Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
How to Prevent Mosquitoes in Self-Watering Containers
How to Prevent Mosquitoes in Self-Watering Containers. Even in the smallest of spaces, gardens are cropping up. Any gardener can create a lush flower bed or fresh vegetable patch in miniature form in a container garden. However, container gardens and potted plants suffer from one particular challenge: adequate watering. A single overly hot day can...
Even in the smallest of spaces, gardens are cropping up. Any gardener can create a lush flower bed or fresh vegetable patch in miniature form in a container garden. However, container gardens and potted plants suffer from one particular challenge: adequate watering. A single overly hot day can stress a plant and cause its death. In an effort to combat dryness and avoid plant death, many gardeners are turning to self-watering containers. While these containers help with cultivation, they also draw in pesky mosquitoes. Preventing mosquitoes in a self-watering container will make container gardening much more enjoyable.
Things You'll Need
Oil
Mosquito dunk
Mesh
Cover the reservoir in the self-watering container. Using a piece of very fine screen or mesh material, cover the entire area accessible to mosquitoes. Secure it firmly with a waterproof adhesive. Check it frequently throughout the warm season.
Add a few drops of cooking oil to the water in the reservoir. Oil will break the surface tension of the water, discouraging mosquitoes from laying their eggs. This method is recommended for containers being used to grow edible plants.
Place a mosquito dunk in the water. Mosquito dunks are pesticides made to kill the larvae of mosquitoes. These are very effective, but not recommended for use in containers growing edible plants or in organic gardens.
Move the containers indoors. If you are suffering from a particularly bad infestation of mosquitoes, drain the reservoir and consider moving the containers indoors if possible.
