During the summer, you undoubtedly want to do all you can to avoid unpleasant, itching bug bites in your war against bloodsucking insects. It often entails more visible precautions, such as wearing repellents and avoiding peak bug hours.
However, can planting citronella plants surrounding your house repel bugs and, more importantly, protect your skin? Keep reading this article, and you will find out.
Bugs That Citronella Repel
The citronella plant is well-known for repelling insects like mosquitoes, sand flies, and other pests from your house.
This characteristic has given the plant the nickname “mosquito repellent plant.” This article will describe the plant’s many medicinal properties.
Citronella is renowned for its lemony scent, which has been shown to repel insects. The most appealing aspect of citronella plants is that they flourish in all temperatures, especially in warmer regions.
Ways to Keep Away Bugs Using Citronella
We have previously shown that citronella repels mosquitoes and other insects well. The strong citrus scent of citronella repels mosquitoes and other insects.
Notably, the potent perfume of citronella may mask and attract mosquitoes to any other scent that they find appealing.
How can we thus properly utilize citronella to repel insects in our homes? The techniques for employing citronella as an efficient mosquito repellent are detailed in the stages listed below.
Grow Citronella in Your Garden
Citronella is a low-maintenance plant; thus, including it in your landscape should be easy. The citronella plant flourishes in both outdoor and indoor settings.
You may either plant the seeds in a container or in your backyard. Additionally, you may plant citronella by clipping a branch and placing it in the soil to root.
Note that citronella requires enough sunlight and cannot tolerate excessive dampness. Position the citronella plant in a suitable location in the garden or next to a window so that it receives maximum sunlight.
Citronella Candles
These candles are available for purchase at the shop. They are an excellent insect repellent, particularly for outdoor use if you need to repel mosquitoes, or light a candle.
Keep mosquito-repelling citronella candles out of the grasp of pets and children. Additionally, do not leave a lit candle alone or unsupervised.
Citronella Torches
They are oil burners appropriate for the garden to deter flying insects. Typically, they are sold in garden centers. They are ideal for nighttime barbecues and other outdoor gatherings. Place many citronella torches around the garden perimeter you want to safeguard.
Citronella Soap and Bath Oils
These may be used while bathing before a possible bug or mosquito interaction. Consider that the repellant effect may not remain and that creams or candles might be more beneficial.
Citronella Wristbands
Insect and mosquito-repellent wristbands containing citronella are commercially available and marketed as long-lasting.
In truth, they are only helpful so long as the citronella smell is high. You may find them beneficial as a replacement for frequently applying repellant lotion to your youngsters.
Citronella Lotion
Numerous citronella-based insect-repellent creams are available for purchase on the market. You may also produce citronella lotion by following the list of basic procedures.
- Mix 30 milliliters of vegetable oil with ten drops of citronella oil.
- To test whether the concoction may cause skin irritation, apply two drops directly to your skin.
Bugs and mosquitoes won’t bother you as much if you put some on your skin.
Will Citronella Keep the Spiders Away?
Looking for an all-natural solution to keeping spiders at bay, We learned that every kind of spider has taste receptors on the very ends of its legs. Peppermint, citronella, spearmint, cinnamon, and cloves are just some of the natural oils they despise.
Do Ants Fear Citronella?
Compounds containing non-toxic substances, like rosemary and citronella, may temporarily repel ants. However, similar to chemical repellents, they may not reach the source and, if not employed as part of an integrated strategy, may cause a colony to divide.
What Is Citronella Effective Against?
Citronella oil repels instead of kills target insects. It works by concealing odors that insects find appealing. Therefore, insects find it challenging to locate their prey. Oil of citronella is also effective in suppressing animal-attractive scents.
Is Citronella an Effective Insecticide?
Citronella is a common plant that is simple to maintain and may be employed as a pesticide (Cymbopogon nardus L.).
These plants possess citronellol, an odorant despised by insect pests because it has a unique odor. This odor may aggravate insect pests and diminish their ability to destroy plant tissue.
Final Takeaway
Multiple studies have shown that citronella is relatively successful in repelling insects from the house. Because citronella is both an outdoor and indoor plant, you may either grow it around your home or bring it inside. You may also choose lotions and creams containing citronella.
In addition to its insect-repellent properties, citronella has a distinct lemony scent that will eliminate unwanted odors in your house.
