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Cooking spray against bugs?

Can I use cooking spray that I have laying around on mealy bugs? Is this a good idea? The plants infested are Ixora and citrus.

Comments (8)

  • 8 years ago

    I use PAM spray on spider webs full of baby spiders. Does the job and just have to wipe up the stuff left so it does not stain the pain on the deck. Some gardeners cherish the garden spiders, but I am allergic to them. I just get rid of the ones on the deck - in the garden then are fine.

    Florida_Joe's_Z10a thanked ophoenix
  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    I forgot I asked this question lol. I've discovered spraying milk on plants is very effective at killing aphids and other small insects and doesn't harm leaves so I haven't yet tryed the cooking spray. I guess the milk smoothers the insects. I think it produces alcohol or peroxide in sunlight as well. Milk also does an amazing job at controlling and preventing powdery mildew.

  • 8 years ago

    If you have pet birds, or if you are targeting an area where wild birds gather, please do not use cooking spray such as pam. They will kill birds.

  • 8 years ago

    That's only if they inhale the spray. I don't see how that would happen if I spray the leaves of an outdoor plant. I mean birds aren't going to be flying around me as I spray the plant.

  • 8 years ago

    Sylvia, what source are you siting for your 'they will kill birds?' I am not spraying the birds, but the nests of spiders! I have hummingbirds that use the feeder on the porch and they have not been affected. Of course they are not feeding when I spray the small webs. I don't spray willy nilly in the air - just a short burst on the web and it works almost instantly, then I take a paper towel and wipe up the web.

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Wow, I didn't know that milk can control aphids. Thanks for the tip! I've suddenly gotten a ton of them in the past few weeks on my cucumber leaves and hosing them off is ineffective. I wonder if almond milk will work? That's mostly what I have.

  • 8 years ago

    Jae, It may be worth a try if you have a surplus of almond milk on hand. If you do try it let us know if it works! I don't like almond milk but I do occasionally drink walnut milk. However there would probably never even be any left over to spray in my case lol unless I got a bad batch.

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