Most of us have see of citronella as a mosquito repellent , but did you know it can be used in soaps and wax light as well ?
Traditionally school in tropic areas of Asia , citronella grass is a beautiful accession to the domicile garden that can help keep blood - sucking mosquito and annoying whiteflies at bay . It can also be used to make citronella crucial oil .
quick to get started ? Here ’s what you should screw to win at develop citronella .
Varieties of Citronella
True citronella plant is a clippety-clop grass standardised to lemongrass . It ’s a deep green color , often with a pinkish or imperial chromaticity at the base of the leaves .
There is another plant sold as citronella , but it is actually a sweet geranium , Pelargonium citrosum .
This has broad , serrated leave and sometimes is sold as “ mosquito plant , ” but it ’s citronella scented only . You ca n’t use it to make citronella of the essence oil color .
Ceylon Citronella
Ceylon citronella , Cymbopogon nardus , is the smorgasbord most often found in home plate gardens and used to make essential oil . It ’s great as an ornamental locoweed or repelling pestis in the garden . It get about 3 substructure magniloquent .
Java Citronella
Although Java citronella , Cymbopogonwinterianus , probably start around Sri Lanka as well , at some point , it was made democratic in Indonesia .
This variety has broader leaf than Ceylon and grow quicker . It gets about 4 foot tall .
West Indian Lemongrass
Cymbopogon citratusis a member of the citronella family that we know as lemongrass oil . It ’s is popular in cooking , can also be used to repel mosquitos and for its essential petroleum . It gets about 4 feet tall .
East Indian Lemon Grass
Cymbopogon flexuosusis native to India , Sri Lanka , Burma , and Thailand . This is the lemongrass typically used to flavor nutrient and to add olfactory property to cosmetics . It get up to 6 groundwork tall and spreads up to 3 feet .
Palmarosa or Gingergrass
Cymbopogon martinihas been forgather in the state of nature and used for its all important oil since antiquity and is now crop for the same reason . There are study showing some promise for using palmarosa medicinally on the hide .
How to Grow Citronella
Citronella grass is relatively fuss - free . you’re able to grow it as an annual or a perennial if you live in a warmer clime . you could plant citronella by seed , organ transplant , or antecedent division .
Transplants or root divisions are comfortable because the seeds can be finicky .
Water and Sunlight Needs
Citronella grass grows well in zone 9 to 12 . It does n’t like harsh winter conditions . Grow it as an yearly in zone 3 - 8 .
Citronella needs full sun to part sun . Provide it with morning sunlight and good afternoon shade . Six 60 minutes of sun a solar day is optimal .
A loamy soil pH of 6.5 is estimable . Add plenty of constituent matter to the soil before planting .
Citronella necessitate pot of water and nutrients but like well - draining territory to forfend wet roots . If you live in a wet clime , plant on a ridge so the dirt naturally drains .
When to Plant
Plant outside in spring after the last rime and the earth has warmed . you could grow citronella in spite of appearance in pots anytime .
Container Planting
Citronella produce well in pot . It ’s comfortable to move the plant life around with the Dominicus as the season change and to move inside if you last in cooler areas .
Citronella grass grows up to 6 feet marvelous depending on the form , so the container helps keep it to a more manageable size . Just skip it back to your desire summit and width .
Use a potting mix that drains well and a container at least 12 inch in diameter . Feed monthly with a well balanced liquid fertilizer and do n’t allow the soil to dry out .
Planting Seed
Citronella grass germ can be hard to make out by locally , so you might need to shop around online
If you ’re prosperous enough to get some seed , plant in minuscule heap with seed raising mix and keep the pot at a constant temperature of about 64 ° fluorine , using a heat Master of Arts in Teaching if necessary .
Keep the mix moist at all metre and , once shoot and at least three inches magniloquent , transpose the plants to your garden or permanent container .
Propagating From Division
In late fall , trim back back all leave and then dig the citronella plant .
To do this , cautiously jab down and expose the antecedent of the plant . Gently loosen the dirt from around the roots and lift the entire affair out of the dirt .
Cut the roots into adequate pieces and plant in pots . embed the division in a new stain in the garden or in a container .
Planting Transplants
Citronella green goddess can develop to 6 feet in the right conditions and 3 feet wide-cut , so they want a big spot in the garden .
Work in plenty of constitutive matter into the soil and toil in a well - balanced fertilizer a week before planting or transplant .
stab a muddle twice the width of the root arrangement . Put the plant in place and fill in around the roots and adjure firmly . Water well and keep moist for the first few months .
Spacing
works citronella grass 24 inch apart to give them room to spread . While citronella is n’t incursive because it does n’t reproduce through runner as some grass can , it does spread out promptly and can crowd out other industrial plant .
Caring for Citronella Grass
Once you got it in the soil , citronella is n’t too demanding . They need regular eating and water and some pruning to keep them in substantiation .
Citronellas are thirsty plants . apply an all - role fertilizer that ’s high in N . I do this at the beginning of spring for established plant life .
Citronella plant need even watering in well - draining grunge . Allow the first inch of filth to dry out out before providing more urine .
Citronella plants get liberal and bushy , but the only pruning involve is removing the leaf as they yellow and die off . This gives the plant the power to put energy into the stay leaves , much like when you deadhead flowers .
However , if you desire to keep the plant in check , trim down it back on a regular basis .
Companion Planting for Citronella Grass
These herb and small flowering plants make a good companion for your citronella plants :
Do n’t establish citronella with rue .
Common Problems and Solutions for Growing Citronella Grass
You could be forgive for thinking citronella plant would n’t have pests and diseases render the usage for citronella oil , but unluckily , there are a few matter to watch out for .
Leaf Blight
grass are particularly susceptible to folio blight and citronella eatage is no exception . Discoloration of the lower leaves , then to the upper leave of absence will be quick in humid conditions .
foliation death fall out and the flora overall becomes stunted and unhealthful .
There are many antifungal sprays , but I choose constitutive neem oil . nebulizer every four weeks for three day in a row .
Anthracnose
Dark lesions appear on young leaves specially after prolonged rain in humid conditions . fond foliage death occurs , causing stunted growth of the citronella gage .
In bad fount , all leaves are infected and the plant is probable to die .
To forbid it , ensure secure air flow between plants and at least 6 hours of fair weather on the citronella grass . Clean up all the debris in your garden in the crepuscule to prevent it from circulate .
Use a copper - based fungicide spray as the new leaves emerge as a preventative if you know this disease is a problem in your area .
Spider Mites
Spider mites live on the undersides of plant and perforate holes in the leaves to course . They are lilliputian and you ’re more potential to see their webbing than the mites themselves .
In big numbers pool , spider pinch can bolt down a plant .
If the infestation is n’t regretful , give the citronella grass leaves a spray of water to strike hard the mites off . Do this every day for a week . garnish away any badly infested folio .
If you really struggle with these pests , apply a good timbre sulphur spray each winter and neem oil in the spring , summer , and devolve . Just remember that using chemical can kill off the honorable insects in your garden as well .
Harvesting Citronella
I apply my citronella plants as ornamentals , but you may glean from them up to three time a class for oil origin .
It ’s an herb doctor ’s dream and can be used in planning for antibacterial , antimicrobial , antifungal , and anti - inflammatory products .
After 7 to 8 calendar month when the plant life is amply grow , you could take away the leafage by make out as stuffy to the floor as possible .
If you desire to , you may reap again in three to four month .
Make Your Own Citronella Essential Oil
To make your own all-important oil , cut leaves and dry out them in a dehydrator or impart them in the Lord’s Day in a covered arena with plenty of air circulation .
Once ironical , take 4 ounces in system of weights of the farewell and pose them in a clean jolt . Cover in isopropyl alcohol .
pull up stakes the motley for three days before separate out and reserve the liquid . It ’s as prosperous as that .
call up , citronella of the essence crude should n’t be usedinternally .
If you wish growing citronella grass , trylemongrassas well .
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