Mint attracts pests in summer? Try these homemade, harmless and practical pest control methods

The hot summer has arrived, and all kinds of mosquitoes and insects have come out. Many people like to grow mint at home. The fresh and eye-pleasing mint has finally grown enough to make tea, but it easily attracts pests. So what can be done? Let me offer some tips and teach everyone how to solve the trouble of mint pests, so you can brew fresh and sweet mint tea.

I. Mint pest: whiteflies

If you find that the mint leaves at home are sticky, and upon closer inspection there are also small white flying insects, then those are whiteflies.

Solutions:

1. Leaf-pulling method

Directly cut off all leaves with whiteflies to destroy the nesting sites of whiteflies. Do not feel reluctant, as this is the most effective way to get rid of whiteflies.

2. Freezing method

Find a plastic bottle, fill it with water, leave it in the sun for a day, then place it in the refrigerator and freeze it into icy water. Pour it into a spray bottle and spray the front and back of the leaves. Be careful not to do this in the sun. After the water on the leaves dries, put the plant back in the sun. Whiteflies are very afraid of freezing, while mint is a plant tolerant of both cold and heat, so there is no need to worry that the mint will be frostbitten.

3. Homemade sticky insect trap

Insert some wooden sticks around the mint pot and wrap them with a ring of yellow tape to make a homemade sticky insect trap, using the yellow-seeking tendency of whiteflies to eliminate them.

II. Mint pest: red spider mites

Turn over the back of the mint leaves, and if you see a dense cluster of tiny red dots, do not doubt it, those must be red spider mites.

Solutions:

1. Improve ventilation, remove leaves

Improve ventilation, observe the backs of the mint leaves, and immediately remove any diseased leaves found.

2. Homemade chili water

Cut some hot chili peppers, the really spicy kind, add water at about 30 times the amount of the chili peppers, boil for 30 minutes, put it into a bottle, and spray it on the surface of the mint leaves. It is very effective against red spider mites.

III. Mint diseases

1. Rust disease

It generally occurs easily during continuous rainy days or excessive drought from May to July. It can be controlled with triadimefon emulsifiable concentrate solution.

2. Leaf spot disease

It generally occurs from May to October. Diseased leaves should be removed promptly when found. At the same time, in the early stage of the disease, spray with 65% zineb wettable powder 500 times solution.

3. Black shank disease

Black shank disease generally occurs at the seedling stage, causing the stems of mint to become soft and black, resulting in the whole plant lodging and withering. For control, during the disease period, spray with 70% chlorothalonil diluted with water.

A reminder from the editor:For diseased mint, if you do not want to spray chemicals, just cut off all the diseased leaves and place it in a windy place with plenty of sunlight, and let it slowly recover.

IV. Curled edges and scorched leaves

Cause: The surface of mint leaves has a layer of fine hairs, which makes it easy for water to remain on the leaves when watering. Prolonged soaking can cause new shoots to wither and die.

Solution

In this case, ventilation can be appropriately increased. Do not let it be directly exposed to rain on cloudy and rainy days, and do not spray water on the leaf surface.

V. Daily care of mint

1. Temperature

The most suitable temperature for mint growth is between 20°C and 30°C. In summer, as long as the moisture is suitable, the higher the temperature, the better the mint at home will grow.

2. Water

In summer, when watering, you can observe the moisture level of the potting soil. If the soil turns white, then water it quickly, and be sure to water thoroughly. If you have rice-washing water at home, save some to water the mint, and it will grow even better.

3. Soil

Sandy soil is best, and the soil should always be kept loose and breathable. Even while the mint is constantly growing, it should still be pruned and shaped, and then fertilized around the root area of the plant. You can apply nitrogen fertilizer urea once a month.

The above is an introduction to summer mint pest control methods and care. Fresh mint tea can relieve tension, stimulate appetite and aid digestion, eliminate bad breath, and so on. Therefore, growing some mint yourself is still very good, but do not forget pest control.

What mosquito-repellent plants are there? 6 summer mosquito-repellent flowers and plants

What mosquito-repellent plants are there? In summer, windows need to be opened at night for ventilation, but once the windows are open, many mosquitoes fly into the room, making it hard to sleep. In fact, to keep mosquitoes from coming in, there is a very good method. Those who like growing flowers can cultivate a few pots of mosquito-repellent plants and place them on the windowsill. They can repel mosquitoes and also be ornamental. Let us look below at which plants can repel mosquitoes.

Rosemary is a common potted aromatic herb plant. It likes warm and humid environments and grows quickly. Grown in a pot, it has a certain mosquito-repellent effect. Moreover, you can pick some of its lush leaves, crush the leaves and scatter them on the ground, which also has a good mosquito-repellent effect. You can even cut the stems and leaves into pieces, put them in boiling water and steam them. The solution made can be used directly to repel mosquitoes.

It is a small chrysanthemum with insect-repellent effects. Its flowers contain a pyrethrin, and this substance has a damaging effect on the nervous systems of mosquitoes and other pests. Does that not feel really great? Of course, this insecticidal substance is harmless to humans, and pyrethrum is also used to make some insecticides.

Mint has a fresh fragrance and many varieties. Its care is extremely simple. In summer, pay attention to keeping the potting soil slightly moist and giving it appropriate scattered light. Mint also has a certain mosquito-repellent effect, but the effect is not as good as the other several plants.

Marigolds are usually planted beside vegetables and have a very good insect-repellent effect. Some people also plant them beside the eaves to achieve a certain mosquito-repellent effect. The branches, leaves and flowers of marigold all have a strong fragrance, which also makes it a natural insect repellent. The effect is still very good, and its care is simple, making it a beginner-level potted plant.

Basil is a common potted aromatic herb. It is simple to care for and has a relatively good effect in repelling insects and driving away flies. It is suitable for growing on a windowsill. Care is simple: in summer keep the potting soil slightly moist and give it appropriate scattered light. It can also be made into a mosquito repellent. Directly put the leaves and stems into boiling water and boil them thoroughly, then soak for 3 hours, add an appropriate amount of baijiu, and it can become a very good insect repellent.

Mosquito-repellent geranium is actually scented geranium, a mosquito-repellent plant that was occasionally cultivated. The scent it gives off has a natural insect-repellent odor, and its effect in preventing mosquito invasion is relatively good. The scent released by mosquito-repellent geranium is fresh and elegant, comfortable to smell, and it also has a mosquito-repellent effect. Do you not want to grow a pot?

Can pregnant women use essential balm? What mosquito-repellent plants are there?

Summer has arrived, and the mosquitoes have come! After pregnant women are bitten by mosquitoes, can they apply essential balm to relieve itching? Let us first look at the ingredients of essential balm in the encyclopedia: menthol, methyl salicylate, camphor, eucalyptus oil, eugenol. The usage can be external application or internal use. Damn, it can even be taken internally. Qiaoma says she does not dare to put it in her mouth. Some materials say that oral use can even be addictive! Precautions: pregnant women and children under three years old should use it with caution. So can pregnant women actually use essential balm? What mosquito-repellent plants are there? Let me tell you.

Can pregnant women use essential balm?

The hot summer has arrived, and some pregnant women like to apply cooling oil to refresh themselves. This is a very bad habit. This is because ingredients contained in cooling oil, such as camphor, mint, and eucalyptus oil, can all be absorbed through the skin and can pass through the placenta into the fetus, affecting its growth and development. Camphor may cause fetal malformation, stillbirth, or miscarriage. Therefore, when pregnant women feel tired, they should rest for a while and should not overly stimulate the nerves, which would affect their normal regulatory functions.

Cooling oil or essential balm has the effects of refreshing the mind, relieving itching, and mildly reducing inflammation and swelling. It can be used to prevent and treat headaches, dizziness, mosquito bites, poisonous insect bites, skin itching, and mild burns and kerosene scalds. When abdominal pain is caused by heatstroke, taking cooling oil internally with warm boiled water can stop the abdominal pain. When having a cold, applying a little cooling oil inside the nasal cavity can reduce symptoms of nasal congestion. Therefore, in daily life, especially in summer and autumn, cooling oil becomes a must-have medicine for families.

However, pregnant women should not frequently apply cooling oil, otherwise it will affect healthy childbirth. This is because cooling oil contains ingredients such as camphor, mint, and eucalyptus oil. Camphor can be absorbed through the skin and have certain effects on the human body. For pregnant women, camphor can also cross the placental barrier and affect the normal development of the fetus, and in severe cases can lead to fetal malformation, stillbirth, or miscarriage. The harm is even greater especially in the first 3 months of pregnancy.

Therefore, pregnant women should not apply medicines such as cooling oil, essential balm, Wanjinyou, or Yixinyou.

What mosquito-repellent plants are there?

①: Night-blooming cestrum

Night-blooming cestrum, also known as night jasmine, originated in tropical America. Its leaves are heart-shaped, with soft hairs along the edges. Between summer and autumn, clusters of yellow-green bell-shaped small flowers bloom in the leaf axils. When the moon rises above the treetops, it sends out wave after wave of fresh fragrance. This fragrance, however, makes mosquitoes afraid, making it an excellent mosquito repellent.

Most of these flowers are elegant and pretty, convenient to grow, and not expensive. In addition, when they bloom in summer, the green and white intermingle, and looking at them easily brings a sense of coolness. But the fragrance of flowers such as night-blooming cestrum often smells refreshing at first, yet after smelling it for a long time, because it is too strong, it may cause discomfort.

②: Lavender

Lavender is a small blue-purple flower. Its place of origin is the Mediterranean. It likes dryness, and its flower shape is like a wheat ear. It usually blooms in June. Lavender itself has an insecticidal effect. People usually make sachets from lavender and put them in cupboards, and some also place it in the bedroom to repel mosquitoes.

③: Geranium

Geranium: geranium flowers are clustered together, full and ball-shaped, and can adapt to both north and south regions. In hot seasons, place it outdoors in a lightly shaded environment; in cold seasons, enjoy it indoors in a bright place. Geranium has a unique scent, and this scent makes mosquitoes and flies flee when they smell it.

④: Orange jasmine

Orange jasmine is a small evergreen shrub with a corymb-like shape, many branches, small glossy leaves, and dense white flowers. After blooming, it can also bear red berries, adding beauty to a humble room. If you touch its leaves, you will feel a strong sweet fragrance, and its mosquito-repellent effect is very good.

⑤: Mosquito-repellent geranium

Mosquito-repellent geranium has a lemon fragrance. Grown in a room, mosquitoes and insects will flee. The reason is that mosquito-repellent geranium contains a special "small ingredient." It uses transgenic technology to implant the mosquito-repellent gene, the citronellal gene structure, into "vanilla," using its own unique release system as a carrier to continuously release citronellal substances into the air. At the same time, it also implants a plant DNA (gene) structure containing a fresh scent and air-purifying effect, forming a "natural evaporator," and therefore giving off fragrance all around. Especially in hot summer, it makes people feel refreshed and relaxed. According to tests, its mosquito-repellent effect is good, it is harmless to humans and livestock, and it can repel hundreds of species of mosquitoes and insects. Mosquito-repellent geranium is a perennial herbaceous plant. Its survival temperature is above minus 3°C, and it can be cultivated indoors and outdoors. Generally, the higher the temperature, the stronger the fragrance, and the better the mosquito-repellent effect.

There are many mosquitoes in summer, so you can place more mosquito-repellent geranium indoors.