Lemongrass

Yes, you can very easily dry the plant for the winter. Cut off the long leaves, tie them into small bundles, and hang them in a shady, airy place. Lemongrass retains its specific aroma perfectly after drying. If you prefer freezing, you can cut the thick, fleshy stalks into pieces and store them in containers in the freezer, where they will maintain their full flavor for several months.

You can harvest continuously throughout the summer; during the warm months, the leaves have the highest content of excellent aromatic substances. Always cut off the entire outer leaves close to the base (near the ground). By doing this, you not only obtain the tastiest fleshy part, but regular cutting also naturally encourages the clump to thicken and improves its overall condition. Let the plant rest without harvesting during the autumn and winter.

Definitely yes! Growing citronella is completely undemanding, and we recommend it to every beginner. You just need to provide it with a pot with drainage, a sunny summer spot outside, water it reasonably, and bring it indoors before the frost arrives. It doesn't suffer from pests, grows quickly, and you will very fast have a beautifully fragrant and decorative herb that will bring you immediate joy.

Lemongrass grows quite vigorously and forms spreading clumps of beautiful green leaves. It depends primarily on the size of the pot and the volume of soil you provide, but it typically reaches a height between 60 and 140 centimeters. Thanks to this impressive size and elegantly arching leaves, it works great as a highly decorative element on your terrace.

Although citronella is a fantastic ingredient for your kitchen, it can be a problem for pets. The high concentrations of aromatic compounds and essential oils that give the leaves their flavor are difficult for dogs and cats to digest and can cause digestive upset or vomiting if ingested. We recommend placing the pot in a spot where it is not easy for pets to nibble on the leaves, which is especially important during the winter period when kept indoors.

We have great news; its extraordinary resilience is a huge advantage for growers! Lemongrass is completely disease-free for us. Thanks to the high content of fragrant essential oils, which it uses for protection, it also naturally repels pests and common insects (it even repels mosquitoes and aphids on the patio). You can grow it completely stress-free and without the use of any chemicals.

Although it is grown almost exclusively for its fragrant leaves, it may surprise you with flowers during a sufficiently hot summer and with optimal care. Small, green, and relatively inconspicuous inflorescences appear from August through September until October. However, this is not a rule, and the plant serves its purpose even if it does not flower.

This herb, sometimes called lemongrass, has a very wide range of uses due to its authentic flavor:

• Fleshy lower parts: They have the most intense aroma and are perfect for flavoring Asian soups, curry pastes, fish, or meat marinades.
• Thin green leaf ends: They are perfect for preparing refreshing tea infusions and homemade cold lemonades.
• It can also be added to summer floral arrangements as attractive, fragrant greenery.

This issue is usually a clear indicator of an incorrect watering regime.

• Too much water: If the plant is constantly standing in dampness or water, the roots will begin to rot from the bottom up, followed by rapid yellowing of the leaves.
• Lack of water: In hot summer weather under direct sunlight, tips can turn brown due to the plant drying out for too long. Check the moisture level deeper in the substrate with your finger and adjust watering immediately. You can then carefully trim the dry, brown tips with scissors.

Yes, since it is a strongly clumping plant, the simplest and most common method of propagation is division. This is best done early in the spring, before the plant begins to sprout fully. Remove the entire root ball from the pot and carefully cut the clump with a sharp, clean knife so that each new section retains healthy roots and several green shoots. This step also effectively rejuvenates the plant.

Lemongrass loves heat and light. As soon as the last frosts pass in the spring, place it outside in a hot, fully sunny location – ideally on a south-facing terrace or balcony. Sunlight will ensure not only lush growth but also the maximum content of aromatic oils in the leaves. In winter, place it in a bright spot indoors.

Due to its tropical origin, we grow citronella exclusively as a potted plant for moving. After receiving the rooted seedling, plant it in a larger pot with well-draining, humus-rich soil and a thick layer of drainage. During the summer, give it full sun outdoors on the terrace and moderate watering. In the autumn, move it indoors to a cooler, bright room to protect it from frost.