Happy belated Mother’s Day to all of the wonderful mothers out there! I had a great day yesterday and wanted to share what my children, with assistance and guidance from their father, made for me as a gift. A mosquito pot!

If you live in a region that has mosquitoes then you know how much they can cramp your style during the summer months. It is so hot where we live that the only time we can really spend outside, not emerged in water, is morning and evening. This also happens to be the time that mosquitoes also like to be out and about. When I heard about the idea of a mosquito pot from a friend and from Pinterest I knew it is what I wanted for Mother’s Day! It is a bonus that it is also a practical life activity that the kids can make together.

What is a mosquito pot? It is a large planter filled with a diverse mix of mosquito repelling plants with the theory being that the concentration of the variety of plants will increase the repellent power and provide the user with a nice mosquito free area, in our case our deck.

What type of plants should be used? We used catnip, citronella, marigolds, lemon grass, rosemary, and mint. We mixed the variety in two different pots.

How can the kids get involved? 

Step One: Fill pot with potting soil and break up the clumps.

Step Two: Plant those repelling plants!

Step Three: Add more soil on top of the newly planted plants.

Step Four: Water

Step Five: Enjoy the finished product!