EM as a Pesticide

EM5 is often used as a homemade pesticide. Fermentation extracts properties out of plant materials and the alcohol and retains them in the liquid. The EM•1® in the recipe is the fermentation catalyst. EM•1® itself has no pesticide qualities at all. This is an all-natural concoction that can be made by anyone and is safer than synthetic counterparts. EM5 combines water, EM•1®, a distilled spirit, molasses, and vinegar. The most successful programs with EM5 involve alternating its applications with Activated EM•1® and EMFPE. EM5 is effective for reducing pest populations because EM5 contains esters formed by mixing acetic acid and alcohol, which provokes intestinal intoxication.

Make it ahead of season! Let this formula age for at least a month.

The formula for 1 gallon of EM5 is as follows (1:1:1:1:20):

3/4 C EM•1®
3/4 C Molasses
3/4 C Vinegar (white or apple cider)
3/4 C distilled alcohol (vodka, whiskey, tequila)
Add some other plant material (fresh hot peppers or garlic...or fresh herbs that have known pesticide properties like mint leaves, lavender, eucalyptus, mella luca, neem, etc.)
Fill the gallon container with warm water (110-120ºF)
Seal and ferment until pH goes below 4.0

Spray EM5 alternately with EM•1® or EM•1® Fermented Plant Extract through a hose-end sprayer. The thought here is to prevent the pests from getting used to or building a tolerance to the same product.

Often people will set up an informal program as follows (Diluting the AEM•1®, EM5, or EM FPE with 500 parts water):

Week One: Apply AEM•1®, 1/2 gallon for 1/2 acre property
Week Two: Apply EM5, 1/2 gallon (mixed material) for 1/2 acre property
Week Three: Apply EM FPE, 1/2 gallon for 1/2 acre property
Week Four: Apply AEM•1®, 1/2 gallon for 1/2 acre property
This pattern is repeated throughout the growing season.

To make EMFPE:

Most Fermented Plant Extract, if not all, are made from steeping the herbs in a strong solution of alcohol. The alcohol pulls the properties out of the herb into the liquid. The liquid is them sold for a high dollar. Likewise, there are other methods using vinegar. Well, you can do something very similar using the regular Activated EM1 formula of 1:1:20 and adding in fresh herbs to the container before fermentation begins. To ensure the extraction process work well, let the material ferment for around 4 weeks. If you check the brew periodically (give it a good whiff), you'll notice the smell of the herb will intensify over time and eventually almost overtake the smell of the EM-1®. A good first batch to try is with garlic. Try this: To make one gallon Garlic Extract: 1/2 Cup EM-1® 1/2 Cup Molasses 2 cloves garlic (diced or thinly sliced) Fill container with very warm water (bath temperature) Close container to keep it airtight. Release pressure in container during fermentation. This is great to spray on plants at a rate of 1 to 2 ounces per gallon of water. Look at some garlic products on the market and look at what they are used for. You just made one gallon of something for less than $5 that would normally cost you several times that.

EM as a PesticideUpdated a year ago