Lemongrass (Cymbopogon) is a popular herb in Thai and Vietnamese delicacies—it might be brewed proper right into a tea, used as an ingredient in a delicious stir fry, and quite extra. The tropical plant’s frequent determine comes from its lemony fragrance—and while you possibly can merely develop lemongrass as an annual, you probably can harvest it year-round as a houseplant.
In spite of everything, there are some issues it’s essential to know sooner than starting lemongrass at home—from the proper fertilizer to the proper pot measurement. Furthermore, given that herb has tropical origins, it requires barely further explicit care. Proper right here, we talked to herb specialists and purchased their best concepts for rising this versatile and fascinating plant.
When to Plant
You possibly can start rising lemongrass as a houseplant any time of the yr. “Lemongrass merely adapts to indoor circumstances,” says Susan Betz, a grasp gardener and the creator of Pure Houseplants. “[It] makes a stunning, useful, fragrant accent plant when provided with the right mild and nutritional vitamins.”
When grown outdoors, lemongrass is just a perennial in Zones 9 and higher and will avoid freezing temperatures. Indoors, though, the plant could also be grown nearly anyplace. If you happen to can not uncover lemongrass at a nursery, Betz suggests checking the current produce division at your native grocery retailer for objects with stems.
One of the simplest ways to Plant
Capable of get started? While you possibly can positively develop lemongrass from seeds, it’s further usually propagated by division or stem cuttings. Right here is how you are able to do it.
Propagation by Division
For this method, merely divide the prevailing plant and its rootball into a lot of smaller clumps, then repot each in its private container. That is possible among the finest strategies to propagate lemongrass as a result of it infrequently flowers. Seek for vegetation at revered nurseries—upon getting a longtime specimen at home, you probably can divide it extra to create further vegetation.
Propagation by Stem Cuttings
Stem cuttings are one different easy method to propagate lemongrass. “I often buy lemongrass cuttings with roots related, then put them in water to root some further,” says Zongxee Lee, an herbalist and neighborhood companion on the Minnesota Panorama Arboretum. “As soon as I see the roots are a minimum of 1 to 2 inches, I’ll pot it if rising indoors.”
As quickly because the plant begins to take root, Betz suggests shifting the container to a window that receives direct daylight. “On a regular basis current good drainage and maintain the soil from drying out absolutely,” she says. “Lemongrass is shallow rooted and may’t stand as much as dry soil.”
Repotting
Lemongrass can quickly outgrow its container. “Indicators that your lemongrass desires repotting embrace roots rising out of the drainage holes, the plant becoming root-bound, or the plant toppling over on account of weight of the foliage,” says Betz.
This tropical plant can merely develop to be 3 to 5 toes tall, so you possibly can need a fairly large container. “You will want to develop it in a pot that’s a minimum of 12 inches in diameter,” says Kim Roman, proprietor of Sq. Foot Gardening and creator of “Rising Herbs for Effectively being, Wellness, Cooking, and Crafts.”
Care Instructions
Your heat-loving lemongrass plant can fortuitously thrive indoors, nevertheless you will have to ensure you current the proper circumstances for optimum success.
Daylight
Lemongrass comes from the sunny tropical areas of southeast Asia, so it desires an setting that simulates these circumstances. “Lemongrass desires a minimum of 6 to eight hours of sturdy mild to develop indoors,” says Roman. “If you don’t have applicable pure mild, say at a sunny, south-facing window, then you definately definately’ll must rely upon develop lights. Nevertheless have in mind, every plant desires a interval of darkness to develop successfully, so don’t maintain the sunshine on all evening time.” She notes that lemongrass will do best if the room temperature is at or above 70 ranges Fahrenheit.
Soil and Water
Lemongrass desires moist soil, nevertheless you probably can run the hazard of overwatering for individuals who’re not cautious. “You’ll must plant it in a superb soil that drains successfully and water usually, preserving the roots moist, nevertheless not too moist,” says Roman.
One of many easiest methods to look at the moisture diploma, she says, is to remain your finger one inch into the soil, after which water whether it is dry. For sure lemongrass could also be barely delicate to chlorine too: “It’ll do larger with water that’s been allowed to sit down for 24 hours, or filtered,” she says.
Humidity
Lemongrass prefers extreme humidity ranges. “In case your indoor air is simply too dry, then you definately definately’ll must mist the plant on each day foundation or two, run a humidifier shut by, or place a giant saucer filled with pebbles and water beneath the planter,” says Roman.
One different method to fulfill the plant’s humidity desires is to utilize a greenhouse. “My lemongrass grows in a greenhouse that’s further humid than a typical home,” says Debra Knapke, horticulturist and creator of Herb Gardening throughout the Midwest. “I most likely water a number of occasions per week, counting on how so much photo voltaic we get. In a house it could be associated, nevertheless the concepts of the leaves might brown on account of low humidity.”
Fertilizer
Nitrogen is important for the enlargement of all vegetation—they use it to create the chlorophyll obligatory for photosynthesis. It might truly moreover help vegetation develop and develop their leaves—and since your lemongrass is especially all leaves, this may very well be a helpful additive. “Your plant will develop larger if given a half-dose of a liquid, nitrogen-rich fertilizer every totally different week,” says Roman.
One of the simplest ways to Harvest
Your lemongrass must be ready to reap after about three months, as quickly because the plant is a minimum of 12 inches tall, says Roman: “The underside of the stalk will possible be thicker than the upper blades, and pliable. The drier prime parts of the leaves could also be decrease and used for a lemony tea. The fleshier bottom stem is what you’ll use in cooking.”
Betz recommends harvesting current lemongrass as wished. “Take away leaves a lot of stems at a time by chopping on the white bulbous base of the plant’s fibrous leaves,” she says. Due to the plant’s arduous texture, Lee suggests using it primarily for flavoring.
Final Concepts
Lemongrass is an outstanding addition to a dish or a yard, nevertheless make sure you’re staying protected when working with it. “Like many grasses, the leaf edges are sharp and may make tiny cuts on one’s pores and pores and skin,” says Knapke. “Placed on gloves and prolonged sleeves.”
“The blades are pretty robust and will decrease you for individuals who run your fingers or arms over them,” offers Roman. “This occurred to me the first yr I grew it. Since then, I’ve developed a healthful respect for the plant, and I placed on prolonged gloves.”