How to Use Mosquito Plants
Mosquito plants are actually a scented African geranium with genetic material from Chinese citronella grass injected into it. These goal of mixing these hardy plants, available every spring at garden centers, is to repel mosquitos. As with most herbal solutions, the effect of this relative of the garden geranium is subtle. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Place mosquito plants in pots on patios and along walks -- anywhere that people will brush up against them so they release a sharp, citrusy odor that is unpleasant to bugs. They are hardy in zones 8 through 11 outside during the winter, and the pots came come indoors in colder zones.
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Crush the plant’s leaves and rub them on a little patch of your skin to test for an allergic reaction. If none appears, you can apply the crushed leaves freely on your skin or crush leaves and soak overnight in rubbing alcohol. Spray the infused product on your skin to act as a repellent. It's nowhere near as effective as DEET, but it's also not as toxic.
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Place your mosquito plants in spots where they can spread out. They can grow to be 3 feet tall and wide and love hot, dry places.
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Tips & Warnings
The advantage that citrosa geraniums have over other bug repellent plants such as lemon thyme, catnip and marigolds is that they grow so robustly and they're easy to over-winter.
Before putting anything on your skin, test on a little patch for an allergic reaction first.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Hemera Technologies/Photos.com/Getty Images
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Comments
View all 12 Comments-
I've ordered some from Amazon. They're Frosty something, and are pretty, in case they don't work. Results coming later!
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Are they perennials?
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Just bought one at walmart 2 days ago. Love it
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Do you know about Mosquito Magnet? Runs off propane tank--we have one that clears over an acre, and even better, gets rid of no-see-ums. There are a couple of brand names now. But plants would be great.
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Seriously, let me know if they work.
