How to Grow Mosquito Repellent Plant? Detailed Guide to Care Methods and Precautions
Besides the major benefit of mosquito repellent, it can also help people keep mosquitoes away, but whether they can be cured depends on the individual. Below, the editor introduces the breeding methods and precautions for mosquito repellent, and hopes everyone will like it.
Breeding methods for mosquito repellent
1. Soil: Mosquito repellent plant prefers neutral and acidic soil, and is usually fertilized once every 15-20 days. When the plant height is 30 cm, 40 mosquito leaves have a better mosquito-repellent effect, and yellow leaves should be removed at any time. The seedling stage grows very quickly, so the pot should be tended more diligently during the seedling stage. 6 parts peat soil, 1.5 parts vermiculite, 1.5 parts perlite, 1 part coal ash and slightly acidic to neutral, you can also buy good products from the flower market (pH 5.5-7). After six months, these plants have strong adaptability and can be used freely. Two-year-old plants are wrapped with wood and can be pruned and freely shaped according to personal preference.
2. Temperature: The most suitable growth temperature for mosquito repellent is 10-25°C. It can overwinter safely above 0°C, and the lemon fragrance can usually be emitted above 15°C. The higher the temperature, the stronger the fragrance. Spraying an appropriate amount of water onto the plant leaves can continuously release the source of citronellal, which makes the mosquito-repellent effect better.
3. Light: Mosquito repellent plant is shade-tolerant, and growth is not tolerant of strong light, especially in summer when shading should be strengthened, and it can be planted under trees or in the shade. Household potted plants are usually kept indoors.
4. Water and fertilizer: After each repotting, a little water should be poured, and the seedlings begin to be fertilized 10 days later. Spring and autumn are the plant's growing seasons. Use 20-10-20 and 14-0-14 water-soluble compound fertilizer 200 ppm liquid for application every 15 days. Watering should follow the principle of drying between waterings. In summer, water less at high temperatures and do not fertilize, which is beneficial to root development and improves disease resistance. In home cultivation, a small amount of cake fertilizer, rice water, etc. can also be applied.
5. Pests and diseases: Caused by improper management of root rot or stem and leaf rot, followed by leaf shrinkage, black spots, and then the whole plant shrinks. This is caused by excessively high humidity, excessively high temperature, poor ventilation or excessively high seedling density. It can be sprayed with fungicides such as white fungus or carbendazim (800 to 1000 times solution). However, it is not possible to spray frequently.
Precautions for mosquito repellent breeding
A sudden drop of leaves in a short period is usually due to too great a temperature change or insufficient light. Leaves turn yellow and soon fall off, most of which is caused by insufficient water. This phenomenon may also occur when the temperature is too low in winter. The leaves dry poorly or the leaf edges are scorched, sometimes due to excessive light or dry air, and sometimes due to excessive fertilization or dry soil. Branches and leaves are long, mainly due to insufficient light. If there is too much nitrogen fertilizer and improper irrigation, it should be moved to light and pruned. Yellow or brown spots on the leaves like water stains may be the result of overwatering, mud splashing onto the leaves and exposure.
Disease prevention and control of mosquito repellent plant
Disease caused by improper management of root rot or stem and leaf rot, followed by leaf shrinkage, black spots, and then the whole plant shrinks. This is caused by excessively high humidity, excessively high temperature, poor ventilation or excessively high seedling density. It can be sprayed with fungicides such as white fungus or carbendazim (800 to 1000 times solution). However, it is not possible to spray frequently.
A sudden drop of leaves in a short period is usually due to too great a temperature change or insufficient light. Leaves turn yellow and soon fall off, most of which is caused by insufficient water. This phenomenon may also occur when the temperature is too low in winter. The leaves dry poorly or the leaf edges are scorched, sometimes due to excessive light or dry air, and sometimes due to excessive fertilization or dry soil. Branches and leaves are long, mainly due to insufficient light. If there is too much nitrogen fertilizer and improper irrigation, it should be moved to light and pruned. Yellow or brown spots on the leaves like water stains may be the result of overwatering, mud splashing onto the leaves and exposure.
Method for hydroponic mosquito repellent plant
Choose equipment
Choose a bottle that complements the mosquito repellent, which you can buy yourself or make yourself. Wash the container before hydroponics, otherwise it will affect the beauty of the mosquito repellent and the indoor decoration.
Remove from roots
Since mosquito repellent is mainly grown in soil, the process of removing soil and washing roots is especially important. As is well known, soil cultivation is organic nutrition, while hydroponics is inorganic nutrition. Therefore, the organic matter attached to the roots should be thoroughly removed, otherwise the plant is easily attacked by pests and diseases.
Rooting method
Gently take the selected mosquito repellent transplant plant out of the soil, first pick off branches with the right hand, then drag the roots of the mosquito repellent with the left hand. Then shake gently so that the soil on the roots falls off. Then, soak the plant in clean water for about 15 to 20 minutes. Repeat this process 2 to 3 times, and wash the plant repeatedly until the soil on the roots has been completely cleaned.
It is worth mentioning that it is necessary to ensure that there is no dirt on the roots of the mosquito repellent, otherwise it will affect the quality and effect of this hydroponic plant.
After completing the above method, insert the mosquito repellent into water, and new roots can sprout in about 10 days.