Can i grow citronella

In the laboratory, Peterson put groups of 20 mosquitoes in a two-foot glass tube, half of which was treated with nepetalactone, a biologically active characteristic constituent of catnip.

After 10 minutes, only an average of 20 percent — about four mosquitoes — remained on the side of the tube treated with a high dose 1. In the low dose test 0. A ten-fold higher concentration of DEET was required to obtain results similar to those of the Catnip. Catnip, Nepeta cateria , is very easy to grow.

This perennial herb is related to mint, and grows readily both as a weed and a commercially cultivated plant in most areas of the US. While catnip will repel mosquitoes in close proximity to the plant, some people apply crushed catnip leaves or catnip oil for more robust protection.

Bear in mind, however, that cats will respond to you similarly as they would respond to the plant itself. Cat owners may want to choose an alternative plant for repelling mosquitoes. While the plants mentioned in this article have been shown to have mosquito-repelling properties, there are environmental variables that can mitigate their effectiveness.

New formulations of non-toxic mosquito repellents are commercially available, and are advised for people who want to enjoy the outdoors without the annoyance of persistent mosquitoes. Greg Seaman Originally from Long Island, NY, Greg Seaman founded Eartheasy in out of concern for the environment and a desire to help others live more sustainably.

Greg spends his free time gardening, working on his home and building a wooden sailboat with hand tools. Read Article. With the publicity about mosquito-borne diseases in recent years, insect repelling products have gained in popularity.

There are concerns about the potential toxic effects of DEET, especially when used by children. Citronella Citronella is the most common natural ingredient used in formulating mosquito repellents. Horsemint Also known as Beebalm, Horsemint is an adaptable perennial plant which repels mosquitoes much the same as citronella. Marigolds Commonly grown as ornamental border plants, marigolds are hardy annual plants which have a distinctive smell which mosquitoes, and some gardeners, find particularly offensive.

Ageratum Also known as Flossflowers, Ageratum emits a smell which mosquitos find particularly offensive. Catnip Catnip is a natural mosquito repellent.

This article has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness. From Our Shop. Farmstead Raised Garden Bed. You can learn more about citronella oil here. It is easy to find, easy to plant, and easy to enjoy. First, we will explore some of the basic questions that often arise when preparing to plant citronella. Whether you are planting in the ground or in a container, these tips will give you a good starting point.

Citronella can grow all year round in zones That means once you plant it, you can enjoy it for years to come. You can place planters outdoors in the summer months and bring them indoors during the winter months. You must bring the plant indoors before the first frost of the season in order for it to survive inside during the cold months.

Citronella is forgiving when it comes to soil. As long as the soil is well-draining, the plant should do well. Use nutrient-rich soil that allows water to run through it well. That way, the soil never becomes muddy which could drown the plant. Your citronella plant will do best if grown in six hours of sun per day. If you need to use a space that offers partial shade, the plant should still do well. If growing indoors, your plant will benefit from just as much direct sun.

A sunny window that enjoys at least 6 hours of sunlight per day is ideal. If planting citronella from seed, you can do so directly outdoors after the final frost of the season.

Or, you can start seeds indoors 6 weeks before the last frost of the season. Citronella seeds are easy to grow because you can simply sprinkle the seeds over the loose soil. There is no need to bury them. Once sprinkled, you can add a very light scattering of soil over them. Then just water the seeds to help them settle into place. If growing seeds indoors, cover the containers with plastic wrap to help retain heat and speed up the germination process.

Like other seedlings, citronella seedlings can be thinned out once the seedlings reach a few inches tall. This will help make way for the stronger plants, so the plants are not competing for nutrients. You can find citronella in small seedling pots typically inch pots at your local gardening center. These can easily be added to containers or directly into gardens, borders, window boxes, even hanging baskets.

To plant your seedlings, loosen up the soil in the container or ground. Dig a hole that is at least twice as deep and twice as wide at the roots of the plant.

Place the seedling into the hole and fill in around the roots with soil. Water well. If you are planting additional citronella plants, make sure you space them at least inches apart. Because citronella tends to bush out, you want to make sure they have ample room.

Yes, you can grow additional citronella plants from cuttings! This is a great way to get free plants. You can purchase citronella plants at one of your local gardening centers, or if you have a friend who already has citronella plants, propagate from those plants! Stem cuttings will root in perlite or potting soil, Keep the rooting evenly moist spraying leaves with water every day. Roots should form in two weeks. You can transplant when larger.

As everyday care, for best results citronella plants require basic watering and nutrient-rich sandy soil, hours of sun, and warm weather. Even if you do not have a green thumb, you can handle the citronella plant. This might be the number one reason to grow citronella! Citronella repels biting pests such as mosquitoes and flies, one of the natural insect repellents. If you grow citronella in planters or containers around your patio during mosquito season, you can enjoy fewer biting pests in the area.

As mentioned, the citrusy fragrance of citronella is very satisfying. It has almost a lemon balm smell they are in the same plant family and can add ambiance to your deck and patios when placed in containers. The citronella plant has fragrant leaves and a fresh lemon scent. If growing in the garden you can cut some and place it in centerpieces to keep the table smelling great and keep pests away when barbecuing or picnicking in your backyard.

Snip foliage from the citronella plant and keep them in vases, places strategically around your home to keep biting bugs away. If you enjoy the lemony scent, you can even place bundles of the plant around the home for air freshening purposes.

Did you know that people claim the oils from the citronella plant can help reduce inflammation and acne? There are all sorts of recipes online for DIY beauty products that use dried citronella, so this is worth looking into and considering.

As a start, check out these Homemade Bug Repellent Bars. While citronella repels biting bugs such as mosquitoes, it will not harm those beneficial bugs like bumblebees, and it does not seem to repel spiders, which can help keep your unwanted pests in check. When the growing season ends, bring those citronella plants indoors if you live in an area that gets frost. They will continue to grow and flourish for you, so when the growing season returns, you can place your even bigger and better pots outdoors.

As you can see, there are many reasons to grow citronella plants. Consider these benefits of growing citronella and see why this is the perfect plant for you.