Some 40+ years ago when I worked for a large wholesale grower I had to haul the owner to the ER one day after he had sprayed Acephate on ferns and sprayed himself in the process. It was scary, he almost didn't make it and I have been overly cautious ever since, using the least harmful chemicals if necessary .
About 5 years ago I stopped using chemicals altogether. I occasionally (maybe twice a year) put Dr. Bronner's in a hose end sprayer and do the entire garden and all the containers but that is more to discourage deer.
I have found I no longer have any insects to deal with. It might be because the birds and anoles take care of things for me now. I have dozens of Cardinals that flit through my plants and I swear they must be snacking, I have seen them get Monarch and Swallowtail larvae - the kinds of pests I actually approve of. If I see any tea scale on a camellia leaf that one gets picked off and tossed.
When I am wearing my master gardener hat I always advise the first defense to try is a hard spray of water from the hose. If that didn't work recommendation 2 would be Neem or another horticultural oil, # 3 would be Spinosad and # 4 would be the trash can. No plant is worth your health.
I think it is worth mentioning that there is some questioning right now about Spinosad being as dangerous as neonics to pollinators. Not sure how that will play out over time, it might just be fake news.
