How to Make a Chili Pepper Organic Pesticide

This "How To" is part of a list of posts that containing sustainable agriculture methods that I learned while in the Peace Corps. 

Chili pepper organic pesticide is easy to make as well as safe and easy to apply on plants. Ever try to take a bite right into a habanero pepper? If not, well then you're probably smarter than I am, but I can tell you it burns like there's a white-hot fireball on your tongue (and you don't even want to know what it feels like to get some of it in your eye). The active ingredient in chili peppers that makes them spicy is capsaicin. Capsaicin binds to certain pain receptors in your body and recalculates the temperature setting at which they tell your brain that whatever they are touching is really, really hot. For us, that means the capsaicin tells it that really, really hot is below 98.6°F and since our bodies are set to 98.6...well now your tongue thinks your whole body has turned into The Human Torch.

Capsaicin works similarly on insects too and even some fungi. Naturally, most insects aren't crazy like humans, and so they instinctively try to avoid situations where they think that they are burning to death. So we get to play a little trick on them, and save our crops in the process.

BONUS! Most mammals are also susceptible to the wonders of capsaicin. Actually, most animals are except for birds who transport the pepper seeds. Not just an insecticide, not just a fungicide, but a full on power pesticide with a punch! 

...and if you add it to your own homemade salsa, it can also be lunch!


Okay, that pun was bad - really, really bad. I am a bad person for inflicting it upon you - especially without warning, and I am so sorry.



For more really interesting stuff on capsaicin, take a look at the Wikipedia page all about it!


Now, onto the pesticide making!

What you'll need

• Ingredients

• 2lbs - spicy peppers - The spicier the better and the bulk dried kind works just as well.
• 1 gallon - Water

• Tools

• 1 - 5 gallon bucket with lid
• 1 knife
• 1 cheesecloth or coffee filter
• 1 cheap blender (optional)
• Containers - 2 liter bottles work great
• Spray bottles or fumigator (optional)

Instructions

1. Cut the peppers into chunks and add them to the blender. If you don't have a blender, go ahead and dice them then add them to the bucket.
2. Add water. If you have a blender, go ahead and blend them into a puree, then add the mixture to the bucket.
3. Cover the bucket and let sit for at least 24 hours.
4. Strain or decant - this is very important if you are going to apply the pesticide by spray bottle or fumigator as the pulp will get caught in the nozzle.
5. Store for use. If you are using 2 liters, you can get a second cap with a drilled hole in the top and it works almost as well as a spray bottle.
6. Application: You can apply this to the whole plant as a fine mist, but do not over apply as some leaves are susceptible to capsaicin. Also avoid adding it to young plants (< 2 months). If you have never used chili pepper pesticide before and are concerned for plants safety, test it out on a small section of your plants first. Most plants should be fine.
7. Repeat application every 5 to 7 days or after a heavy rainstorm.

Additional Information

Other wonder plants that you can mix with your chili pepper pesticide to make it an even better pesticide:

• Garlic - it doesn't stay as long as the chili pepper juice, but fermented (1+ week) garlic juice detracts pests (and maybe your neighbors too).
• Neem seeds or Neem Oil - This Indian plant has many agricultural uses, the seeds starve insects.
• Balo stalk juice - This is a Central American agricultural wonder plant. They use it for fences, shade cover, and pesticide. The stalks can grow new trees so long as there is one branch offshoot on the stalk. Unfortunately, all I could find to buy were the seeds, but they grow quickly.