Let me tell you one of the relatable summer horror stories: coming back home and finding a lizard waiting for you next to the front door. Yes, I get that cringey feeling too whenever I see that skin-coloured, wall-crawling devil near my home entrance. It’s a big no!
So, one day, I decided to put on my scientist specs, get back to my study, and look for a cure available in the plant world. Thankfully, I came across some lizard-repellent plants that you can grab during the next Urvann sale, or while ordering a gracious-looking Areca palm for your balcony.
Think of it as sweet revenge: these plants decorate your home while sending that uninvited guest on your wall packing.
Why Use Plants as Lizard Deterrents?
In many Indian households, the go-to method for getting rid of a chipkali (lizard) is still shooing it away with a broomstick, which involves stepping at least two feats away, making sure you check where it lands next. But did you know there are gentler, natural ways on how to get rid of chipkali from home? If you're wondering why you should consider switching to plant-based solutions, here are a few reasons to make the change:
Eco-Friendly Method
Let’s be honest, spraying chemicals around the home means sitting in a separate room with a handkerchief on your nose for some time. It’s a no, especially when you’ve got kids and pets around. Using plants to keep lizards away is a gentle, natural solution for both. You’re not harming the environment or the creature (even if it does give you the creeps!). It’s like solving a problem in a way Earth agrees with.
Helps in transforming the home
Make the space inviting, for you and not for the lizards. The introduction of plants like tulsi, mint, marigold, etc., is an easy response to getting rid of lizards, which also contributes a lot to the garden area, which might be sitting idle without plants around. This way, you can create a mini sanctuary that everyone will adore.
Effective Approach
Once planted, most of these are low-maintenance plants and keep working for you year-round. Some, like bay leaves and holy basil, even have multiple uses in cooking or home remedies. Some of these plants also contribute to fresh air and open a way to lots of kid-friendly DIY projects.
How to get rid of house lizards naturally?
This is the part where nature comes in. Now, get a paper and a pen ready to note the names of the plants that qualify for the list.
If you’re wondering how to make lizards go away without using harsh chemicals, this fragrant plant is your answer. Lavender is a plant with an excellent scent that pleases everyone, but not lizards, and that’s the merit of it. The plant is so effective that when placed near window sills or the corners of the balcony, it will make lizards run away from it. The reason is the same strong scent, which in the books of botany contains compounds like linalool, a form of terpenoid alcohol, which directly impacts the lizard’s nervous system (asking her to relocate right away!).
The plants that you chose for the balcony and indoor area, for their special arching leaves, can do more than just enhance the aesthetics and purify air. The plant’s physical characteristics can appear as a threat to the lizard and drive them away. Talking about its hidden chemical characteristics in the botanical world, the Spider plant releases these VOCS (Volatile Organic Compounds) that contain an odour which is not much appreciated by lizards.
Apart from all this, the Spider plant is a very versatile addition to your garden, that can be planted in hanging gardens, low-light balconies, and indoors.
Let’s pick this plant from your kitchen garden as the next saviour. While mint is a culinary herb, it can also serve as an effective lizard repellent plant. You can plant it near the kitchen window where the sunlight reaches most of the day. Prepare a spray from it to use in the lizard-prone areas of your garden.
When it comes to plants with a strong smell, garlic becomes hard to avoid. Growing garlic in your garden can become a way to eradicate lizards very easily. Plants like garlic and onion contain a compound called allicin, which is responsible for their pungent smell. It is released whenever the garlic clove is crushed. To make effective use of garlic, placing garlic cloves in corners or growing garlic in your garden can help keep lizards away naturally.
Those yellow-orange marigolds aren’t just pretty, but powerful insect repellents too. These bright flowers emit a sharp scent that deters many pests, including lizards. Plant them near windows, doorways, or garden beds to create a natural lizard barrier.
Author’s Note: I would say that marigold is a must-have in every Indian household. Apart from their medicinal uses, with their vibrant colour and rich history of use across religions, these pretty flowers are perfect for decoration purposes at festivities.
Also known as Mother-in-law’s Tongue, this hardy plant is known to improve air quality indoors, but also makes the space uncomfortable for lizards. Its upright, stiff leaves may guard the corners of your room, rebelling against lizards who like to make their hideaways there.
As we are adding Tulsi to our list, we are partly sure that this plant is already adorning the balconies of your home. Holy Basil, or Tulsi, is one of the plants recommended for building a medicinal garden. Where it’s use in aromatic teas is very common, the strong healing scent of tulsi can give the best results for questions on how to reduce lizards from home. This plant has also earned points for being a low-maintenance green in the world of plants.
The spot in my garden where lemongrass grows is easily my favourite corner. There’s something incredibly refreshing about its crisp, citrusy scent that instantly lifts the mood. This grassy-looking plant is not only beautiful but also super easy to grow. You can even find it at Urvann India as an affordable and eco-friendly addition to your home.
What’s even better? The same lovely aroma we enjoy is something lizards can’t stand. Lemongrass acts as a natural repellent, helping you keep those uninvited guests away. If you’re looking for natural ways to keep lizards away from your house, this is a great start. For best results, you can make a simple spray using lemongrass and water, and use it in the corners or hidden spots where lizards usually sneak in.
Whenever we talk about leafy greens, Coleus is counted among the ones known to make a striking appearance. In India, it is grown as an annual herb or shrub in the area of kitchen garden. This leafy green can also be used in cooking delicious side meals like salads, spicy chutneys, etc. Now, what works in making lizards uncomfortable is the strong aromatic smell that is released by their essential oils.
Last but not least, if there's one more plant that we can add to the lizard-repelling plant list, then it’s rosemary. Known for its strong, woody scent, rosemary makes a great addition to your home, not just for its fragrance and flavour, but also as a natural lizard repellent.
Plant it in a sunny corner of your garden or on your balcony as part of your herb garden (definitely one of the smartest balcony gardening ideas!). Rosemary contains rosmarinic acid, a natural compound found in other plants belonging to the same family, which helps keep lizards away.
And, just like you did with other plants, make a simple rosemary spray by boiling a few sprigs in water, letting it cool, and spraying it in corners and behind furniture where lizards usually hide. Once you have the rosemary plant in your home, a way to culinary adventures like making flavoured soups, broths, or even creating homemade self-care products becomes super easy.
Cheers to a Lizard Free Home!
I hope you liked nature’s way of bidding a peaceful farewell to lizards and other such uninvited guests at our home. Plants are like the second family that takes care of the aesthetics and the way your environment impacts you in numerous ways. If you loved reading this blog, then we believe Mosquito Repellent Plants will also fascinate you.
At Urvann, you will find a community of plant lovers who don’t just look forward to affordable plant deliveries but also to the modern gardening solutions at their best. To get the information at the earliest, you can check out our website or join the mailing list for everything from Friday sales to festive discounts.
Frequently Asked Questions about Lizard Repellent Plants to Keep
What kind of smell do lizards hate?
Lizards run away from a strong, pungent smell. It can be present in plants like garlic, onion, basil and lavender, etc.
Can we remove lizards from our home permanently?
Yes, we can remove lizards from our home permanently by clearing the leftover food, introducing plants with repellent properties, and cleaning up any dirty surfaces. You can also use methods like naphthalene balls, peppermint oils, etc.
In what areas of your home, you find most lizards?
Lizards like to hide in the quiet corners of your home. Sometimes you will spot them behind photo frames or in an area that has been left out for cleaning for so long. They hide where the spiders do, so they can find a food source easily.
What kind of smell will keep lizards away from home?
Lizards are sensitive to pungent odours that are present in plants like garlic, onion, basil, etc. Planting them can make your home appear less attractive to them as they also keep their food sources, like mosquitoes, etc, at bay.
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