I'm not sure. What gives fish emulsion its nutritional properties is that it has been processed, or "composted" you might say, with micronutients added as amendments. The unprocessed fish oil may attract pests. Give it a try and see what happens; however, I'd get more advise or try it on only part of your tree...good luck. Let us know if it works.

Coastiemedic,
You have me chuckling to myself. The fish oil that I'm thinking of would be cod liver oil -- what I'm trying to do is save some money. Attracting bugs may not be a bad thing--cause I don't find any on the trees except these huge grasshoppers in the summer and the bees. I get a little crazy when it comes to cleaning the area and leaves and all.

Maybe I'll just start hosing the underside of the leaves instead of watering the ground. The only way I've found to get to the underside of leaves is to get inder a bunch of leaves with my forarm and raise the leaves that way and the hose in my right hand. If I'm feeling very determined, I'll even lay on my back to get under those leaves.

I completely enjoy this obsessive behavier -- it just makes every other concern pale.

Last year I figured that because I was spraying in the cool of the morning and the day temps. weren't hitting 90 yet, that it was ok to spray with this salad oil--here in Georgia -- near St Marys--there aren't any days below 80 say after April -- well, I could be a little off--, but as soon as the temps. were getting up there, down came the leaves. The combination of the heat and the salad oil had the leaves from the orange covering the ground. So glad I tried that on just one citrus. Almost all the leaves fell off. The leaves grew back nicely.

Thanks coastie, I think I should wait to find out more on the subject of what oils I can use before I do anything. It's just that the spring flush is starting and I'm feeling anxious.
Pat

I wish I knew the answer to this for certain, but I believe that it will be next to impossible for you to make your own emulsion out of cod liver oil. And you need an emulsion for this purpose or the product will not go on evenly. Horticultural oils (including fish emus ions) coat the surface with a very thin coat of oil, one that also breathes. Cod liver oil? I don't think it will work, without creating problems for your plant. Coating plants with thick fish or vegetable oils can be harmful.

And truthfully, in terms of over-all efficacy, using a commercial product that has been manufactured for a specific use ends up being more cost effective in the long run. Also, as you have found, home remedies don't have directions on them warning against warm weather use or other problems that may occur. Your horticultural oils do. There are oils that can be sprayed on in warm temperatures, however, and you can find those in any good garden center.

Some sprayers have nozzles that deflect the spray in an upward direction. The wand is held down, but the spray goes UP to the underside of the leaves. Very handy.