8 types of houseplants that help repel mosquitoes and mice
Basil, lavender, lemongrass, mint, rosemary... are plants that have a pleasant scent to humans but are annoying to insects and make them disoriented.
Specialist 2 Huynh Tan Vu, Lecturer in Traditional Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Ho Chi Minh City, said that flies, mosquitoes and cockroaches are common insects in the house. Therefore, to purify indoor air and repel insects, homeowners can plant a few fragrant plants.
"Odor molecules emitted by ornamental plants have a strong impact and cause the navigation system of insects to be disoriented. For example, mosquitoes cannot determine where the host to feed on blood is, so mosquitoes, flies. ants in general hate the pungent smell emanating from houseplants. When they find they can't find food, they will leave and don't dare to come near your house anymore," said Dr. Vu.
We can choose a few fragrant plants for the bedroom, living room or balcony area to relax, spice up meals and repel insects.
Basil
Basil has the ability to repel flies and mosquitoes. Fresh basil essential oil is also very effective at repelling insects. Crushing basil, they give off a scent, or placing basil leaves on the windowsill can prevent insects from entering the house.
Lavender
Lavender has the effect of repelling mites, flies and mosquitoes. Humans love the smell of lavender, but mosquitoes hate it. Lavender essential oil applied to the skin can keep mosquitoes away. Lavender also has the effect of nourishing the skin, helping to sleep deeply... You can use dried lavender to keep it indoors.
Lemongrass
Lemongrass contains citronella, which repels insects very well. Lemongrass can repel mosquitoes, hoppers, aphids, ... The smell of lemongrass also helps you relax, very good for health. Lemongrass is an easy plant to grow and is widely available in Vietnam. According to Dr. Vu, besides growing lemongrass, you can use a few stalks of fresh lemongrass, then just smash it to release its fragrance, and hang it on the corner of the room. When the lemongrass is dry and no longer fragrant, replace it with another bunch.
Mint
"The menthol in menthol is an antidote to mosquitoes and many types of insects, besides menthol also has the ability to soothe insect bites," said Dr. Vu.
In addition, the essential oil from mint not only repels mosquitoes, eliminates insects but also helps to clean the air, deodorize, kill bacteria, and bring a pleasant fragrance to the family space. In particular, with humid places, with little sunlight, using menthol is one of the methods to help eliminate odors, mold, and reduce humidity extremely effectively.
Rosemary
Rosemary can repel mosquitoes and some other harmful insects. Potted rosemary can be placed in the house, living room, bedroom, kitchen or garden, along the fence, should be placed in the direction of the wind, placed at the window sill, near the aquarium, or in humid places where favorite insects.
Rosemary has the effect of repelling mosquitoes and insects. Image. Shutterstock
Plants of the onion family
Scallions, onions, garlic, scallions, shallots... are known as "natural pesticides", capable of repelling many harmful insects in the home as well as for the vegetable garden, including slugs, slugs, slugs, etc. bed bugs, flies, some worms, mosquitoes and cockroaches. Other crops grown near the onions will benefit, with fewer pests and diseases.
Chrysanthemum
The scent of chrysanthemums can repel fleas, bed bugs, lice, mosquitoes and even ants. However, Dr. Vu noted that in the chrysanthemum family, there are insecticidal chrysanthemums that need to be careful when choosing a planting location and exposure. "It is used as an insecticide and is present in most sprays, bath products for dogs and cats ... but still has the potential to be toxic to human health if exposed to too much," said Dr. doctor recommended.
The best of incense
Most incense mites are also known as fragrant stone lotus, the tree gives off a very pleasant aroma to humans but keeps mosquitoes away. This plant is very easy to care for.
In addition, according to Dr. Vu, if it is not convenient to grow plants, you can use the method of inhalation with essential oils such as cajeput essential oil, menthol, citronella essential oil, eucalyptus ... to repel mosquitoes. In pure Melaleuca essential oil, there is a very high percentage of cineol and this is a very good mosquito repellent ingredient. Especially for mosquito bites and stings from before, just gently rubbing the cajeput oil layer on it will effectively reduce itching, the redness will quickly disappear, very good to use for children. You can also use grapefruit peel, orange peel, lemon peel.
"In fact, plants or essential oils have a certain level of repelling insects. We must pay more attention to the sanitation of the living area, keeping the house dry, clean to limit the proliferation of insects," Dr. Vu recommended.
