OT Question

[Lilah Morgan]

Anyone know which herbs can be used to make an effective repellant for mosquitoes?

Victoria, zone 5a

[Bill who putters]

Speaks of mosquitoes.

General history.

I use pennyroyal essential oil to keep ants out of the house. One or two eye droppers deters on the wood sill. Sometimes for 3 years. Yes this scent is STRONG. I would not apply it to skin but a flea collar homemade about the ankle may be OK. Still the scent pleasant at first will or can be annoying so be able to discard. Tried the plants but they failed here.

Bill

[phorbin]

Look into catnip.

[gunner]

herbs seem to work best. Rub them on to you or put anyone of them into a tinfoil pouch on a grill or above a candle. Smells pretty anyway.

[Omelet]

Citronella and/or garlic.

[Lilah Morgan]

Thanks to everyone who replied. I have most of those herbs already, except pennyroyal and having trouble with getting lemongrass to grow...the seeds sprout, but then they always die off...dunno if I'm under/over watering or what...

[gunner]

use the stalks from the store, the fresher the better. A good Asian store is a good source. I had 21 out of 21 root. I found if you peel off some of the layers of outer stalk you will see a small node under some, It will root easier than it will breaking through all that tough outer layer. Plop the stalk in water or better yet go look at the Folger Coffee Can Bubbling Cloner I posted. The oxygenated water will really help rooting.

[Lilah Morgan]

Will try and get some Monday when we do our grocery shopping for the month, thanks