Mosquitoes are pests found in homes, which can spread diseases such as dengue, malaria, chikungunya and zika. You may take many measures such as burning mosquitos’ coils, closing your doors and windows by the evening, and applying mosquito repellent sprays or creams. However, only some of these measures can solve the problem. In addition, many mosquito repellents often contain chemicals that may cause skin allergies or irritation.
So, it is ideal to go for the natural formula by planting plants inside your house to eliminate mosquitoes. Some fragrant plants work as a natural mosquito repellent. Numerous mosquito-repellent plants in India can make your garden or home more beautiful and even aid in repelling mosquitoes and insects from your home.
See also: How to get rid of mosquitoes at night?
How effective are mosquito-repellent plants in India?
The so-called mosquito-repellent plants generally contain some natural compounds that emit aromas to repel mosquitoes and other insects. These plants even allow you to enjoy the natural and fresh air while protecting you from mosquito bites with open doors and windows.
In addition, mosquito repellent plants in India offer 24/7 mosquito protection without letting mosquitoes enter your house. These plants also emerged as the leading mosquito repellent because they are entirely safe for kids, pets, pregnant women, and the elderly at home.
Best mosquitoes repellent plants in India
Here is a list of some of the best, sweet-smelling mosquito repellent plant in India that helps to make your home or garden attractive while keeping the mosquitoes away.
Rosemary
Rosemary plant is known as a great herb that is also an excellent mosquito repellent plant in India. You can easily place this plant outside or inside your home. This herb is also very sturdy and you do not need to pay any extra attention. You can easily keep this plant in a bright place and it will flourish. Moreover, you can even place the cuttings of this plant to get rid of mosquitoes and to fill your home with a fragrance.
Peppermint
The peppermint plant is widely used in many natural mosquito repellents as it is an effective remedy to keep mosquitoes away. You can also rub a few peppermint leaves on your skin to eliminate mosquitoes. This is highly known as India’s best mosquito repellent plant as it holds better properties to use as a natural mosquito repellent than mosquito vaporisers or coils.
Additionally, the peppermint plant does not affect your skin, while many mosquito repellent creams in the market generally contain chemical components that can cause adverse effects with prolonged use.
Basil
Basil is another mosquito-repellent plant in India with a distinct smell. This plant generally helps eliminate mosquitoes and other pests such as houseflies. You can also plant it in your garden, which enjoys lots of sun.
However, you should ensure the planter has the proper drainage and the plant is damp. You can even rub some basil leaves on your skin to protect yourself from mosquito bites before going out.
Citronella Grass
Citronella grass is one of the best and most natural ways to eliminate mosquitoes. Citronella or lemon grass is highly known as a mosquito repellent plant in India because of its distinct aroma.
The best thing about this plant is that it does not require much attention and is extremely easy to maintain. You should only keep the planter in the sunny area of your garden to keep the mosquitoes out. You can even buy the natural varieties of Citronella grass, such as Cybopogon nardus or Citronella Winterianus.
Marigold
Marigold is a flowering plant that has many benefits. The fragrance of marigold even helps in repelling mosquitoes. This property of the marigold plant makes it one of the best indoor plants for mosquitoes.
Moreover, you can quickly grow them in pots or holders and keep them at the entrance of your home to keep the bugs out.
Apart from mosquitoes, these plants keep the thrips, whiteflies, squash, aphids, bugs and tomato hornworms away from your home.
Lemon Balm
Lemon Balm is an incredible pick for mosquito repellent. It is also known as horsemint due to its solid smell and even fends off mosquitoes and bugs. However, you won’t lose the birds and butterflies because of it. This mosquito repellent plant in India has been developed successfully and requires less maintenance, making it easy to handle.
Lemon Grass
Lemon grass generally goes by the name Cymbopogon Citratus. The bloom of this plant mainly contains citronella, a natural oil that helps repel bugs. In India, this mosquito-repellent plant is also used as an anti-inflammatory medicine. This plant also offers flawless fragrance, which is utilised in different scents and toiletries.
Allium Sativum (Garlic)
Garlic plant is one of the most common mosquito repellent plants in India. Garlic is another way to get rid of mosquitoes. You can simply utilise it by cutting it into smaller pieces and spreading it around or at the corners of your rooms.
Moreover, you can even make a mosquito repellent spray using garlic. You just need to blend it with aromatic oils to create a mosquito-repulsing body spray, or you can grow a garlic plant in your home nursery to avoid mosquitoes and other insects.
Catnip
Catnip is also an excellent mosquito repellent plant in India. One of the primary ingredients in Catnip is Nepetalactone, which is much more effective than DEET, as indicated by many researchers. This plant is known as the descent, non-toxic substitute widely used in synthetic sprays.
Sage
Sage is an indoor fragrant plant that helps repel mosquitoes from home. It can quickly grow in well-drained soil with moderate sunlight and is super-easy to maintain. Sage plants generally look striking with green-grey leaves and tall stems that bear bunches of purple-blue flowers. Apart from its mosquito-repelling properties, sage also offers anti-inflammatory properties and is highly used in culinary preparations.
Why opt for mosquito-repellent plants in India instead of synthetic repellents?
The mosquito repellent plants in India have been used for generations in traditional practices as the natural and personal protection measure against host-seeking mosquitoes.
Moreover, commercial mosquito repellent products containing plant-based ingredients have recently increased in popularity among customers. This is because they are commonly perceived as safe compared to synthetic repellents.
In addition, the potential mosquito-repellent plants are further stratified as they do not contain harmful chemicals and are typically non-toxic, which makes them safer to use around children, pets and the elderly at home.
They also tend to have a more pleasant smell than synthetic repellents, which can be unpleasant and overpowering.
Moreover, mosquito repellent plants can be quickly grown at home, which provides an eco-friendly and sustainable alternative to synthetic products.
In addition, DEET may even defect in childbirth and cause cancer as well. Many people opt for natural measures to eliminate mosquitoes, such as mosquito repellent plants in India.
FAQs
Do mosquito repellent plants keep the mosquitoes away?
Mosquito-repellent plants mainly contain citronella oil and other properties that help to keep mosquitoes away. However, the effectiveness of these plants may vary depending on several factors, such as the environment, the number of mosquitoes present, and the concentration of citronella oil in plants.
What are the best plants to keep the mosquitoes away in India?
Numerous plants offer mosquito-repellent properties, such as peppermint, lavender, lemon balm and catnip. However, the effectiveness of these plants depends on the concentration of mosquito-repelling compounds in the plants and the environments.
What are the advantages of mosquito-repellent plants?
Mosquito-repellent plants offer numerous advantages over synthetic repellents. They do not contain harmful chemicals and are typically non-toxic, making them safer for children, pets, and the elderly at home. They also tend to have a more pleasant smell than synthetic repellents, which can be unpleasant and overpowering. Moreover, mosquito repellent plants can be quickly grown at home, which provides an eco-friendly and sustainable alternative to synthetic products.
Is the aloe vera plant also effective in keeping the mosquitoes away?
The aloe vera plant offers several benefits but has not been shown to have any significant properties as mosquito repelling. Hence, it is best to use other plants or mosquito control measures to enjoy the maximum effectiveness in repelling mosquitoes.
Which mosquito repellent plant is also utilised for other purposes?
Lemon grass is a mosquito-repellent plant in India that has also been utilised as an anti-inflammatory medicine. Additionally, this plant also offers flawless fragrance, and that's why it is utilised in different scents and toiletries as well.
How do mosquito repellent plants help to get rid of mosquitoes?
The mosquito repellent plants generally contain some natural compounds that emit aromas to repel mosquitoes and other insects. These plants even allow you to enjoy the natural and fresh air while protecting you from mosquito bites with open doors and windows.
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