mosquito-repellent-plants

Top Mosquito Repellent Plants for Indoor to Keep Your Space Bug-Free

Aug 31, 2024Neha Agarwal

Mosquitoes are a big problem, and they are responsible for spreading many diseases that affect millions of people worldwide. They are known to spread so many different deadly diseases, such as malaria, dengue fever, and Zika virus, thus creating a health hazard around the world.  

To fight pests, many choose natural solutions. Some plants naturally keep mosquitoes away, offering an eco-friendly way to keep bugs out of the house. By adding these mosquito-repellent plants, you can have a nicer home and lower the chance of getting mosquito bites.

Why is using natural mosquito-repellent plants beneficial compared to chemical options?

As people are becoming more aware of the ill effects of chemical mosquito repellents that are made with harmful chemicals and give out toxic fumes, they are looking for ways to handle this problem naturally. Let us see why using natural mosquito repellent plants offers several advantages over chemical options:

Safety: Many chemical mosquito repellents contain harsh ingredients that can cause skin issues, especially in children, so natural plants are a safer option, as they are less likely to cause any skin reactions.

Eco-friendly option: Chemical repellents often contain some synthetic chemicals that can be harmful to the environment and give out toxic fumes, so it is best to use natural mosquito repellent for home. 

Versatility: Plants that keep mosquitoes away can be used in various ways, such as growing them in gardens, placing potted plants around outdoor seating areas, or using their essential oils, which allows for flexible and customizable mosquito control.

Dual benefits: Some natural mosquito repellent plants, such as lavender and basil are also used in the kitchen, thus making them a good option to add to home garden.

Effectiveness: It is said that keeping mosquito repellent plants in your home is effective for longer periods of time, and a continuous process, so you don't have to worry about it lasting only for a short time. 

Understanding Mosquitoes and Their Preferences

To know how to tackle the mosquito problem, we should first understand how they react to  garden mosquito repellent, how they breed, and their behaviour to better understand how we can avoid them at home.  

Behaviour - Mosquitoes mainly get attracted to us by our body heat, and body scents. They can also detect carbon dioxide from far away, which helps attract them to you. Sometimes, they are attracted to the smells from bacteria on the skin and sweat, which makes some people more likely to be bitten.

Habitat - Mosquitoes like to lay eggs in still water, such as ponds and water puddles, and in containers that hold rainwater and thus grow in warm, wet places. So any places with bad drainage and lots of standing water can be breeding ground for mosquitoes, helping them to multiply quickly and spread illnesses.

Why Plants Help-  Certain plants can disrupt mosquitoes' preferences or repel them due to their natural oils and scents. For example, citronella, lavender, and marigolds give out certain smells that mask the odours humans produce, making it harder for mosquitoes to locate us.

Top 10 Mosquito Repellent Plants for home & office

Here are 10 plants to avoid mosquitoes that you can plant in your home to keep them away:

  1. Basil (Tulsi): Basil is both an herb and an insect repellent, and its pungent smell keeps mosquitoes away. The leaves can be crushed for use on the skin.
  1. Common Mint: Mint is found at home easily, and its different scent helps repel mosquitoes and other insects. You can also make homemade sprays or simply grown in pots around the house.
  2. Lemon-scented Geranium: This plant produces a citrusy smell that naturally repels mosquitoes. Its essential oils also have healing properties, making it a useful addition to gardens.
  3. Rosemary: Though known for its cooking uses, rosemary also acts as a mosquito repellent, and its aromatic leaves can be used fresh or dried to remove these pests.
  4. Citronella: Citronella is known for its strong, lemony aroma, which repels mosquitoes, so you can also try crushing its leaves and applying them to the skin.
  5. Citronella Odomos: This one is the same as citronella and has a different smell that repels mosquitoes. Also, you can use it as a year-round plant.
  6. Lavender: Lavender is a popular choice for indoor mosquito repellent plants as it has beautiful purple flowers and a nice fragrance which effectively avoids mosquitoes and other insects. You can quickly grow the plant indoors in pots or planters.
  7. Lemongrass: Lemongrass is a tall, natural mosquito repellent grass that gives a strong citrus scent, which is unpleasant to mosquitoes. You can easily grow this in your home indoor herb garden.
  8. African Yellow Marigold: This colourful yearly flower smells good and keeps mosquitoes away. It's easy to grow and can enhance vegetable gardens or flower borders.
  9. Catmint (Catnip): Catmint releases nepetalactone, an essential oil that effectively repels mosquitoes. This low-growing plant also has medicinal uses and is easy to cultivate.

Tips to use plants that keep mosquitoes away

Using the best plants to deter mosquitoes is a good and fun way to improve your mosquito control naturally. By placing them carefully and creatively, you can effectively manage mosquitoes.

Plant Placement: Remember to keep mosquito-repelling plants near any entry points, such as doors and windows and potted plants on patios and balconies of your home of other space.

Companion Planting: Just grow these plants that prevent mosquitoes and your regular vegetables and flowers in your garden. Plants like basil and marigolds can deter mosquitoes while enhancing the growth and flavour of nearby crops.

Make homemade mosquito repellent: Make your own mosquito spray by mixing essential oils from plants such as citronella or eucalyptus with base oil. This natural spray can be used on skin and clothes to keep mosquitoes away.

Conclusion

Using the best mosquito repellent plant in your home is safe and efficient in preventing these bugs. Buying from Kyari guarantees you top-notch, locally-grown plants that are fresh and vibrant. Kyari has many indoor plants and stylish pots, ideal for improving your home and keeping mosquitoes away. Choose us for top-quality indoor plants for mosquitoes that eliminate bugs, ensuring your home is bug-free and more enjoyable. 

FAQ on Mosquito Repellent Plants

1. How do mosquito-repellent plants work?

Mosquito-repellent plants release their natural oils and scents that help drive mosquitoes away from you.

2. Can I use mosquito-repellent plants indoors?

Yes, many mosquito-repellent plants can be grown indoors, protecting enclosed spaces.

3. How long does it take for these plants to start repelling mosquitoes?

Mosquito-repellent plants begin releasing their natural oils and scents as soon as they are planted so they can provide immediate protection from mosquitoes.

4. How often should I replace or refresh my mosquito-repellent plants?

Usually, mosquito-repellent plants stay for many years, but taking good care of them regularly keeps them most effective.

5. Can these plants eliminate mosquitoes from my area?

While mosquito-repellent plants can significantly reduce mosquito populations, they may not eliminate them from your area. 



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