like essential oils produce larger drops, meaning it takes fewer drops to make 1mL. Different dropper bottles or droppers also have varying nozzle sizes, which changes the volume of a single drop.
In standard pharmaceutical measurements, 1 mL is equal to approximately 20 drops (meaning 1 drop is about 0.05 mL). Therefore, 10 drops are typically equal to about 0.5 mL.
This is why physicians do not rely on counting drops, as this can lead to incorrect dosing. Instead they use an oral syringe, a graduated measuring cup, or the specific dropper provided with the medicine.
Because the actual number of drops in a millilitre can vary greatly depending on the thickness of the liquid and varying nozzle sizes, which changes the volume of a single drop, I recommend starting with the lowest recommended dosage. You can always increase it later.
CAUTION:
Because the actual number of drops in a millilitre can vary greatly depending on the thickness of the liquid and varying nozzle sizes, which changes the volume of a single drop, I recommend starting with the lowest recommended dosage. You can always increase it later.
Preventative spraying
A general guideline when mixing sprays to deter insects, and for anti-fungus protection is to mix 4–8 drops of Essential Oil in 1 Litre of water with an emulsifier.
Garden Sprays
At certain times of the year various pests and diseases will be more prevalent, so for stronger protection dosages can be increased.
Generally you will find recommended dosages are between 10-20 drops per Litre of water.
Always Test Sprays First
Unless you apply very high doses of essential oils, they are perfectly safe to use in the garden. However, because the strengths of essential oils vary, to ensure they do not cause leaf burn, it’s important to always test your spray on a small, isolated area of the plant first. Wait at least 24 hours to check for damage before applying it everywhere.
A good method of remembering which leaves you tested your spray on is to tie string or ribbon onto the stems that have been sprayed.
Take Notes
Taking note of which plants were tested and the dosages used, will soon give you a good indication of the strengths your plants need for protection.
Mixing your spray
The Emulsifier:
Soap is essential as an emulsifier as essential oils do not mix with water and will float to the top, potentially burning your plants. A gentle liquid dish soap, pure liquid Castile or Black soap can be used.
Approximately one teaspoon of liquid soap emulsifier is used in one litre of water. Witch hazel, Vodka, or apple cider vinegar also emulsifies oil and water.
The Method:
In a small glass container, mix your essential oils with your emulsifier, then add some of the water and stir well. Warming the water helps with emulsification. Add the oil mix to the spray bottle with the rest of the warm water. Agitate well and also regularly whilst spraying.
Applying your Oils
Spraying in the middle of a hot, sunny day can cause leaf burn, so always apply the mixture in the cool of early morning or late afternoon. Remember to agitate the spray bottle well before use, and regularly while spraying. Ensure that you spray underneath the leaves where insects commonly hide.
During the cooler times of the day beneficial daytime pollinators are not that active. Never spray plants if you can see beneficial pollinators like bees around the plants. Even organic sprays can be abused in the garden, so as they say “everything in moderation”.
NOTE: The strength of the oils will evaporate, so reapply to plants after rain, every 2 weeks, or as needed.
Cotton Ball Method
To target specific insects in large numbers, like ant hills or rodent burrows, take some cotton balls and add a few drops of essential oils to them. Place the cotton ball right onto the ant hill, burrow or other insect grouping. This will cause them to relocate immediately. If that doesn’t work immediately you should repeat the process using a stronger solution.
You can also rub the oils onto any hard surfaces to create a long-lasting barrier.
Hanging Strips to Deter Pests
Add essential oils to a bowl of warm water and soak strips of pretty material or ribbon in the water before hanging onto the branches of fruit trees, or near edible gardens and ornamental shrubs.
Is there a waiting period before harvesting?
You should not eat vegetables and fruits immediately after spraying them with essential oils. These oils are highly concentrated and consuming them without a waiting period or proper cleaning can cause digestive upset, inflammation, or irritation of the mouth and oesophagus.
Essential oils degrade in sunlight and waiting 24 hours should be sufficient. Ensure that you always wash your food well and all will be fine.
Storing Essential Oil Mixes
Try to mix up only sufficient spray to use in a day, or within 24 hours of mixing. Once exposed to water and oxygen, oil-based garden sprays begin to separate, degrade, and lose their effectiveness.
If you do have any left-over, store it in a glass bottle in a cool, dark place, not in your plastic spray bottle, as essential oils break down quicker in plastic. Agitate well before using again.
