Plants that repel mosquitoes

Properties of plants that repel mosquitoes

Keeping mosquitoes away is sometimes so difficult that it becomes even a mission for some. What the market offers us, however, is nothing more than an infinite variety of products based on chemicals that are potentially harmful to our body, in the use of which it is always better not to exceed. If, on the other hand, you are looking for a valid alternative that can accompany or totally replace the use of artificial repellents, the cultivation of plants that repel mosquitoes is the right solution. Plants that repel mosquitoes are readily available plants that do not require special care and which, in addition to being widely appreciated for their appearance, are often useful for making homeopathic preparations suitable for all kinds of ailments.

Lemongrass: the repellent plant par excellence

Among the ingredients most commonly used in artificial products against mosquitoes we find lemongrass. Already widely known even by those approaching green alternatives for the first time, lemongrass has a particularly strong scent reminiscent of lemon and is able to cover the odors of our body that allow mosquitoes to locate us. It is a herbaceous plant with a bushy habit with elongated leaves and an intense green color, native to the hot climate areas of southern Asia, it prefers sunny, semi-shady places and needs well drained soils and regular watering. Lemongrass can be grown both in pots and in the garden. In the first case, the ideal is to transplant it into a pot placed in the inside of a mobile support to be able to shelter it during the winter. In the second case it is preferable, instead, to plant it in sheltered places, perhaps behind other bushes or ornamental plants that can serve as a barrier to protect it from the cold.

Geranium: the king of balconies and terraces

Perhaps less known for its repellent properties, but certainly widely spread on our balconies, the geranium plant is one of the most powerful plants that repel mosquitoes: the pungent smell is in fact very unpleasant to insects that tend to fly away from the areas. in which it is grown. Geranium is a perennial plant of African origin, accustomed to hot and arid climates that finds its ideal temperature in a range between 15 and 20 ° C. Being a plant that loves sunlight, it is advisable to place it in a sunny area , although it still vegetates well even in more shaded areas, as long as they are bright. As far as watering is concerned, it must always be borne in mind that the geranium’s homeland is an arid climate area, which makes this plant not particularly suffering in case of drought, but very sensitive to water stagnation. During the flowering period, i.e. between March and September, it is therefore advisable to water the geranium regularly, while in the autumn period it is better to completely suspend irrigation.

Plants that repel mosquitoes: Basil: useful not only in the kitchen

Finally, among the plants that repel mosquitoes we also find basil, the pride of Italian cuisine, but whose repellent properties are unknown to most. Grown mainly as an aromatic herb, its smell, which can be sweet or pungent depending on the variety, is particularly annoying to mosquitoes, which tend to avoid it. Basil is an annual plant that fears both too hot and excessively cold temperatures, it grows at an ideal temperature between 20 and 25 ° C. It has smooth oval leaves with a lanceolate shape and has thin, unbranched stems. It can be grown easily in pots or buried in the garden, in this case choose a semi-shaded area that is sheltered during the hottest hours of the day.