Is the municipality’s anti-mosquito fumigation getting you down? Are you tired of applying jars of strange smelling, sticky mosquito repellents? Or do you like me, love pottering in the garden and do not want to spend your time swatting mosquitoes?

I have a nursery in my own backyard, so I spend lots of time outdoors and would rather be tending my plants than swatting mosquitoes. If you always wanted a balcony garden, but the thought of these mini vampires kept you away, here are some plants that will beautify your green space and help control mosquitoes.

1. HORSEMINT/SPEARMINT/PEPPERMINT

Peppermint has long been used as a treatment for colds and flu. It has natural fungicidal and bacterial retardant properties because its essential oils are high in thymol. Peppermint is very easy to maintain and can also be planted under your larger plants as a beautiful ground cover to cover the soil.

Soil : Well drained soil
Sunlight: Partial to full sunlight (3-4 hours)
Water: 30-50 ml (for 6 inch pot), avoid water logging

2.  ROSEMARY

This wonderful herb we use for seasoning is also a great, natural mosquito repellent. It has been used for centuries to keep pesky mosquitoes away.

Rosemary is a native of the Mediterranean, so it likes hot, dry weather and well-drained soil. It is an inexpensive and attractive way to boost the appearance of the landscape and have natural mosquito repellents on hand as well.

My quick rosemary mosquito-repellent recipe: Mix 4 drops of rosemary essential oil with ¼ cup olive oil. Store in a cool, dry place. Apply as needed.

Soil : Red, well drained soils, add coco peat or small loose stones to make the soil more permeable as plants
Sunlight : Partial to full sunlight (2-3 hours)
If you live in a very hot tropical country like India where temperatures can reach 40 degrees C, then it’s best to keep in semi-shade conditions
Water : 30-50ml (6 inch pot), avoid water logging

3.  MARIGOLD

Organic gardeners have used marigolds as companion plants to keep aphids away. Mosquitoes don’t like its scent any better (and some humans feel the same way). Marigolds are sun-loving annuals that come in a variety of shapes and sizes for almost any landscape. They are quite easy to grow.

Soil :   All types of soil.
Sunlight: Full sunlight (6-8 hours), strictly outdoors
Water: 50-80ml (6 inch pot)

4. AGERATUM

This charming little bedding plant contains coumarin, and mosquitoes detest the smell. It is used in the perfume industry and is even in some commercial mosquito repellents. Don’t rub ageratum on your skin, though. It has some other less desirable elements that you do not want on your skin . Ageratums are annuals, and they come in a muted blue and white that compliments most other plants in your garden.

Soil : Heavy loamy soils
Sunlight : Partial sunlight (Semi shade) to full sunlight conditions(4-5 hours) helps the plant flower more
Water : 50-80ml (6 inch pot),  avoid waterlogging

5. CITRONELLA

Citronella oil is popular as a ‘natural’ insect repellent. Its mosquito repellent qualities have been verified by research, including its effectiveness in repelling Aedes Aegypti (dengue fever mosquito). To be continually effective most citronella repellent formulas need to be reapplied to the skin every 30–60 minutes.
This plant has also been known to have superb anti fungal properties and is used in the perfumery industry for its high oil content.

Soil :   Well drained soil
Sunlight :  Full outdoor sunlight (At least 6 hours)
Water : 30-50 ml (for 6 inch pot), avoid water logging

6. CATNIP

Catnip is one of the most powerful mosquito repellant plants . Recent studies have shown that it is ten times more effective than DEET at repelling mosquitoes. It is a short lived perennial and is easy to grow from seed, and quickly reseeds. Aside from its intoxicating effects on cats, the leaves make a very soothing tea.

Soil :  Light, well drained soils
Sunlight :  Plant is quite hardy, Can be kept both indoor / outdoor (6-8 hours)
Water :  30-80ml (6 inch pot)

How do I use these plants to repel mosquitoes?

With all of these plants, the leaves must be crushed to release the aroma. Otherwise mosquitoes cannot smell them. With rosemary and catnip, you can simply crush a few leaves and rub on your skin and clothing to enhance the effect.

What are other plant based solutions to repel mosquitoes

The other kind of mosquito plant is Agastache cana. Its common names include Texas hummingbird mint, bubblegum mint, giant hyssop, or giant hummingbird mint. As you might guess, hummingbirds are quite attracted to it.

Another slightly smelly but organic way to get rid of them is Garlic which is the main component in many herbal remedies. Mosquitoes hate it. Gardeners who eat lots of garlic may find that they scratch those mosquito bites far less. Of course, you would have to eat a lot of garlic and you may find that you repel more than just mosquitoes.

Nevertheless, organic gardeners use garlic sprays, powders and plants to help deter the creatures. It may not reduce their numbers dramatically, but when coupled with other natural combatants, you may see a reliable reduction.

So, next time you have an opportunity to plant, consider using some of these attractive plants to do more than just enhance the landscape.

ABOUT THE GUEST WRITER

Shaan Lalwani

SHAAN LALWANI is the 25 year old owner of the rapidly expanding nursery named Vriksha Nursery which is based in Mumbai, India . This nursery was passed down to him by his parents who fully supported him in getting his B.Sc degree in Horticulture and in attending one of the best landscape schools in the world for an M.A. in landscape management at University of Sheffield,U.K.

Shaan is available through his blog Vrikshanurseries.blogspot.com where you can get weekly updates. For any questions regarding the gardening world, he may be contacted at  +91-9820704069 or at shaan_lalwani[at]hotmail.com

Vriksha nursery strives to change the face of urban gardening in India with over 25,000 gardens executed in Maharashtra/Goa/Gujarat. We have a team of dedicated professionals who will leave no stone unturned to give your gardens the utmost quality attention. Vriksha nursery has been synonymous with innovation – be it set landscaping (over 5000 teleserials/movies/adfilms), temporary landscapes (over 2500 exhibitions and weddings), ikebana flower arrangements, urban farming, rooftop gardens, living walls etc.

Further links you may be interested in:

EWTT: How to Grow Fresh Air Using Houseplants

EWTT: How to Compost at home using Container Pots

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JUST ONE CHEMICAL FREE DAY…TO SAVE YOU AND ME
By Dr Priyadarshani Kamat

Water, water everywhere but not a drop to drink? Soon we are moving in this direction.  Unless we act fast. 

Look around, Pause, Think.

We seem to be polluting everything in our wake, water, land and air. 

And what we give comes back to us in more than equal measures. 

Cancer, hormonal imbalance (hypo and hyper thyroid), asthma, eczema, chrons disease, cardiac illnesses, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and other ailments are striking more and more at an even younger age group than before. 

Nothing can happen at macro level unless it begins at the micro level.  And both you and I are the micro blocks of our world.  So let us do our tiny bit to save and protect our world, thereby protecting ourselves.  Let us begin by stopping the pollutants which are washed out from homes on a regular basis. 

If we take a really close look at the ingredients in our personal and home care items, you will be completely shocked to find out about the chemicals we constantly expose ourselves and our families to.  These chemicals are then washed out through our drains into the oceans setting in motion the vicious cycle of pollution. 

So my dear friends, let us make a pledge today, to observe at least one Chemical Free Day in a month. 

I am sure it is not too much to ask, is it? 

And if we do our sums correct, by adding up each family that takes this pledge, the magnitude of chemicals emptying into our oceans would decrease considerably even if we followed this habit for just one day in a month, to begin with.

Are you all then ready for a journey into a normal Sunday, in a normal household in a normal city? 

GOOD MORNING..

WAKE UP, and even before the sleep flees from our eyes, the tooth brush with the tooth paste starts fighting with the oral monsters. 

Pause – focus – ingredients – toothpaste – chemicals, chemicals – even in the so called herbal ones.  Now think, is there a natural solution?  Yes, it is the common salt and lemony lemon to the rescue.  Take a small piece of lemon, dip it in salt and scrub your teeth sparkling white.  Salt with its anti septic properties, gets rid of the bacteria along with tightening of the gums.  Lemon adds the dash of white along with vitamin C. 

For a little more pampering, you could scrub strawberries.

But what about mouth wash to attack those nasty germs at the back of our throats?  Well add the same salt and lemon to a glass of warm water and gargle away to glory.  This takes care of even minor inflammations.  Wasn’t granny really wise?

HEADING FOR A BATH?

Ah ha! For a relaxing luxurious weekend bath or a shower. 

Pause – check – bath foam or gel – chemicals again.

Shampoo – oh! More chemicals.

Face wash – even more chemicals. 

But then don’t worry.  Let’s really pamper ourselves.  Let’s make a paste from rice or chick pea flour + yogurt + turmeric and give ourselves an authentic herbal scrub. 

The benefits? The flour naturally scrubs and takes away the dead skin.  The yogurt not only softens the skin but is armed with acidophil bacteria (good bacteria) takes care of the fungal infections common in humid weather.  The turmeric as you know if famous for its medicinal whitening and anti bacterial properties. 

An ideal replacement for shampoo would be a herb called Shikakai (Acacia Concinna) and Soap Nut (readily available in India).  These are the wonder herbs which have for generations, helped Indian women manage their long dark tresses, without a single bad hair day.  You could also use herbal mixes from  your local Ayurvedic shop. Just make sure the ingredients have no chemicals added.

If your hair is stressed out with all the chemically treatment, perming, straightening and coloring hair, why don’t you go in for a relaxing head massage with a personalized aroma blend.  Let it be an oily hair day.  The scalp would be grateful after all those harsh chemicals. 

HAND WASH

Hey, hold on, I can hear you say, what about our hand wash? We need to wash our hands every now and then?  Yes, the same simple lemon cut into piece, kept in a beautiful looking box on our wash basins and used for scrubbing hands whenever needed, will not only disinfect our hands but add a glow to them (please do not keep them for more than 6 hours). 

DRESSING TABLE

On this chemical free day, why not steer clear of your dressing table and let your skin breathe naturally, without layers of chemical rich cosmetics.  Just one day..that’s not too much to ask.

These are just a few chemicals we have successfully eliminated from our personal care items.  So now let’s turn our focus to home care. 

DISHES and FLOORS

Let’s begin with the kitchen.  Oh please!  How can one clean the greasy pots and pans and kitchen platform without our regular kitchen solutions? 

Here’s a relatively gentler and eco friendly household cleaner:

Mix together one teaspoon baking soda with two teaspoons common salt and half a lemon and watch the grease running for cover. 

Then we need sparkling floors free from dust mites and other germs. For a wonderful floor cleaner:

Mix half cup white vinegar + 2 -3 drops of Tea Tree essential oil in a bucketful of warm water.  Now mop the floor and see how the fragrance of Tea Tree will banish your nose blocks while sparkling and disinfecting the floors. 

BATHROOMS & LAUNDRY

But what about the harder to clean toilet pots and wash basins?  Well, our simple baking soda and vinegar can do wonders.  Pour half cup baking soda into the toilet pot, then drizzle with vinegar, scrub, let it stay for 10-15 mins and flush.  If there are difficult stains then borax can come to the rescue.  This combination of baking soda, borax and vinegar can also treat choked drains. 

What about the washing machine?  Should we keep it idle?  Ideally yes.  Consider the savings of electricity.  how about hand washing of clothes to burn a few calories?  I can already hear you saying – “We prefer the gym!” 

Ok then, here is the solution.  1/3 cup washing soda + 1 litre water + soap flakes instead of detergents + ½ cup borax for additional cleaning power.  Add this to the machine before adding the clothes.  Stir and add the clothes.

Yes I know this is not entirely a natural solution, but just much eco friendlier than our usual cleaning agents.  If you have come across some alternatives, please let us know and we can pass the word around to save the world. 

Hey, have you realized the savings on our pockets that we may enjoy en route to saving the environment? 

Ah ha!  Now the environment is blessing us, the home is clean, money is saved.  We have had some spa pampering.  So why not burn some aroma oil in a burner now, listen to some soft music and relax our tired nerves.  Happy relaxation.  See you later. 

Author’s profile:

Dr. Priyadarshani Kamat,
B.H.M.S., D.M.L.D., D.H.A. (ITEC U.K.), D.H.A. (IFA, U.K.)
NatureNurtures, Homoeopathic and Holistic Therapy Center
Tel No: (65) 96647657 email : priya@naturenurtures.net

Dr Priyadarshani is a Bachelor of Homoeopathic Medicine and Surgery from the prestigious CMPH College of Mumbai University a Post Graduate Fellow from the Institute of Clinical Research (ICR), Mumbai.  She also holds several diplomas in alternative medicine.

She has been practicing as a homoeopath for more than seventeen years.  Her training for seven years in the ever busy municipal hospitals of Mumbai and the rural and urban clinics run by the ICR has given her a profound knowledge of clinical medicine and a deep understanding of handling a variety of medical ailments through homoeopathy and mainstream medicine.  Her conviction to empower through knowledge is evident through the various workshops she conducts on homoeopathy, health and nutrition.  Her e-practice covers clients globally in USA, Japan, Russia, Pakistan, Australia and India.

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