Table of contents:
- Various mosquito repellent plants
- 1. Lemongrass is fragrant
- 2. Lemon balm
- 3. Lavender
- 4. Catnip
- 5. Garlic
- 6. Geranium
Mosquitoes are often the enemy of humans. Not only the bites make the skin swell, itchy, and reddish, mosquitoes can also cause various diseases, namely dengue fever (dengue hemorrhagic fever). Instead of having to use chemical mosquito repellents that have the potential to have a negative impact on health, why don't you try other alternatives to using mosquito repellent plants at home?
Yes, it turns out that there are various plants that are proven to be effective at repelling mosquitoes. Anything? Find out the answer in this article.
Various mosquito repellent plants
Here are plants that can help repel mosquitoes in your home.
1. Lemongrass is fragrant
Lemongrass is not only used as a flavoring for food or drinks. The reason is, lemongrass can also be used as a mosquito repellent plant. In fact, lemongrass has long been used as one of the most effective plants to repel mosquitoes. Therefore, it is not surprising that aromatherapy candles or mosquito repellent lotions often use lemongrass as the main ingredient.
Lemongrass can thrive in various climates and soil types. This is what makes lemongrass a plant that is easy to find and maintain at home. Although lemongrass is not suitable when planted in pots, you can outsmart it by planting it under windows around the house. This is done so that mosquitoes do not enter the house.
2. Lemon balm
Just like lemongrass, lemon balm also contains citronellal compounds that are effective in repelling mosquitoes. The citrus scent of lemon balm leaves is also one fragrance that mosquitoes don't like. Even so, you have to be careful if you want to plant these leaves in the yard of the house. The reason is, this plant is invasive, or has a fast growth. In fact, this plant can grow to 2 meters, or sometimes it can be taller.
3. Lavender
Lavender flowers are purple in color and have a very fragrant aroma. Although the aroma is much liked by humans, for mosquitoes the scent of lavender is the scent that is most avoided. The reason is that lavender contains linalool and lynalyl acetate, which are two substances that mosquitoes really dislike. You can put lavender plants in a pot near a window or door so that no mosquitoes enter the house.
4. Catnip
Catnip or Nepeta cataria is a plant that is often used to stimulate cats to be more active. Upon contact with this plant, your cat may show more and more active behavior changes. However, this does not apply to mosquitoes. The reason is, catnip is a plant that is very feared by mosquitoes. Research has even shown that the essential oil content in catnip, known as nepetalactone, is known to be more effective at repelling mosquitoes than the drug DEET (Diethyl-meta-toluamide), a chemical that has the potential to have adverse health effects.
This plant can grow tall, so if you want to plant it in your yard, it's best to plant it in an area that won't block your view.
5. Garlic
Garlic has long been used to repel mosquitoes. You can slice the garlic and place it in places where air circulation comes from, such as windows and doors. In order not to smell too strong you can add lavender or other essential oil according to your taste.
6. Geranium
Geranium is also known as a type of mosquito repellent plant. This plant, better known as tapak dara, contains geraniol and citronellol. This content is highly disliked by mosquitoes because of its fragrant smell when blown by the wind.
You can plant this plant in a pot and then put it indoors to repel mosquitoes that enter the house. Apart from repelling mosquitoes, geraniums are also very suitable as ornamental plants because they have very beautiful flower colors.
