If you have a white butterfly plant in your garden, you may have noticed that its water source can attract mosquitoes. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water, and the water in the saucer of a potted plant can be a perfect breeding ground for their larvae. Not only can mosquito bites be irritating and itchy, but they can also carry dangerous diseases such as dengue fever and malaria. Here are some tips on how to get rid of mosquito larvae in white butterfly plant water.
The easiest way to prevent mosquitoes from breeding in your white butterfly plant water is to change it regularly. Mosquitoes take about seven days to go from egg to adult, so if you change the water once a week, you can break their life cycle. Be sure to pour out the old water and rinse the saucer before refilling it with fresh water.
Mosquito dunks are small tablets that contain a bacteria called Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (BTI) that kills mosquito larvae but is harmless to humans, pets, and wildlife. You can buy mosquito dunks at most garden centers or online. Simply drop one or two dunks into the water in the saucer of your white butterfly plant, and they will release BTI over time to kill any mosquito larvae that hatch.
Mosquito bits are another product that contains BTI, but they come in granular form instead of tablets. They are designed to be sprinkled on the surface of standing water, including the water in your white butterfly plant saucer. The granules release BTI when wet and provide longer-lasting control than mosquito dunks.
Mosquitoes need a certain amount of standing water to breed, so keeping the water level low in the saucer of your white butterfly plant can help prevent them from laying their eggs. Aim to keep the water level no higher than one inch.
Another way to discourage mosquitoes from breeding in your white butterfly plant water is to add a layer of aquarium gravel to the bottom of the saucer. This will make it harder for mosquitoes to lay their eggs, as they prefer a smooth surface. The gravel also helps to anchor the plant and prevents it from tipping over.
Mosquito dunks are made of a bacteria called Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (BTI), which kills mosquito larvae but is harmless to humans, pets, and wildlife.
Mosquito dunks typically last for about 30 days.
While bleach can be effective at killing mosquito larvae, it is not recommended for use in standing water as it can be harmful to plants and wildlife.
Vegetable oil can be effective at suffocating mosquito larvae, but it can also create a film on the surface of the water that can block oxygen from reaching the plant roots. It is not recommended for use in plant saucers.
Some natural ways to repel mosquitoes include planting citronella, lavender, or peppermint plants in your garden, using essential oils such as lemon eucalyptus or lavender on your skin, and installing screens on windows and doors.