These Common Potted Plants Will Keep Bugs Away

Insects inevitably infiltrate your home, usually in the kitchen, but you don’t need an expensive exterminator or harmful chemicals to keep them away. Before you reach for a bomb of Raid, consider indoor plants to keep ants, beetles, flies, and other pesky insects out of your living spaces.

You may not have considered using houseplants to rid your home of bugs, but some common herbs and other plants can act as all-natural repellents. As a bonus, these plants add visual appeal to your home, and some can be used to add flavor to your cooking or cocktails. Below are six houseplants that are known to naturally deter bugs.

Learn more: This indoor plant purifies the air 30 times better than a classic plant

To learn more, check out the best plants to freshen the air in your home, find out which plants are easiest to keep alive, and browse our list of best places to buy plants online.

Herbs

Powerful herbs Herbs like basil, mint, sage, and rosemary are great for garnishing spaghetti or making mojitos, but their scent keeps bugs like houseflies and fruit flies away. Consider lining a sunny kitchen window with a few of your favorite food and drink garnishes. Not only will the bugs be kept at bay, but you’ll also get the benefits of fresh herbs year-round without the high prices found at most supermarkets.

Pro tip: Citronella contains citronella oil, which is often used in candles and sprays to repel mosquitoes.

Worry

The yellow and orange-hued flower is more than just a pretty accent for an oversized pot or vegetable garden — it’s a beast that fights gnats and midges and emits a distinct and powerful odor that scares the critters away. Perhaps best of all, marigolds are an easy plant to grow in your home because they require little maintenance and grow quickly.

Lavender

Lavender has calming properties that help us fall asleep at night, but it has the opposite effect on insects like moths and beetles. Cut a few purple stems and incorporate them into an elegant bouquet of flowers to keep unwanted visitors away. You can buy live flowers lavender plants on FastGrowingTrees.com and other sites.

Catnip

Your feline friend may feel an immediate sense of euphoria when exposed to catnip, but cockroaches and mosquitoes have the opposite reaction. According to scientists, the plant contains an active component that triggers the chemical receptor in insects that causes pain and itching. Like humans, when insects feel even the slightest discomfort, they tend to retreat and not return to the source of the pain. pack of four catnip plants for $23.

Chrysanthemums

This popular flower is insects’ worst enemy. In fact, a chrysanthemums The list of pests is long and includes cockroaches, ants, silverfish, lice, bedbugs and dust mites. Keep them away from your pets though, as they can be very toxic if ingested.

Carnivorous plants

Make the obvious choice and go for the carnivorous plant, which will keep you entertained to infinity. Typically, these hungry wonders, like the Venus Flytraplure unsuspecting prey with a scent reminiscent of delicious fruits and flowers. Once its hair-like lobes, otherwise known as trichomes, are activated, its leaves close and reopen 10 days after the insect has been completely digested. Of course, you’ll need plenty of carnivorous plants to tackle swarms, but they’re great additions to target the occasional fly or two.

Whatever your preference, these plants, flowers and herbs make wonderful (and natural!) additions to a kitchen. pest control plan. They also happen to be delicious and/or beautiful. If you’re still not convinced, consider other all-natural alternatives like coffee grounds, essential oils, banana peels, white vinegar and onions. Each of these have also been proven to prevent infestation if left on kitchen counters.