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What Are the Best Plants For Repelling Mosquitoes in Jacksonville? First Eliminate the Plants Attracting Mosquitoes

Posted by Mosquito Squad

July 11, 2017

Have you heard the famous Warren Buffet quote? “The most important thing to do if you find yourself in a hole is to stop digging.” If you find yourself with a Jacksonville mosquito problem, we recommend you ask yourself what is attracting the mosquitoes, as a first step, before you add mosquito repelling plants.

While we regularly remind you about how standing water can create a perfect mosquito habitat, we rarely discuss other items that can attract and house mosquitoes. As it turns out, there are natural water containers across many Jacksonville properties that you might be overlooking. Namely, plants. Bromeliads are the main culprit and are very popular for landscaping.

Bromeliads are a Mosquito Habitat

Bromeliads are commonly stocked in nurseries for home landscaping. Homeowners love them for their beautiful blooms and tropical feel. And they do well in Jacksonville’s climate. But did you know they hold water in their leaf axils, giving mosquitoes a fantastic protected place to lay eggs which can then develop into adult mosquitoes within a week?

How to Keep Mosquitoes from Breeding in My Bromeliads?

If you don’t currently have Bromeliads, we may suggest you choose a different landscaping plant. But if you have to have them, or already have them and love them, there are a few things you can do:

  1. Flush bromeliads out with a strong mist of hose water at least once a week, it will wash out mosquito eggs, larvae, and pupae before they become adults.
  2. Place a few drops of cooking oil on the surface of the water being held in the Bromeliads to suffocate any larvae or pupae growing under the surface.
  3. Treat the water in the bromeliads with mosquito larvicide, use as directed.

You’ll also benefit tremendously from Mosquito Squad of Jacksonville and Ponte Vedra’s mosquito control barrier treatment to eliminate pesky mosquitoes that breed within the bromeliads before they get a chance to annoy you. Our time-released mosquito mist will stick to the leaves of your bromeliads and eliminate mosquitoes that land on them for up to three weeks! Our mosquito control services are 100% guaranteed and will reduce up to 90% of mosquitoes on your property. Call today to get started.