Flowering Plants- Peppermint Spray

Q: Recently I read an article about using peppermint spray for bugs on flowering plants. Have you ever heard of this?

A: Indeed there are several plant oils being sold as insecticides. Clove oil, peppermint oil, lemon oil and corn oil are all ingredients in “organic” insecticides. Oils can be somewhat effective but, like any chemical, they can be harmful if you are exposed to too much. I once got a blinding headache from citrus oil that spilled on my clothing so that I smelled the fumes for an hour. Read and follow label directions for these products. Do not attempt home-made concoctions using drugstore oils.