Home - Garden
Banish Spiders From Your Home With This Popular Flower
By EZEKIEL MAINA
Popular for their vibrant blossoms and array of colors, marigolds serve a dual purpose of beautifying indoor spaces and repelling spiders from your home.
According to a 2021 study by BMC Veterinary Research, marigolds emit a distinctive, pungent odor courtesy of the terpenes in their foliage, which helps keep spiders
at bay.
While marigold plants are available in various sizes, compact alternatives, such as Safari Scarlet, Discovery Yellow, and Red Cherry, are excellent for interior spaces.
They can be cultivated either from seeds or stem cuttings. If using seeds, choose a pot with adequate drainage and fill it with a well-draining, nutrient-rich potting mix.
After scattering the seeds, lightly cover them with the mix. It’s vital to avoid both over-watering and under-watering, so only water the plant when the topsoil dries out.
Since marigolds thrive in sunlight, place them near a sun-drenched window or under grow lights. Monitor the sun exposure and avoid direct heat sources, which can burn the leaves.
They also require regular nourishment, particularly when propagated from stem cuttings. A balanced fertilizer that slowly releases nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium is ideal.
If starting marigolds from stem cuttings, place the freshly cut stems in 3 inches of water and a bright spot until new roots develop. Then, you can transplant them into the soil.