He marigoldalso known as “flower of the dead” in Mexiconot only decorates altars and gardens with its intense orange color during the Day of the Deadis also a silent ally in the orchard and garden.
Its characteristic aroma and the natural compounds it contains have made it famous for its symbolism in the first days of November, but in most cases, it ends up being garbage when it is removed from the altars.
However, there is a way to give a second life to the marigold that decorates the offerings or gardens, and it consists of reusing the flowers to create a organic and economical insecticide.
In addition to his spiritual and decorative meaningcempasuchil is known for its power pest repellent in traditional Mexican agriculture.
It is even widely used by agroecological producers to protect crops from aphids, whiteflies and other insects, without damaging the environment or putting the health of people or pets at risk.
Taking advantage of leaves and stems maximizes the use of the entire plant and avoid waste. Traditionally, it is applied in orchards and pots, especially after heavy rains or during seasons of high pest presence.
Ingredients:
- 1 kilo of marigold flower leaves and stems (fresh or recent remains from the offering or garden).
- 1 liter of water for initial maceration.
- 11 liters of additional water to dilute the mixture after macerating.
Procedure:
- Gather and clean well a kilo of marigold leaves and stems, removing dirt or residue.
- Cut the remains into small parts to facilitate the extraction of the active compounds.
- Place the chopped marigolds in a large container and add 1 liter of water.
- Let the mixture marinate for 24 hours in a cool place and preferably in the shade.
- After that time, filter to remove the solids and keep only the resulting liquid.
- Dilute the liquid in 11 liters of clean water, mixing well.
- Place the mixture in a sprayer or irrigation backpack and Spray on leaves, stems and soil of the plants you want to protect, preferably at dusk or during hours of little sun.
The method is effective and allows you to take advantage of plant waste from the altar or gardenreducing the generation of garbage and improving the health of the garden. Additionally, applying it regularly can help keep crops free of harmful insects naturally and safely.
