Question
Good morning - something is eating into the buds of my gardenia before they open, leaving holes in the flowers - what should I use to spray?

Answer
Julia, two great organic pesticides are pyrethrin and rotenone. Both are plant extracts which are non-toxic to humans and pets, and can be sprayed right up until harvest. They can be purchased separately or as a combination. This would be my primary recommendation.

For caterpillars, an effective organic control is BT (bacillus thuringiensis), which is sold under the brand name Dipel.  Another good organic solution is MVP II which can be purchased from the site specified below.

Home Harvest, Concern, and Dragon sell these solutions through most
reputable garden centers, nurseries, or the Internet.  You can also
purchase this product on-line through companies that specialize in organic products. One that I use quite frequently is Gardens Alive.  You can find their website at: http://www.gardensalive.com/

Two homemade solutions that are very effective are insecticidal soaps and garlic spray. You can purchase either of these at your local garden center, or make them at home.

Soap is a very popular insecticidal control. I use it myself in combination with ammonia. Simply mix one tablespoon of regular non-concentrated dishwashing soap and one tablespoon of lemon ammonia to one gallon of water.  Spray it liberally on your plants. It destroys the digestive tracts of the insects and kills them within a few hours of ingestion.

To make garlic/pepper spray, liquefy 2 bulbs of garlic and 2 hot peppers in a blender ?to 2/3 full of water. Strain the solids and add enough water to the garlic/pepper juice to make 1 gallon of concentrate. Use ?cup of concentrate per gallon of spray. To make a pure garlic tea, simply omit the pepper and add another bulb of garlic. Add two tablespoons of blackstrap molasses for more control.

Finally, you can apply oil sprays, also known as dormant sprays, that are organic and break down very quickly. Oil not only kills live insects, but also suffocates their eggs, reducing future infestations.  These also can be purchased at your local garden center or through Gardens Alive.

I hope this solves your problem.  Please write again if you need more assistance.

Regards,

Mike