Will there be insect eggs on mosquito-repellent plants? Read this and you will understand
Many people think that mosquito-repellent plants can repel all mosquitoes and insects, but in fact there are many kinds of mosquito-repellent plants, such as mint, night-blooming jasmine, wampee, fennel, and pyrethrum, all of which have some effect on mosquitoes and insects. But the most commonly used is scented geranium (Pelargonium graveolens), though it cannot repel all insects, generally only targeting mosquitoes and flies, so insects will also lay eggs on the plants and in the soil, such as swallowtail butterfly larvae.
Plug tray seedling raising method for mosquito-repellent scented geranium
Mosquito-repellent scented geranium was obtained through cell fusion and regeneration, and is classified taxonomically under the genus Pelargonium. Its leaf shape is elegant, the leaf surface is smooth, and it has a strong ability to release fragrance. The flowers are pink, with umbel inflorescences growing at the top of young branches, and the inflorescence stalk reaches 20 cm. Mosquito-repellent scented geranium can be cultivated both indoors and outdoors in southern China, while in the north it needs to be placed in a protected area or indoors in winter. Plug tray seedling technology has become very popular in the flower industry of various countries in recent years, that is, after tissue-cultured seedlings are hardened off, they are transplanted into plug tray containers for cultivation. This method saves labor and money, and is convenient for transportation, making it very suitable for producing mosquito-repellent scented geranium. The plug tray seedling method is introduced as follows:Substrate and nutrition
The substrate should be artificially prepared, must be sterile, loose, and well-drained, and artificially formulated nutrient solution should be added. Specifically including:
Peat soil - formed by the decomposition of plant branches and leaves, moss, and grasses, rich in organic matter, light in texture, loose and breathable, and able to retain fertilizer and water well, with a pH of 6 to 6.5, it is the main substrate for plug tray seedling raising. Note that it must not contain insect eggs or pathogenic spores.
Vermiculite - formed by expanding silicate materials at a high temperature of about 1000°C, it is an additive to the substrate and can improve its breathability. However, it is easily broken and should not be used for more than 1 year.
Perlite - formed by expanding crushed magmatic rock materials at high temperature, it has a porous structure and is an additive to the substrate, light in texture, with good air and water permeability.
River sand - an additive to the substrate, with good drainage performance, cheap price, and easy to obtain. But it is relatively heavy, inconvenient to transport, and low in nutrient content.
Seedling raising equipment
Generally, 15×7 plug trays are used.
The key technology of greenhouse seedling raising is environmental regulation. There are two methods: first, single-factor manual control, separately regulating factors such as temperature, humidity, and light through ventilation, heating (cooling), lighting time, irrigation amount, etc.; second, multi-factor automatic control, using computers to regulate various environmental factors in the greenhouse. To reduce costs, the author currently adopts single-factor control.
Heating regulation system - mainly uses coal stoves for heating, with low cost. If water heating is used, the cost is high, but the heat energy is uniform and pollution-free.
Insulation regulation system - maintaining relatively stable temperature is very important for seedling growth. In winter, plastic film and reed curtains can be used for insulation. Compared with glass greenhouses, plastic greenhouses have lower costs.
Cooling regulation system - in summer, in addition to opening windows for ventilation and cooling, using fans and covering shade nets and artificial spraying can all achieve the purpose of cooling.
Ventilation regulation system - the ventilation system includes two types: natural ventilation and mechanical ventilation. The former relies on opening side windows and roof windows for ventilation, while the latter relies on exhaust fans placed on the side walls for ventilation.
Other facilities also include: movable horizontal beds, used for placing plug trays, with water heating equipment installed under the beds, and small plastic arched sheds on top. The irrigation and fertilization system uses free water pressure pipelines for sprinkler irrigation, or watering cans for sprinkler irrigation.
Temperature management
Temperature regulation is the key to the success of plug tray seedling raising for mosquito-repellent scented geranium. If the temperature is too high, it will cause various diseases and affect survival, so feasible cooling measures need to be taken, including: spray cooling, water curtain cooling, and exhaust fan cooling.
Ventilation is also an indispensable measure in seedling management. Good ventilation must be ensured in the greenhouse, but the wind force should not be too strong; keeping the indoor air fresh is sufficient. The above facilities are relatively cheap and are the basic guarantee for year-round production of mosquito-repellent scented geranium.
In addition, in low-temperature seasons, warm water must be used for irrigation to regulate the substrate temperature of plug tray seedlings. If the temperature is too low, the roots will develop poorly, affecting seedling growth and turning them into small old seedlings.
Light regulation
Although mosquito-repellent scented geranium likes light, strong light will damage young seedlings, so in the initial stage of plug tray seedling planting, direct sunlight at noon must be prevented. From September to October, when direct sunlight can raise the temperature to 30°C, shading treatment should be adopted. From November to March of the following year, supplementary lighting should be used to ensure at least 8 hours of light per day in winter. Mosquito-repellent scented geranium is not cold-tolerant, and young seedlings can only tolerate a low temperature of 5°C. Mature seedlings can grow in the open field from April to October in the south, while in the north they can only grow in the open field from May to September.
Water management
If irrigation is not properly controlled for newly transplanted plug tray seedlings, the survival rate will be greatly reduced. If the substrate humidity is too high, aeration is poor, and toxic substances accumulate, it will not only affect the rooting of young seedlings but also cause root and stem rot. When air humidity is low, young seedlings cannot stand upright and cannot fully carry out photosynthesis and respiration, and normal physiological processes are disturbed. Therefore, attention must be paid to both substrate moisture content and air humidity. When the substrate water-holding capacity is 80% and the relative air humidity is above 50%, young seedlings are likely to survive. To improve the survival rate, artificial spraying and small plastic arched sheds can be used to regulate humidity, and intermittent spraying can also be used to control humidity.
Plants that can repel mosquitoes, methods that can repel mosquitoes
With the arrival of summer, many mosquitoes and insects have also begun more active movement. In our daily life, how can we prevent mosquitoes and insects? What plants can repel mosquitoes? What are the methods that can repel mosquitoes? Let us take a specific look together~
Plants that can repel mosquitoes
Orange jasmine (Murraya paniculata): This is a small evergreen shrub, with a corymb-like shape, many branches, compact, small and glossy leaves, and dense white flowers. After flowering, 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 the mosquito-repellent effect is very good.
Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula): It is a herbaceous plant of the Asteraceae family, can grow to about 1 m tall, with small yellow flowers, and a single plant can have hundreds of flower heads. The outer bracts of each flower head have mucus, just like 5 extended little fingers, which is very interesting. As long as small mosquitoes land on them, they will be stuck, and afterward, the insect corpses are slowly digested by it as nutrients for its growth. If dust sticks to it, after a few days it will also be digested without a trace. Placed as a potted plant at home, it catches mosquitoes and absorbs dust.
Lantana (Lantana camara): Its branches, leaves, and flowers emit a smell that mosquitoes and flies are sensitive to, and it has a strong effect of repelling mosquitoes and flies, while causing no harm to the human body.
Methods that can repel mosquitoes
1. Raising fish and plants together
Put small fish in the container where hydroponic plants are grown, let the small fish eat the insect eggs, and then it can prevent the breeding of mosquito larvae. This method is very environmentally friendly, and at the same time, the combination of movement of plants and small fish is also a very beautiful picture, very suitable for families to adopt.
2. Put vitamin B2 in the water
Put one or two tablets of vitamin B2 in the hydroponic container, because mosquitoes hate the smell of vitamin B2. After the vitamin B2 is completely dissolved in the water, mosquitoes will naturally stay away from the hydroponic plants.
3. Change the water frequently
The water in the plant container still needs to be changed frequently. Properly changing the water can not only maintain the nutrients in the water but also keep the water clean, so that mosquito eggs cannot successfully hatch. If you are worried that changing the water too frequently will damage the plant roots, you can drop a few drops of insecticide into the water to kill the insect eggs in the water, but this method is not suitable for hydroponic plants with fish and plants raised together.
4. Make your own container cover
Cut waste foam board to the size of the container mouth, make a hole in the middle, pass the roots of the hydroponic plant through it, isolate the water in the container from the outside, and make it impossible for mosquitoes to contact the water surface. The foam board can also be replaced with gauze. This method is very suitable for hydroponic plants with slender roots such as pothos, lucky bamboo, and Dracaena sanderiana.
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