Use These Plants To Keep Away Mosquitoes In Oklahoma
I like to spend a lot of time outside during the summer months in Oklahoma. Most days you can find me floating in the pool with a cool drink, working in my flower beds, grilling or swimming with my grandkids. But during the evening hours, there is one insect that can ruin summer fun - the dreaded mosquito.
I've used everything you can imagine to keep mosquitoes at bay, mostly citronella candles and bug spray. But I recently came across a TikTok of a nursery putting together a pot of plans that are supposed to ward off mosquitoes and you can use some of them as repellent for your skin! I love this idea because gardening is one of my favorite summer activities.
How to make a mosquito repelling planter.
There are so many beautiful plants and flowers in the mosquito repelling planter! According to the TikTok from @armstronggarden, you'll want to use cactus mix potting soil as it allows for larger pore space and better drainage. Here's all the plants that in the planter:
- Lavender - smells good to humans, but mosquitoes hate it!
- English variety of lavendula and augustifolia
- Marigolds - contains Pyrethrins, which is found in most mosquito and bug repellents
- Catnip
If you want to use some of the plants, like the catnip, as a bug repellent on your skin, all you have to do is tear them up and run the oils on your skin! And a great thing about the marigolds, they repel mosquitoes just by being around. Isn't that awesome?! Another plant you can use to repel mosquitoes is spearmint, but you'll want to plant that in a separate pot since it's an aggressive grower.
@armstronggarden Nature’s mosquito repellwnt in a pot!! Lavender: Lavender (Lavandula spp.) is a beautiful plant with a delightful fragrance. Essential oil from lavender contains a compound known as linalool, which produces a strong odor that is pleasant to humans and detestable to mosquitos. This is primarily because it overloads their sensitive olfactory organs, much in the same manner as DEET. A 2009 study found that lavender oil possessed a 93% repellant rate against mosquitos indoors and a 53% repellant rate against mosquitoes outdoors. Lavender oil is one of the most effective natural mosquito repellants, especially when used as part of a larger natural repellant regimen. Mint: Menthol, the active insect-fighting ingredient in mint and peppermint oil, has biocidal properties that help repel and control mites, mosquitoes, and various other pests. Marigolds: Marigolds (Tagetes spp.) are colorful flowers that mosquitoes dislike. They contain pyrethrum, a compound found in many mosquito repellents. The compounds are found in marigold petals and work best on living plants. These are great to create a ring of repellent, say around a seating area or pool. Catnip: Catnip (Nepeta cataria) contains a compound called nepetalactone, which mosquitoes find highly repelling. It's estimated to be 10 times more effective than Deet, a common mosquito repellent. Fresh, home-grown catnip can be vigorously rubbed between your hands and then applied to your skin to provide approximately 30 minutes of mosquito-free time. Remember that while these plants can help deter mosquitoes, they might not provide complete protection. To enhance their effectiveness, consider crushing the leaves or using essential oils extracted from these plants. Additionally, it's important to remove any standing water around your home, as it serves as a breeding ground for mosquitoes. #gardentok #gardenhack #mosquitorepellant #companionplants #containergarden #lavenderplant #bugrepellent #plantswithpurpose ♬ Storytelling - Adriel
Use this succulent inside your home to get rid of unwelcome mosquitoes.
With grandkids running in and out of the house during the summer, some mosquitoes do tend to get inside the house. But, apparently there's a succulent that will kill mosquitoes! Butterwort is a carnivorous flowering plant that uses its sticky leaves to lure and trap insects, like fruit flies, gnats AND mosquitoes. How cool! Check out butterworts in action in the TikTok below.
@rosannebecker Butterworts FTW!! #CarnivorousPlant #Butterwort #pinguicula #planttiktok #Planttok #plantsoftiktok #plants #plantmom ♬ original sound - Rosanne Becker