Keep Your Potted Plants From Turning Into A Mosquito Nightmare With This Simple Swap

It's no exaggeration to say mosquitoes are one of the world's least-favorite pests. These blood-suckers are not only annoying to be around, they're considered an effective vector for a great number of deadly diseases: Mosquitoes can carry protozoa that cause malaria, nematode worms that carry filariasis, and arthropods that carry arboviruses like West Nile. The effects of climate change mean mosquito habitats are rapidly expanding. Over half the world's population will be exposed to disease-carrying mosquitoes by 2050. It's important to practice safe gardening habits that prevent mosquitoes from breeding in your yard, which include replacing a common feature of everyday plant pots: water saucers.

Quality plant containers often include a tray or saucer to stand on, collecting excess water that pours out of any drainage holes in the pot. This is most beneficial for indoor plants, as you don't want plant water to damage your wooden window sills or other structural parts of the house. However, dark saucers full of standing water are a perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes in your backyard or porch. Pots draining directly onto the ground are less problematic in outdoor settings where that water is likely to dry up in the sun, so consider replacing your saucers with pots that have feet attached, or setting your pots onto trivets that keep them hovering above the ground.

Devices like bug zappers have generally been proven ineffective at controlling mosquito populations, and if anything they might backfire by killing beneficial insects during the more active evening hours. Using a mosquito dunk repellent is one way to keep mosquitoes away from your pool and other small bodies of water like stagnant plant saucers, as is using a fan to keep air circulating outdoors. However, replacing those saucers to remove potential breeding grounds entirely is ideal, whether it be with specially carved feet that fit your pot or using a sort of double-pot system to keep drained water contained within a second, larger pot.

A pot foot or trivet is still preferred over using a double-pot system to reduce standing water around the base of your plants, which can also address other growth concerns. Excess water around your plant can lead to root rot, notable for plants having stunted growths, or appearing to be yellow and wilted despite having moist soil. Fungi that produce root rot often prefer the same conditions that attract mosquitoes, so removing saucers to let water drain normally could kill two birds. 

A pot sitting in its saucer also means excess soluble salts aren't able to drain out of the soil without building up, which can burn your plant's foliage, cause root damage, or lead to issues with water intake. Having feet at the base of your pot repels pests and encourages healthier water management.

Getting rid of standing water sources is the key way of managing mosquitoes, and this extends to more than just the saucers underneath your potted plants. The gutters around your house should also be cleaned to ensure they drain properly, and you should double-check other potential sources of pooling rainwater like trash cans, children's toys, and tires. Potted plant saucers can also be a gathering place for other pests, such as stinging fire ants that like to nest in areas with less air circulation, including electrical equipment.

Mosquito repellents like picaridin and oil of lemon eucalyptus are shown to be effective against these pests, and you can treat your clothes with insecticides like permethrin before heading outside to clean out the stagnant pot saucers in your yard. However, dealing with mosquitoes also involves broadly improving the biodiversity in your living spaces. Fish, spiders, bats, birds, and other insects are known to feed on mosquitoes, and thus can be another natural means of pest control if you let fish breed in your ponds, let spiders build out their webs in innocuous spaces, and more. It's also best to avoid growing mosquito-attracting flowers in your yard, especially if you were planning on growing those plants in pots with undrained saucers at the bottom.