The oil from a citronella plant does have mosquito - repelling place , but there are other plants to consider .
To keep mosquito from crashing your summer evenings , you might be tempted to attempt anything to put these bite hemipterous insect back in their place . A citronella plant ( sometimes even labeled as a mosquito plant ) might seem to declare oneself a simple , sustainable solution among all the repellant sprays , great mullein , andgadgets . You might see claims that plant it will encourage mosquito to go elsewhere . Other sale pitches propose that the scent will act as an all - natural alternative to nebulizer . Does citronella repel mosquitoes , or is this just merchandising hype ? Here ’s what you should know beforegrowing and using a citronella plantas a glitch repellent .
Citronella Plant Facts
Citronella flora is a marketing name for a miscellanea ofscented geraniumthat bear citronellal , the chemical substance bugs do n’t like ( it ’s also creditworthy for the plant ’s distinctive lemony scent ) . You may also see this sweet geranium sold under names like citrosa mosquito combatant or mosquito plant . Its botanic name isPelargoniumxcitrosum’Van Leenii ' ; like other scented geraniums , it ’s a pinnace perennial . Be aware that some sellers habituate the name citronella plant for other types of sweet-scented geraniums that have no citronellal . Check the glasshouse tagsor website description to check that you ’re actually get the assortment call in ' Van Leenii ' . It ’s also sometimes called ' Citrosa ' or ' Citranium ' .
Does Citronella Repel Mosquitos?
In a lab circumstance , citronellal has been found to repulse germ . They discover the vapor and avoid it . That ’s why this chemical is the ace ingredient in popular citronella fossil oil products such as outside candles , torches , watch bracelet , and sprays . But citronella plant does n’t hold back much citronellal — its indispensable oil contains less then 0.1 per centum . The sources for commercial citronella product are two tropicallemongrassspecies . Their oils contain at least 10 to 20 percent citronellal .
In light of these facts , let ’s expect at the two claims usually made about citronella works .
Citronella Plants In the Garden
The first is easy to sack . merely having a citronella plant life in your garden wo n’t dissuade mosquitoes . Some gardener assert it cultivate , but studies have found it does n’t . Even if you plant a whole garden full of citronella plants , it still wo n’t be enough to have a disgusting effect on mosquitoes .
During the growing time of year , feed your citronella plant once a month with a balanced limpid fertilizer , thin to half strength .
Rubbing Citronella Leaves On Skin
Does citronella repel mosquito when it ’s itch on the skin ? The second claim about chafe the leaves on your skin is a short less straight . On the one hand , it ’s true that citronellal can act as a repellant . But the crushed leaf of citronella plant still do n’t give you much benefit over going out repellent - innocent . When you see that studies usually even slam more potent , ripe citronella product as miserable performers , it cursorily becomes unmortgaged that using your scented geranium to keep away mosquitoes is n’t effective . Even the CDC cold shoulder citronella ware . As if this were n’t enough of a citronella literary criticism , one study demo that Victoria ’s Secret Bombshell perfume outperformed some citronella - free-base products .
Problems With Citronella
If you still desire to try out with citronella plant as amosquito repellent , you ’ll need to surface not only your disclose skin but your clothing — unless you have a mosquito - proof outfit . Then , you may postulate to reapply it as frequently as every 20 hour . You ’d want portion of citronella plant to have enough leaves to go for just an eventide ’s Charles Frederick Worth of repellent .
The leafage of sweet-scented geraniums are mildly toxic . oil colour of citronella may cause tegument or eye provocation , and prolonged middleman could set off allergies in some mass .
Citronella Plant Alternatives
To source a repellent from your garden , you ’d be better off trying another flora with more citronellal in the leaves . Along with the antecedently mention lemongrass , lemon balmcan control nearly 40 percent and Sorghum bicolor burnt lime leave-taking contain about 80 per centum . And there is another scented geranium called ' Dr. Livingstone ' that contains 9 per centum .
Growing Citronella Plant for Fragrance
Although citronella plant does n’t do much to repulse mosquitoes , it ’s still well worth growing . It ’s often a gateway industrial plant to the world of scented geranium . grow a compendium of scented geraniums appropriate you to experience a palette of toothsome fragrances . Besides citronella , these plants can smell like orange , strawberry , rosebush , nutmeg , coconut , ginger , batch , and many other yield , spices , and flowers . They ’re a must - have for lovers offragrant plants .
During the Winter
Unless youlive in USDA Zone 9 or tender , a citronella flora is bestgrown as an annual . Or you could bring it inside for the wintertime and grow it as a houseplant in the sunniest window you could give it . Under idealistic conditions , it will develop kickshaw pinkish bloom , but its main value is in its fragrant leaves . you may fray them in the middle of wintertime and feel like you ’re in a summertime garden again . After therisk of frost is over in spring , move your perfumed geranium outdoors , where it ’s more potential to flourish . Bring it back in when there ’s athreat of hoar in fall .
Some gardener have success produce odorous geraniums like citronella plant outdoors right next to a building initiation all the elbow room down to Zone 6 . But before trying your luck , you may want toroot film editing of your geraniumin case the main plant dies outside during winter .
Frequently Asked Questions
unluckily , citronella plant are toxic to pets . Keep citronella plant out of reach of bounder and cats . Mosquito - skanky flora that are safe for pets include sweet basil , lemon balm , and rosemary .
Citronella industrial plant do n’t repel mosquito or other pests . Trylavender , mint , chrysanthemums , or petunias torepel pestsin your garden .
Yes and no . Burning anything will repel mosquito , who are deterred by the locoweed , not the scent of thecoffee dry land burning — or the citronella candela , for that matter .
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