Top 10 Indoor Plants That Naturally Deter Mosquitoes
Top 10 Indoor Plants That Naturally Repel Mosquitoes
Imagine sleeping soundly until an annoying mosquito starts buzzing close to you. Doesn’t that sound like a nightmare? Mosquitoes can ruin your comfort. They can bite you, sucking your blood and making you fall ill. These are just a handful of reasons why you should keep these annoying creatures miles away from your home.
While there are many mosquito repellents available in the market, it is always a good idea to use natural remedies. Have you ever thought of placing indoor plants to keep the mosquitoes away? If not, you may find this method helpful. Keep reading, as I will share all the plants you can keep inside your house to get rid of mosquitoes.
Plants Can Repel Mosquitoes, But How?
The idea of plants repelling mosquitoes may come out as fake. However, it isn’t. Many indoor plants help keep these flies away from your space. They achieve this by releasing chemicals that are quite like essential oils. The natural chemicals give these plants a certain smell that helps deter mosquitoes.
However, you will have to make sure to place the plants strategically. The best spots to place them include close to the window, next to a door, or in a corner of your room.
Top 10 Plants That Repel Mosquitoes
Look at all the plants you must keep to keep mosquitoes at bay.
1. Citronella/Lemon Grass
Have you ever seen Citronella? This is a tall plant with a lemony scent. The strong citrus smell of lemongrass can push mosquitoes away. Almost all flies find it so unpleasant that you won’t see them around the plant at any time.
Citronella is a primary ingredient in many insect and fly repellents. The plant can grow up to 6 feet tall and requires minimal maintenance. If you have an indoor herb garden, you can easily grow Citronella and see it work its magic.
2. Marigold
Are you thinking of giving your in-house garden a pop of color? In that case, marigolds can be grown, which also help repel mosquitoes.
Marigolds are beautiful orange flowers that glow under the sunlight. They are so easy to grow that you will love the process. Most importantly, this plant releases a smell that mosquitoes hate. So, if you grow them in pots and place them on your porch or room, you will enjoy a mosquito-free home.
3. Catmint
Catnip or Catmint is a plant popular for its aggressive nature. As it grows, it invades other areas of your garden. However, it can also be your number one choice to keep mosquitoes away. Catmint is an amazing mosquito repellent.
In fact, as per a study, the plant is almost ten times more effective than DEET, a chemical found in most insect repellents. Willing to add this plant to your indoor garden? The plant blooms from early summer to fall.
4. Basil
Next up, we have basil. We are sure that most of you may already have it in your indoor garden. This plant is quite helpful and useful.
Basil is a common herb used in many soups and gravies. What’s more, it smells divine, but only for humans. Flies like mosquitoes hate the way basil plants smell, so they stay away from it. The indoor plant requires a lot of sunlight, so ensure to keep it close to a window.
5. Lavender
Lavender isn’t like a traditional indoor houseplant. However, it can grow inside your house with ease. You will have to give it adequate light, humidity, and temperature for it to thrive inside.
Once ready, it will produce beautiful blooms with a fragrance to feel great about. A Lavender plant has essential oils that most flies, like mosquitoes, run away from. Some people believe that this plant cancels a mosquito’s ability to smell altogether. So, growing Lavender in your indoor garden can be the best move you can make today.
6. Rosemary
You can grow a rosemary plant in a container. It can easily grow in your indoor garden. You can also place the pot in your patio under direct sunlight to help the plant thrive.
The plant smells like wood and helps scare away mosquitoes, and can also help you get rid of carrot flies and moths. Growing rosemary plants in your garden provides the added benefit of using the herbs in your dishes.
7. Mint
A mint plant can be a good addition to your indoor garden. It can be your biggest weapon against harmful mosquitoes.
The strong smell of a mint plant is enough to drive mosquitoes away. You can grow the plant in a pot and add a mint leaf to your tea for a refreshing drink. The dry leaves of mint can be crushed to make insect repellents for your house.
8. Lemon Balm
Have you heard of the Lemon Balm plant? A solid member of the mint family, Lemon Balm requires adequate sunlight to grow. Moreover, this plant can repel mosquitoes and ants if given the right attention.
Although usually found outdoors, with proper care, you can also grow a dwarf Lemon Balm in your indoor garden.
9. Floss Flower
Floss Flower is a lesser-known plant but effective in repelling mosquitoes. It is a perfect example of a container plant with a chemical known as coumarin, which can kill mosquitoes but can also be toxic for you and your pets.
Planning to add this plant to your garden? Make sure to create a solid boundary around it.
10. Bee Balm
Bee Balm is a beautiful plant that you can easily spot from afar. Its vibrant color and scent attract butterflies, but it also repels mosquitoes and other harmful pests.
You can also crush the leaves of this plant to make fragrant oil.
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