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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Imagine the earth as a gigantic greenhouse. Plants and trees absorb vast amounts of carbon dioxide as well as toxins from the atmosphere while releasing precious oxygen, thereby producing and maintaining clean air.  Logically speaking, the concept should apply to any closed environment such as an urban apartment or office building, or for that matter, even a spaceship.

This was NASA’s reasoning when it tried to find out the best way to purify air for astronauts in planned moon bases, and the answer lay in the living processes of plants which purify and revitalise air.  It studied plants that were most suitable for the purpose. In addition to releasing oxygen and absorbing carbon dioxide, these plants could also remove significant amounts of pollutants or Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in indoor spaces, namely benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene.

NASA's BioHome at Stennis Space Center : 45 feet by 16 feet with household plants as air purifiers

In the 1970s, NASA tested this solution in the BioHome, also called a “closed ecological life support system.” The BioHome was a tightly sealed building made of synthetic materials. It was basically designed for one person to live in, with lots of houseplants inside it.  NASA noted that before the introduction of the plants, people who entered the BioHome experienced burning eyes and respiratory problems – typical symptoms of the “Sick Building Syndrome.”

The results were published by B.C. Wolverton in the book “How to Grow Fresh Air: 50 Houseplants that Purify Your Home or Office” – a culmination of 25 years of joint research with NASA.  The book shows that if household plants became an integral part of the built environment, it would go a long way in improving air quality, especially within a ‘personal breathing zone’ which is an area of 6 to 8 cu. ft  (0.17 to 0.23 cu. m)

50 household plants were chosen and ordered in a composite ranking which included  ”ability to remove chemical vapors, ease of cultivation, susceptibility to insect infestation and transpiration (humidification) rate.” Not only do these plants add to the aesthetic appeal of an indoor environment, they also provide a valuable function of creating a healthy space for us.

The book also provides details for each of these 50 plants with their growing and maintenance conditions, and thus is an indispensable guide for anyone interested in sprucing up their indoor spaces.

Some facts about Indoor Air Quality that are worth pondering over:

* According to the US Environment Protection Agency (EPA), indoor air is 3 to 7 times more polluted than outdoor air.

*  The EPA ranks indoor air pollution as one of the top five threats to public health.

* People in urban environments spend as much as 90% of their time indoors. So indoor air is far more likely to impact our health than outdoor air.

* The average human being takes in about 20,000 breaths a day, circulating an estimated 10,000 litres of air through the lungs.

* The EPA also informs that 6 out of 10 US homes and buildings are “sick” or hazardous to one’s health. Some of the symptoms associated with “Sick Building Syndrome” are asthma, allergies, headache, fatigue, irritations in the nose, eyes and throat, respiratory and sinus congestion.

* Primary sources of poor indoor air quality are due to the consequences of modern building design : hermetically (or tightly) sealed buildings (which was encouraged during the ’70s oil shock to improve energy efficiency of buildings), with very little ventilation  and increasing use of synthetic furnishings which release Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) or toxic chemicals into the air.

Out of the 50 mentioned by Wolverton, here are the top 10 household plants that purify air, with their botanical names and composite score out of 10.

1.   Areca Palm Chrysalidodocarpus lutescans (8.5)
2.   Lady Palm Rhapis exelsa (8.5)
3.   Bamboo Palm Chamaedora seifrizii (8.4)
4.   Rubber Plant Ficus robusta (8.0)
5.   Dracaena ‘Janet Craig‘ Dracaena deremensis ‘Janet Craig (7.8)
6.   English Ivy Hedera helix (7.8)
7.   Dwarf Date Palm Phoenix roebelinii (7.8)
8.   Ficus Alii Ficus macleilandii ‘Alii’ (7.7)
9.   Boston fern Nephrolepis exaltata “Bostoniensis” (7.5)
10. Peace Lily Spathiphyllum sp. (7.5)

Other very common household plants that feature in the top 50 include well known ones such as syngonium, weeping fig, wax begonia, philodendrons, snake plant, prayer plant, spider plant, anthurium, croton, poinsetta, dwarf azalea, aloe vera and tulip.

One person who has applied the concepts here on a large scale is Kamal Meattle. He has tried and tested these plants for 15 years inside office buildings in New Delhi, India. He uses three kinds of household plants (which I’ve compared with the rankings from Dr B.C.Wolverton’s book above).

Areca Palm Chrysalidodocarpus lutescans (No. 1 on Wolverton’s list with a score of 8.5)
Mother-in-law’s Tongue Sansevieria trifasciata (No. 27 on Wolverton’s list with a score of 6.3 also called Snake Plant)
Money Plant Epipremnum aureum No. 12 on Wolverton’s list with a score of 7.5  also called Golden Pothos)

Here’s Kamal Meattle’s talk on TED:

Video link here

To get a neat summary of his talk, watch this Slideshare presentation:

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