Are there any plants that do not attract insects? Are there any plants that can thrive without insects?

Question

I love flowers and plants and would like to start my own container garden. Unfortunately I have a bug phobia, and all the things I have been reading about gardening talk about how plants need insects to thrive. I was wondering if there were any plants that insects do not like or plants that would do okay without insects? I want an organic garden so I could only spray with an organic formula.

Answer 1

Try herbs. they smell good, they require little attention, and they usually REPEL insects. heres a lost of insect resistant plants...
Sage, thyme, peppermint, spearmint, chamomile, purple coneflower, ect
also, herbs usually have rough parts, so most bugs wont like that either.

Answer 2

Plants ususally attract insects for a number of reasons:
When the plant is flowering it attracts bees and wasps because of the nectar inside the flowers.Some plants attract insects because of their fruits,wasps love rotten fruit.
Some plants attract insects because of the shelter they offer insects,free building material or ready-housing.
Plants that do not attract insects are plants that do not flower and give no fruit and have the appearance of cacti or desert-plants,succulents.These attract little insects.You will however never be able to have a bug free garden.Spraying is not a solution either.If you have a garden that offers insects little food or shelter,but has only rocks and cacti of small pines you will attract less insects.Also removing all bodies of water like ponds or places where water stays can help.

Answer 3

Go ahead and start your container garden. From my own experience, the time I spend with my plants, I rarely encounter bugs. Some bugs, such as aphids and mites, are so tiny you won't even notice them. Marigolds are great plants for containers, and naturally repel mosquitos and other insects. You will notice their bitter smell if you have ever been close to marigold plants. It's a natural insecticide.

Mums also contain a natural insect repellent.

good luck with your containers.

Answer 4

first off--i'm assuming you are talking about outdoors? and in what zone?
insects can be found in gardens for many reasons:
1)attracted to flowers for pollination--bright coloured, sweet smelling, open(wide) day time flowers tend to attract bees, white coloured night bloomers attract moths at night, some pungent/off smelling flowers attract flies, many sweet nectars attract ants.. some flowers with tubular structure attract butterflies and or humming birds--you might consider some of those--and you can find lists of butterfly and hummer flowers..
if you want to avoid pollinators, stick to 'foliage' plants--grasses(they do flower, but more wind pollinated) many tropical houseplants can be used seasonally (in colder climates) outdoors; many cacti and succulents--again seasonally outdoors if you are in a cold area--but most of these should flower if treated well, but often for a short time...
2)beyond pollination, insects are also in gardens to feed directly on plants, by biting or sucking or chewing, and to feed on each other--unless you keep your plant in a bubble, you cant prevent passing insects from stopping in, but if the plant is healthy, you shouldnt have too many setting up housekeeping--give the plants a good stiff spray of water to dislodge any lodgers..
3)the soil--many insects and other critters like to live in/on the soil, for similar reasons to above--to reduce their presence in your container, keep it off the ground--you can buy little stands at garden centres, for further impact, try a band of vaseline on each leg or around the perimeter, to disable crawling insects from climbing up;, also remove dead leaves and flowers and do not leave any litter on the soil; finally, cover the soil completely with a layer of fine gravel to discourage aerial access (if pieces are too big, they will climb through)..
in the artificial environment of a container, insects are not necessary, tho you may find it difficult to keep them away 100%..take the measures mentioned above, and give the plants a shake and or spray(dont spray in mid day sun) to chase off anyone hanging around when you want to work with them...........

Answer 5

The flies are hatching from the soil around your flowers, get a pesticide it rather is made specific for this and spray the soil heavily, additionally spray the leaves on suited and backside. in case you do no longer prefer to apply a pesticide, get between the cleansing soap sprays which will kill bugs on and around your flowers,.