Oh, I never thought about that, but oils do get rancid relatively quickly. I'll move mine to the fridge....hubby will love that! I have mix components all over the dining room, plants starting in the hallway, African Violet leaves rooting in plastic bags on the fireplace mantel and now Neem in the fridge. Sure, this is how everyone lives, isn't it?

Crap. It's Neem II, which contains pyrithones. And I've sprayed it numerous times outdoors and gotten a lot on me. And sprayed quite a bit indoors the other day. Neem® II Ready-to-Use * Improved formulation of ready-to-use Neem II RTU - now with Pyrethrin, a proven insecticide. * For control of black spot, powdery mildew, rust, anthracnose, spider mites, aphids and whiteflies on roses and ornamental plants. * Contains Neem oil and Pyrethrin. * Available in 24 oz. RTU bottles. No mixing required. Label info: http://www.horaneys.com/Content/20095/Neem_II_RTU_lbl.pdf MSDS http://www.horaneys.com/Content/20095/Neem_II_RTU.pdf I sprayed until the leaves were wet, then rotated the plant and did it from the other side. Tried to do under leaves as well, but put a paper towel above to partially block the mist. Alice

There are many products on the market that claim 'neem' as an ingredient. Often, the 'neem' is combined with other insecticides and a vehicle that makes emulsification and thus delivery/application easier. If these products have used neem oil that was altered or obtained by a process other than cold-pressing, the value or effectiveness of the essential ingredient azadirachtin has likely been reduced or negated entirely. I have read reports in these & other forums about growers using products like Bio-Neem by Bonide (and others) and having less than what they consider stellar results, while I continue to use the cold-pressed product, such as is produced by Dyna-Gro, with what I consider very safe and very good results. Remember that neem oil doesn't deliver a huge initial knockdown punch, but it IS a powerful antifeedant and chemosterilizer, rendering current generations unable to feed or progress through metamorphic stages to adulthood, and rendering adults sterile. Cold-pressed neem oil is excellent on mites & works initially in the same way as hort oils work, with the added benefits of the other properties already noted. This from a recent post @ another forum site: "As I consider the prophylactic use of any insecticide, including systemics, I guess I have to say that about the only compound that fits that description for me is neem oil. I over-winter around 100 tropical plants (most are normally grown as houseplants, but my focus is on bonsai) under lights in my basement. About 2 weeks before bring them in, I apply neem oil - then again a day or two before I bring them in. Normally these applications keep insect levels in check all winter, though I may see some scale or mite populations appearing toward winter's tail. If it gets too bad, I'll do a neem application & hold out until I get the plants outdoors where the increase in the plant's metabolism and thus natural defenses, along with the increase in beneficial predators, usually completely eliminates the trouble. The bio-compounds plants use to repel plants are a by-product of the plant's metabolism. Plants with high energy reserves and plants growing with good vitality are much better protected 'naturally' from insect predation, which is why plants in low light and those that are just limping along are far more likely to be troubled by insects. I very often diagnose the occurrence of insect infestations as the end product of poor cultural conditions, and the greatest, most frequent offender is a poor soil." I'm not implying you're using a poor soil; I know you're not, but others might wish to consider the corollary. Al

Gardengal, I have known you for years and in fact you and I have had the same mentor to get to where we are! We have a history here, on the Hoya, Cactus, Containers, Rose, Fragrant, Houseplant, and many other forums! Please, for what it's worth, there are members here that far surpass the "mules" as you say that REALLY appreciate the gifts you have to offer including me, I do, and a whole handful that have been nothing but kind and eager to learn, not to mention any names. I agree, there are at time mules here, but then so too at the Cactus Forums and others, a reason why I stopped posting there for a while and many other forums. Promised myself I was not going to give myself that lost opportunity to help others despite what a slight handful might act like or say and that is why I am posting up a storm there again....One thing I did promise myself is that I will never stop being kind or helping those of the general population here or any other place in which the majority far outweigh the few. You and I go way back and I know as you know I do that there are many innocent good hearted ones that watch us through closed doors, hang around but never post, lurk, and even post that truly appreciate all that we do and share. As a plea to you, please don't leave here for the sake of a few, but continue to be a gem here on this forum and the many others that you have made a huge impact on, including on what I know. Sounds good? You of all people I believe will not disappoint nor the many others that truly have a soft spot for you, me just as our mentor Al have never. You and I know he never gives up on the many that DO appreciate good help that many need to know. From Me to you, one member here that has always respected and appreciated your offerings. We need people like you here! )) E- ail anytime if need be mikerno_1@yahoo.com