What indoor plants keep bugs away?
Here are some of the most common pests that house plants can be used to help deter: Mosquitoes: A variety of plants and herbs keep these pesky flying insects away acting as natural mosquito repellents, including citronella plants, lemongrass, basil, mint, sage, rosemary, marigolds, lavender, and catnip. Peppermint and marigold are good repellents and can work safely inside. Also orange, lemon, lime and other strong citrus fragrances will drive a way pests while freshening a room.Combine essential oils like citronella, peppermint, tea tree, and lavender to create your own bug-repellent spray. Mix with water and a little alcohol to help disperse the oil. Place oil-diffused cotton balls in areas where pests are a problem, such as near windows, doors, and cabinets.Spearmint (Mentha spicata) – Slightly milder than peppermint but still an effective natural deterrent against flying pests. Basil (Ocimum basilicum) – While commonly used in cooking, basil’s strong essential oils repel mosquitoes and flies.Approved military insect repellents for exposed skin come in a variety of formulations: off! Deep woods sportsman pump spray (nsn 6840-01-584-8598), 25% deet, protects up to 8 hours. Natrapel® pump spray (nsn 6840-01-619-4795), 20% picaridin, protects up to 8 hours.
What is the best long term bug repellent?
Overall, chemical repellents like DEET and picaridin offer long-lasting and wide-ranging protection, repelling mosquitoes, ticks and many fly species. Synthesized plant oils, like lemon eucalyptus oil and IR3535, don’t protect quite as long and are effective against mosquitoes and some tick species. For those enjoying time outdoors, using repellents like citronella, eucalyptus, or lavender offers a chemical-free way to repel these pests. These essential oils are effective and provide a pleasant scent. They can be used in candles, sprays, or diffusers.While we humans love the relaxing scent of lavender, bugs don’t care for it. In fact, they try their best to avoid it at all costs! If you’re looking to deter moths, fleas, flies, and mosquitoes from entering your home, try planting bushels of lavender at entryways around your house.
What is the best natural bug killer for houseplants?
Vinegar. If you have a bottle of vinegar lying around, it could be the perfect pest control solution! Start by adding one cup of vinegar to three cups of water, then mix it in a spray bottle. Spray the solution on your houseplants and the strong scent will irritate the insects enough that they’ll find food elsewhere. Vinegar can sometimes be effective; however, using vinegar for pest control is generally a short-term effort to control pests since it is not effective as a long-term treatment against serious pest infestations and will not keep pests completely away from your property.Chemical-free pest control includes vinegar sprays, citrus peels, diatomaceous earth, essential oil repellents, cedarwood blocks and pheromone traps. These natural solutions target ants, fruit flies, moths and even cockroaches without leaving toxic residues in your home.
Do mint plants keep bugs away?
Mint. Spearmint and peppermint are often noted for their ability to repel flies, fleas, and spiders in the garden. One thing to keep in mind when planting mint is that it is an invasive plant and will spread quickly. Have you ever wondered what plants spiders hate? As it turns out, most strong-smelling plants will be great deterrents to our arachnid friends. As a general rule of thumb, plants coming from the mint family seem to be the most effective. These would be plants like Lavender, Basil, Mints (of course), and Lemon Balm.
Will a peppermint candle keep bugs away?
Peppermint – Not Just for Cooling Off Beyond its refreshing aroma, peppermint oil deters ants, spiders, mosquitos, and flies. Its menthol content offers a cooling sensation that insects don’t enjoy. How long does peppermint oil keep bugs away? Peppermint oil typically repels bugs for 2–3 hours after application, but its effectiveness fades as the scent dissipates.