Mosquito-repellent plants hit the market, but don't put too much faith in their mosquito-repelling effect

Summer is here, and the annoying mosquitoes are multiplying. Recently, shrewd merchants, exploiting people's fear of mosquitoes, have rolled out all kinds of mosquito-repellent plants on the flower market, collectively sold under the trade name “mosquito-repellent plant.” Sellers claim: “In a 12 sq m room, you only need to keep one plant and the mosquitoes will vanish, and people can sleep without a mosquito net.”

During the reporter's interview, it was found that these plants give off a rich, distinctive scent and are not expensive, costing between 5 yuan and 20 yuan per pot. The owner of a flower market in Hexi said these mosquito-repellent plants are currently selling very well, with several dozen pots sold every day. A customer nearby who was choosing one told the reporter that buying a pot to put in the room means no mosquito coils, no pollution, and it really is quite good.

In the summer when mosquitoes break out, keeping a pot of mosquito-repellent plant is definitely a pretty good choice; it not only looks attractive but also has an excellent mosquito-repelling effect. As for how to grow mosquito-repellent plant, we need to create the soil, light, water and fertilizer, temperature and other conditions it requires; the specific requirements are all in the mosquito-repellent plant's growing methods and precautions, so let's read on.

II. Growing methods and precautions for mosquito-repellent plant

1. Soil, slightly acidic

How to grow potted mosquito-repellent plant? First, you have to choose the soil well. According to the growth habits of mosquito-repellent plant, if you want to grow it well, it is best to prepare loose, fertile, slightly acidic soil. The editor recommends: a nutrient soil mixed from 6 parts peat soil, 1.5 parts vermiculite, 1.5 parts perlite, and 1 part coal ash.

Precautions: During the seedling stage of mosquito-repellent plant, it grows very fast, so we need to repot it frequently. Within 6 months, choose the soil above; after 6 months, the plant has extremely strong adaptability and any soil can be used. II

2. Light, shade in summer

In the growing methods for mosquito-repellent plant, light is very important. It is understood that mosquito-repellent plant likes light and needs sufficient sunshine to grow; light has a good effect on its development.

Precautions: Although mosquito-repellent plant likes light, it is not tolerant of strong light, so in summer shading must be strengthened, and it is enough to grow it indoors.

3. Temperature, 10-25°C

How to grow mosquito-repellent plant? Temperature is something you must pay attention to, because the higher the temperature, the stronger the fragrance given off by mosquito-repellent plant, which can make the mosquito-repelling effect better. It can overwinter safely above 0°C, and above 15°C it can normally give off a lemon fragrance.

Precautions: In an environment of 10-25°C, mosquito-repellent plant grows best; temperatures below 6°C and above 32°C are unfavorable for growth.

4. Watering, alternate dry and wet

Watering is a step that must be done when growing plants. When watering mosquito-repellent plant, we should follow the principle of alternate dry and wet, which simply means waiting until the whole pot of soil is basically dry before watering, and watering thoroughly; dry thoroughly, water thoroughly, that is, alternating dry and wet. Ps: For home cultivation, you can also apply a small amount of cake fertilizer and rice-washing water, etc.

Precautions: At high summer temperatures, water less, which helps the root system develop and improves disease resistance. In addition, water once after each repotting.

5. Fertilizing, once every 15 days

Having covered watering, let's talk about fertilizing. After mosquito-repellent plant has recovered from transplanting for 10 days, we start fertilizing. Spring and autumn are the vigorous growth periods of the plant, and a 200 ppm liquid of 20:10:20 and 14:0:14 water-soluble compound fertilizer can be applied alternately every 15 days.

III. Growing precautions for mosquito-repellent plant

Although there are already quite a few precautions in the growing methods for mosquito-repellent plant above, if you want to grow it well, there are still many things flower lovers need to pay attention to. The growing precautions for mosquito-repellent plant, simply put, include 2 more points: repotting and pests and diseases, as follows:

1. Repotting

During the seedling stage of mosquito-repellent plant, it grows relatively fast; within 6 months, we should frequently change the potting soil. After 6 months, the plant has extremely strong adaptability, and generally the soil in the flowerpot should be changed once a year, so that mosquito-repellent plant will not die because the soil has no nutrients.

2. Pests and diseases

Although mosquito-repellent plant is easy to grow, once it is managed improperly, it can easily cause diseases such as root rot or stem and leaf rot, followed by leaf shrinkage, black spots appearing, and then the whole plant withering. At this point, we need to find out which pest or disease is causing it, and then solve it accordingly, and this is introduced in detail in the pest and disease control of mosquito-repellent plant, so we won't say more here.

Is mosquito-repellent plant toxic, and is mosquito-repellent plant suitable for the bedroom? / Non-toxic, not suitable for the bedroom

Flower lovers are certainly familiar with mosquito-repellent plant; it is not only highly ornamental but can also drive away mosquitoes, making it very suitable for growing indoors. But no matter how many people grow it, as beginners, before growing mosquito-repellent plant we still need to figure out whether it is toxic. So is mosquito-repellent plant toxic? Can mosquito-repellent plant be placed in the bedroom? Here, the editor will answer your questions.

I. Is mosquito-repellent plant toxic? It is not toxic

On this question, actually you don't even need to check to know that mosquito-repellent plant is not toxic, because mosquito-repellent plant has many uses, and a great many people grow it in daily life; if it were really toxic, it would have been exposed long ago. And according to the editor's research, mosquito-repellent plant is indeed non-toxic, for the following reasons:

Mosquito-repellent plant originates from Africa; it was cultivated by introducing citronellal from lemongrass into geranium using human gene fusion technology. And lemongrass is a traditional natural mosquito-repellent herb, so mosquito-repellent plant is not toxic; moreover, it can repel mosquitoes through its fragrance.

II. Is mosquito-repellent plant harmful to the human body? No

Through the internet, the editor found that mosquito-repellent plant is harmless to the human body. It is just that some people feel uncomfortable with the scent of mosquito-repellent plant and thus experience symptoms of nausea, so when choosing mosquito-repellent plant, you should choose the scent well. Also, people who are allergic to the fragrance of mosquito-repellent plant should not grow it, otherwise it would be bad if an allergic reaction occurs.

III. Is mosquito-repellent plant suitable for the bedroom? Best not

The bedroom is where everyone sleeps, and many people like to place some flowers and plants in the bedroom to promote sleep. So is mosquito-repellent plant suitable for the bedroom? On this, the editor's suggestion is not to grow it indoors; regardless of whether everyone can tolerate the special smell of mosquito-repellent plant, it cannot be put in the bedroom, for the following two reasons:

1. The smell is too strong

Mosquito-repellent plant has a very strong fragrance and is highly lethal to mosquitoes; it is fine to put it in a ventilated room, but if it is placed in the bedroom, because the space is too small, its special smell will envelop the entire bedroom and affect our sleep quality.

2. Competing for oxygen

During the day, mosquito-repellent plant carries out photosynthesis and releases oxygen, but at night it only carries out respiration, a process that consumes oxygen, causing everyone to breathe in insufficient oxygen and feel dizzy the next morning.

IV. Benefits of growing mosquito-repellent plant indoors

1. Driving away mosquitoes

Although the bedroom is not suitable for growing mosquito-repellent plant, growing it indoors is fine, and there are many benefits to growing mosquito-repellent plant indoors, one of which is its good mosquito-repelling effect. It is understood that mosquito-repellent plant contains a large amount of natural essential oil and can give off a unique lemon fragrance during its growth period; after mosquitoes smell this scent, they will stay away, thus achieving the effect of driving away mosquitoes.

2. Highly ornamental

Besides repelling mosquitoes, the benefits of growing mosquito-repellent plant indoors are also reflected in its ornamental value. Mosquito-repellent plant can be made into a bonsai; its emerald green leaves are highly ornamental. Growing mosquito-repellent plant in offices, homes, business venues and other places gives a very good overall effect.

3. Regulating mood

Mosquito-repellent plant is also a plant that can regulate mood; it gives off a lemon fragrance all year round, filling the air with fragrance, and can relieve human stress and regulate human emotions. Especially for people under great life pressure, when they feel irritable and depressed, smelling the fragrance of mosquito-repellent plant will make them feel much more relaxed, and the important thing is that there are no side effects at all.