Five Plants That Repel Mosquitos

[girlx]

Five Plants That Repel Mosquitoes

by Melanie Schwear, Jul 14, 2007 (gomestic.com)

There are attractive garden plants that repel mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are horrible creatures that swarm around you and suck your blood. They cause itchy rashes and can carry disease.

The most common way of repelling or getting rid of mosquitoes involves spraying a large quantity of poisonous chemicals in your yard and on yourself. If you are interested in a more natural approach, consider these plants that repel mosquitoes.

Citronella Grass

Citronella grass is, of course, where companies get the citronella oil. This oil is put in candles and lanterns that can be burned in your yard to repel mosquitoes. Citronella grass is actually a tropic plant that grows to be six feet tall, so it might not be practical in the average suburban backyard.

Catnip

Catnip is an herb that is most commonly used to stuff in toys or feed to cats for their enjoyment. However, the oil from this plant has actually been found to be more than ten times better at repelling mosquitoes than DEET. Planting this plant near your patio or deck will help repel mosquitoes.

Rosemary

This garden herb also has an oil that repels mosquitoes. While they are attractive plants that both repel mosquitoes and can add interest to your cooking, they are truly tropical plants that are not hardy in cold climates. You can, however, grow rosemary in a pot and take it inside in the winter.

Marigolds

Marigolds have a particular smell that many insects and humans find objectionable. They are a good plant for repelling mosquitoes as well as insects that can attack vegetable plants and aphids. Marigolds are annuals with bright flowers that range from lemon yellow to dark oranges and reds.

Mosquito Plants

There are actually plants on the market that are simply called Mosquito plants. They are advertised as a plant that repels mosquitoes. There are different schools of thoughts on these plants. Some say they do nothing to repel mosquitoes, while other swear by them. More often than not, you can only find them through mail order and internet sales.

While all these plants repel mosquitoes in your yard, you can also make all-natural mosquito repellent from them. Simply crush the leaves or flowers to release the oils and put them in a quantity of alcohol or vodka. Once the mosquito repellent oils have infused the liquid, you can use it just as you would one of the more harmful chemical repellents.

Planting these plants that repel mosquitoes is a great choice for your yard. Not only is it an earth-friendly way of dealing with these pests, it will add beauty to your gardens, and will not jeopardize your health. These five plants that repel mosquitoes are great choices.

[londonthai]

thai translation names, please

[lotus eater]

Can one buy seeds ofr these in europe (if not available in Thailand) and take them into Thai for planting? I'm abraod just now - and it'll avoid the language problem. But is there an omport/customs prohibition?

[londonthai]

most probably in thailand cheaper - I will let you know within a day or two if they are available in thailand at all. Problem with the last two plants that they are not popular in thailand and maybe can't be grown in that climate.

translation thanx to bambina

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?sh...=131176&hl=

Citronella Grass ตะไคร้ (Ta Krai)

Marigolds ดาวเรือง (Dao Reung)

Catnip แคทนิป (Cat nib)

Rosemary โรสแมรี่ (Rose mae ry )

Can one buy seeds ofr these in europe (if not available in Thailand) and take them into Thai for planting? I'm abraod just now - and it'll avoid the language problem. But is there an omport/customs prohibition?

[lotus eater]

most probably in thailand cheaper - I will let you know within a day or two if they are available in thailand at all. Problem with the last two plants that they are not popular in thailand and maybe can't be grown in that climate.

translation thanx to bambina

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?sh...=131176&hl=

Citronella Grass ?????? (Ta Krai)

Marigolds ???????? (Dao Reung)

Catnip ?????? (Cat nib)

Rosemary ???????? (Rose mae ry )

Can one buy seeds ofr these in europe (if not available in Thailand) and take them into Thai for planting? I'm abraod just now - and it'll avoid the language problem. But is there an omport/customs prohibition?

Look forward to your reporting post.

Rosemary is the only one of the plants I'm familiar with; is there any difference in the thai version and the european?

If you do find that any of them is available please also ascertain if they are readily available all over thailand - otherwize in which part or city I'd find them most easily. (The north is where I live, but I'm in BKK and the Korat area often enough.)

[chownah]

I believe that citronella grass is actually called Ta Krai Hom. I believe that Ta Krai is actually lemon grass which is used in cooking while citronella grass is not.

Citronella grass, Ta Krai Hom, is readily available in northern Thailand. I have some growing around now in various places....we still get mosquitos though. I got my first plants from Mae Jo University in Chaingmai (I just mentioned it to someone there and they gave me some starts free) but if you find someone in the know you can probably get starts from many places...I think it is fairly wide spread. If you find some just dig off part of a clump (it grows in large clumps) and divide the portion you take into individual stocks with root crown attached and plant to approximately the same depth it was when you dug it.....they propogate really easily and are pretty much self sustaining once they get started.

Edited July 18, 2007 by chownah

[sbk]

Rosemary is not native to Thailand and may not grow so well in its hot humid climate as I seem to recall it prefers the drier climate of the Mediterranean.