Organic Pesticides and Fungicides
"Organic" doesn't automatically mean "harmless" — even naturally derived pesticides and fungicides can affect pollinators and beneficial insects if used carelessly.
What Organic Actually Means Here
Organic-approved products are derived from naturally occurring minerals, plants, or microorganisms rather than synthesized compounds. Neem oil, copper fungicide, sulfur, and Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) are common examples, each suited to different pest or disease problems.
Matching the Product to the Problem
Fungicides like copper or sulfur target fungal diseases such as powdery mildew and black spot, and work best applied preventively rather than after an infection has taken hold. Pesticides like neem oil or Bt target specific insect groups — Bt, for instance, only affects caterpillars, leaving most other insects unharmed.
Spray in the evening rather than midday — many organic pesticides break down quickly in sunlight, so an evening application gives them more time to work.
