Quassia Chips
Quassia Chips
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Quassia chips from Picrasma excelsa are one of the most versatile natural pest control products you can keep in the shed. Made from bitterwood bark, these quassia chips contain quassin, one of the most bitter naturally occurring substances known, which makes them highly effective as a possum deterrent, garden insect spray, and natural head lice treatment.
Key Benefits
- Possum deterrent: Soak or simmer the chips to make a spray that deters possums from gardens, fruit trees, and roof spaces. The intense bitterness puts them off feeding without causing harm.
- Garden pest spray: Effective against aphids, red spider mites, whitefly, thrips, and caterpillars. Biodegrades naturally and does not harm beneficial insects like bees and ladybirds when used correctly.
- Natural lice treatment: Traditionally used as a chemical-free head lice treatment. The quassin solution may help loosen nits and deter reinfestation.
- Animal dewormer: Used in traditional herbal deworming blends for goats, chickens, and other livestock as part of an integrated parasite management approach.
- Bitter tonic: Traditionally used in small doses as a digestive bitter to support healthy appetite and digestive function.
Possum spray: Soak 100 g of chips in 2 litres of water overnight, then simmer for 30 minutes. Strain, add 1 tablespoon of biodegradable soap, and dilute 1:4 with water. Spray foliage, trunks, and garden beds. Reapply fortnightly and after rain.
Garden pest spray: Simmer 1 tablespoon of chips in 1 litre of water for 30 minutes. Cool, strain, and add half a teaspoon of liquid soap. Dilute 1:5 for aphids or use at full strength for mites. Spray undersides of leaves thoroughly. Pairs well with Wormwood in herbal pest blends.
Head lice: Steep 25 g of chips in 500 ml boiling water overnight, then simmer 15 minutes. Cool, strain, and spray through hair and scalp. Comb with a fine nit comb and rinse. Repeat every 2 to 3 days for 2 weeks. Combine with Neem for added effectiveness. For digestive use, steep half a teaspoon with Gentian Root as a bitter tonic.
Quassia is named after Graman Quassi, an 18th-century healer who first documented its properties. In colonial times, cups carved from quassia wood were filled with water and left overnight, producing a bitter drink used as a digestive tonic.
In Australia, possums are protected native animals. Quassia spray is a humane, legal deterrent that works by making foliage taste unbearably bitter.
Quassia solution biodegrades naturally in sunlight and does not persist in soil, making it safe for organic and chemical-free gardens.
For external and pest control use. If using internally as a bitter tonic, use in small doses only. Not suitable during pregnancy or breastfeeding. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Consult a healthcare provider before use, especially if pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking medication.
Our shipping costs are a flat rate, meaning you can add any amount of products to your order and you will pay the same.
Regular Post - $10.95
Express Post - $12.95
Dispatch days: Monday to Thursday.
We send Australia wide.
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