There are several things you can do to perfume your home: buy scented candles, spray that smells good, or even, which is very advisable, put some plants of Melisa. They do not grow much, so they can be kept in a pot throughout their life, and their leaves also smell like lemon. It is a mild aroma, but intense enough that many people have made the decision to have them, for example, in the kitchen.
And by the way, if you live in an area where mosquitoes live freely, with these plants you won't have to worry anymore for them. Interesting, don't you think? Here is your care guide.
Melissa care
The lemon balm plant, whose scientific name is Melissa officinalis, is a shrub native to the Mediterranean region and Asia. It grows up to 90cm in height, although if it is kept in a pot it does not grow more than 40-50cm. Its leaves are large, with serrated edges and well visible veins, bright green. Without a doubt, this is the most interesting part of our protagonist since it has many uses that we will see below. Now, we are going to focus on your care, which are the following:
- Location: if in your area there are very mild frosts (down to -2ºC), you can have it outside in full sun; otherwise it is better to keep it indoors with lots of light.
- Land or substrate: it grows in all types of soils, but if it is grown in a pot it prefers well-drained substrates, being a good mix 60% black peat + 30% perlite + 10% guano or earthworm humus.
- Irrigation: about 3 times a week in summer, and every XNUMX-XNUMX days the rest of the year.
- Subscriber: During the warm months it is advisable to fertilize with organic fertilizers once a month, such as horse manure or liquid guano.
- Pruning: can be pruned if necessary in spring.
What are its uses?
Melissa leaves have numerous uses, both in cooking and in traditional medicine. Among them, we highlight:
- Culinary uses: in infusion, to sweeten foods, flavor tea, to make salads, and also to prepare liqueurs.
- Uses in traditional medicine: It is a plant that relaxes you, so it is highly recommended to take it as an infusion if you have heart problems, anxiety and / or depression.
Do you dare to have one (or some) at home? 🙂