What Is Lemongrass?
Lemongrass is a herb that grows in tropical areas and belongs to the same family as citronella, ginger, lemongrass. While there are different varieties, most of these plants can be found in North Africa, Asia & India.
The taste of Lemongrass is similar to citronella and it is used mainly to flavor food and drinks in many parts of the world.
It is also used as a tea for medicinal purposes, but it has been found that Lemongrass can be toxic if consumed in large quantities. These plants are popularly used on their own or in combination with other herbs.
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Lemongrass Care & Maintenance:
Sunlight – They can be grown in partial sunlight.
Soil Requirements – Provide them a minimum of 10 inches deep rich loam soil that is well-drained, and grows moist for good growth.
Watering: Water your plant regularly so it doesn’t have to suffer from any dehydration. You should make sure that the soil has been saturated and moist for at least two to three days before you stop watering it.
Light Requirements:
They require a little less sunlight than most other herbs.
Lemongrass grows well in direct sunlight, however, some people prefer to grow the plants under partial shade.
Water Requirements:
Lemongrass demands a good amount of water for proper growth. If you are growing the plants in containers, make sure they have enough drainage holes to prevent over-watering.
Soil Requirements:
They can grow in any type of garden soil, but loam-based soil is best for them. Make sure that the soil stays moist and drains well so that lemongrass plants don’t suffer from drainage problems or root rot.
Air Circulation:
Plants should not be placed near extreme heat sources as they may wilt easily. They prefer air circulation to prevent diseases & pests. Also, avoid planting them close to other plants as their aroma can sometimes cause harm to nearby herbs & flowers; therefore it is better they are placed more distant from others.
To get stronger and healthier plants to make sure you rotate them between indoors and outdoors every few months so it gets exposure to the wide range of weather conditions & soil types.
After a certain time, the plant grows out of control and it is better to repot them in a larger container. If you want to grow your lemongrass plants indoors as house plants, make sure they are near an open window so they get the required air circulation from outdoors.
Check on them every few weeks & fertilize them if required. Growing Lemongrass Indoors: Before planting, it would be best to remove all items that contain flowers as they won’t produce any oils.
After removing the flower heads go ahead and cut off some new roots at both ends of each stem. You can cut 3/8 inches off each end of each stem for best results but don’t make it too deep. You should also make a diagonal cut at the bottom of the stem for drainage purposes.
How To Harvest Lemongrass:
To harvest the Lemongrass you can also cut them off with scissors at different heights. The ideal cutting height would be between 2 to 3 inches from the ground.
Plants should not be disturbed after they have been planted as their roots are still fragile and prone to damage. You will need to wait at least a year or two before harvesting but if you want, you can prune the plant anytime after a few weeks of planting.
How To Plant Seeds:
Sow seeds in trays filled with composted sand/ topsoil mix during the springtime (March). You may also sow directly into your garden bed in late April-May just sprinkle them on top of your soil mixture & press firmly, then water your plant thoroughly.
Sow the seeds about 3/4 of an inch deep & keep the soil moist until they germinate (which will take 10-14 days).
After sowing, do not forget to water them regularly by keeping the soil slightly damp until they germinate. Once your plant begins to grow then water it as needed during dry periods.
Watch for slugs, snails & other pests that can cause holes in the leaves. It is recommended to apply mulch around your plants to protect from damage caused by insects/diseases.
Temperature and Humidity Requirements:
Lemongrass can grow in both hot & cold temperatures. They are also resistant to drought & require very little maintenance.
Fertilizer Requirements:
They prefer fertilizer during the growing season and a mixture of 15-30-15 NPK or 18-46-0 is best for them.
If your soil is not fertile enough then try adding some organic compost to your soil or planting on top of the compost, along with a good dose of mulch for healthy growth.
Before sowing don’t forget to condition the soil by adding aged manure mixed with composted material at the rate of 3 cartons (3 cubic yards) per 100 square feet.
Potting and repotting Requirements:
Fill a planter with a soil mixture of 50% peat moss, 30% perlite & 20% bark or you can use 1 part potting soil for each 3 parts sand.
If the plant is too big to be placed in one container then divide it into several pots/containers of various sizes. Repot them every year in order to get a healthy root system.
Re-potting should preferably be carried out after every 2 years. If your plant begins to look small at any time make sure you repot them immediately as this way they will continue growing bigger as time passes by and also makes it easier when moving plants around.
You may get away without re-potting if you are growing lemongrass in containers and it is better to repot them in a larger container. If you want to grow your lemongrass plants indoors as house plants, make sure they are near an open window so they get the required air circulation from outdoors.
Lemongrass Propagation info:
To propagate lemongrass you can either divide the bulbs or grow from seed. Propagating from seeds is very simple and they will germinate within 7-14 days. Sow them in fertile soil and keep them moist until they germinate. You may also take stem tip cuttings of mature plants to make new clones…. read more…
Lemongrass Problems/Diseases:
There are no major problems with lemongrass unless you have soil that is lacking in nutrients.
The plant can develop diseases or may get damaged by pests like caterpillars/slugs, snails, etc if the drainage is not good or if they are overwatered/drowned.
2) Keeping the soil aerated and well-drained will prevent root rotting & growing lemongrass plants on raised beds help to keep this problem at bay.
Another thing you can do is to mulch around & over your plants to keep out insects & decrease water loss from the soil as well as provide protection against rot.
A strong trellis overhead will also help support your plants during storms which can cause them serious damage.
3) If your plant is attacked by the caterpillar/slugs then take measures quickly to protect them or they will continue eating so maintain a watch out for them & apply a good layer of mulch around the plants.
The common lemongrass diseases are-
a) Leaf and Stem Rot: The leaves start dying off with symptoms of browning, wilting & poor growth. This can be caused by high soil saturation or overwatering.
Overwatering in cold temperatures after transplant from outdoors can result in this problem as well as if you don’t use a good drainage system.
Stale water collecting at the base of the pot is another cause of this problem along with exposure to any toxic chemicals.
Destroy affected plants & try to correct the problem. Using soil rich in nutrients will increase your chances of survival if you have this disease. If it has been caused by any kind of chemical use then remove as much of the root system as you can and replace it with fresh potting soil that is free from contaminants.
Bury the plant at least 2 inches deep or up to its crown for 10 days so that the roots may die off completely, then start over again using clean uncontaminated soil.
If your lemongrass plant has leaf rot due to overwatering make sure to water sparingly from now on especially during hot weather and overcrowding. Don’t soak the entire root system but just provide enough moisture so that the plant can use it properly.
3) Powdery Mildew:
The leaf edges and stems of the lemongrass plants start to turn white & powdery. This is a fungus infection caused by the presence of high humidity levels which are usually found in humid conditions such as rains, cold temperatures, etc.
