Warm weather brings about an abundance of insects and pests swarming (or hiding) inside our homes. Create a safe haven and have mosquito-free zones all over your home by strategically placing these natural repellant plants in your patio, balcony, garden, by the window, or wherever they tend to fester.
| PLANT | REPELLANT PROPERTIES |
| Alliums | Mosquitos do not like their smell and will avoid them, best planted in your garden. |
| Basil | Mosquitos find the smell of basil pungent and will stay clear, best planted by the window so it gets full sun and grows fast – makes yummy pesto to boot! |
| Bergamot | Especially in oil form, it contains terpenes (natural compound) which have insecticidal properties that make it an effective bug repellent. |
| Calendula | Not only repels mosquitos but other insects like flies as well due to it’s strong scent that contains natural insecticide properties. It tends to repel pests and attract good insects like butterflies that control aphids, thrip and others that cause plant diseases. |
| Catnip | Contains natural compounds that are as effective as DEET (and potentially up to 10x more effective) at repelling mosquitoes. Best grown in pots for all over the home. |
| Citronella | Contains insect repellant properties that are considered biopesticide – citronellol and geraniol, makes it best to be placed in the garden to naturally protect plants from other pests as well. |
| Eucalyptus | In oil format is said to provided more than 95% protection against mosquitoes for 3 hours (mixture of 32 percent lemon eucalyptus). |
| Lavender | Relaxing for humans, deadly to insects. Contains compound called linalool, which is toxic to many insects and arachnids including spiders and moths. |
| Lemongrass | Planted outdoors or indoors all year-long, lemongrass or citronella grass masks the scents (carbon dioxide and lactic acid) that mosquitoes rely on to target hosts. |
| Marigold | The scent repels insects and animals alike while ensuring your nearby plants are protected from worm pests as well making it best planted in the garden or close-by to where produce is planted. |
| Mint | Serves as an all around pesticide due its natural components (terpene, alcohol and menthol). Grows fast and can survive being indoors. |
| Oregano | Contains natural chemicals (carvacrol) that not only repels insects but kills it’s larvae as well. In oil form, it has been tested to be just as effective as DEET mosquito repellant. |
| Rosemary | Natural compounds (camphor, alpha-pinene, limonene) makes it a natural insect repellant and a garden protector from pests. |
| Tansy | Been a known repellant since the middle ages, it naturally repels all kinds of pests such as ants, flies, fleas, moths, mosquitoes, ticks, and even mice in both fresh and dried form. |
| Thyme | Apart from it’s microbial properties, it is known for as a natural insect deterrent with mosquito-repellent properties that even surpassed DEET in some studies. |
Not only will these plants keep the mosquitos away, they make your air cleaner, your home cooler and overall just prettier! For more natural and sustainable ways to make your home better, follow us on @humbleearthinitiative on IG and make sure to subscribe to never miss out on our daily content.
Be the first to comment!