Citronella Plant Pointers: Aromatic Associates

Citronella oil, the savior within the battle towards the mighty mosquito! In the event you stay in a heat humid local weather then you’ll have heard of citronella because the oil utilized in a burner, a candle or a beauty lotion smothered on the pores and skin to repel mosquitoes from biting. However, are you aware the place it comes from? Properly, let me introduce you to the citronella plant, Cymbopogon nardus!

The citronella plant is to not be confused with one other lemony ‘supposed’ insect repellent plant, the scented geranium, Pelargonium citrosum (or Citrosa geranium).  The scented geranium, generally referred to as citronella geranium, is straightforward on the attention and smells fantastic, but it surely does nothing within the battle towards pests.

The true citronella plant is a big tufted perennial grass with inexperienced leaves rising upright to 6ft tall (1.8m) and 4ft extensive (1.2m) in the suitable circumstances.  It’s the oil contained inside the leaves that repels bugs and it might probably solely be harvested by way of crushing the leaves.  The existence of those grasses with their medium inexperienced texture alone won’t deter mosquitos.

The plant’s oil has a protracted historical past of medicinal use corresponding to treating lice, parasites, or worms, in addition to relieving migraines and fevers.  Its antibacterial, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-fungal properties make it helpful in each cleansing and beauty merchandise offering them with an unmistakable lemon scent. Planting it’s a good way so as to add a number of contrasting textures to your backyard.

Fast Care Information

All About The Citronella Plant

In the event you discover a plant at backyard facilities or huge field shops with the botanical title Cymbopogon nardus or Cymbopogon winterianus then you definately might be assured you’ve got found the generally recognized citronella plant, often known as citronella grass, geranium grass, mosquito plant, and nardus grass. It comes from the plant household Poaceae. This grass plant is an upright tufted grass with lance-shaped bluish-green leaves sprouting from lengthy brownish-red erect stems and rising to 3-4 ft lengthy (90-120cm).

Citronella grass is an fragrant evergreen perennial, native to Sri Lanka however widespread in most warm-temperate, subtropical and tropical areas of Asia and Africa.  In cooler climates, citronella crops are grown as annuals and introduced indoors over winter. It’s intently associated to lemon grass.

When optimum circumstances are met for rising, the citronella plant will produce panicles of flowers on spikelets borne on lengthy flowering stems protruding as much as 6ft from the middle of the plant.  These flowers will readily self-seed however require constant temperatures of between 20-22 C to germinate. Seeds are mild brown, dry, and typical of grasses/cereals.  Vegetation grown in cooler climates are much less prone to produce viable flowers.

Mosquito crops will unfold naturally by way of creeping underground rhizomes and may turn out to be considerably invasive of their pure tropical local weather with its vigorous rising behavior, out-competing present flora and cultivated crops.

This grass is usually grown in a summer season border or in window packing containers for its insect repellent properties.  Many gardeners consider that the citrus aroma of crops is sufficient to repel mosquitos like bug zappers however sadly this isn’t true.  It’s the oil contained inside the leaves that’s utilized in mosquito repellents, but it surely should be extracted first by way of the method of distillation.  In the event you merely crush the leaves by hand you’ll launch some oil, however not sufficient for repelling mosquitoes. Nonetheless, some gardeners swear that crushing and rubbing the leaves on their pores and skin is without doubt one of the pure methods to use a mosquito repellent, and that citronella scent could also be profitable in conserving just a few mosquitoes away whilst you’re working within the backyard! Finest to pair them with bug zappers for finest outcomes.

The extracted important oil of citronella mosquito crops has a robust lemony perfume usually used to fragrance cosmetics, soaps, deodorants, and pores and skin lotions particularly used as mosquito repellents.  Citronella candles and oil burners are used at night time as mosquito repellent.  The anti-bacterial and anti-fungal nature of the oil makes it good for cleansing and disinfecting merchandise.  Warning needs to be used when utilizing these merchandise.  Inhaling the oil vapors could cause an allergic response in some individuals and citronella oil may additionally irritate delicate pores and skin. The citronella plant will not be edible, in contrast to its shut cousin Cymbopogon citratus, generally often known as lemon grass.

In case you have purchased a ‘citronella plant’ with lacy foliage and a citrus scent, then it’s most probably you’ve got lemon-scented geranium, generally referred to as the citronella geranium, which is definitely a part of the geranium household.  The lacy leaves scent just like this grass, however the leaves don’t include the insect repellent citronella oil and due to this fact are ineffective at conserving these pesky mosquitoes from biting. Sadly, members of the geranium household could also be lovely crops in your backyard amongst different flowers, however their lacy leaves simply don’t repel mosquitoes effectively!

Planting Citronella Plant

Mosquito plant might be planted all year long if grown in tropical, subtropical, or heat temperate climates. The vigorously rising mosquito plant received’t take lengthy to determine. In cooler climates wait till late spring to early summer season earlier than planting out into the backyard.

Select a location in full solar with some partial shade on the hottest a part of the day for mosquito plant. Leaves can turn out to be simply scorched and look ugly. This grass is adaptable to most soil sorts, however the mosquito plant prefers moist loam-based soil that’s well-draining.

Rising mosquito crops from seed will not be beneficial as germination might be erratic.  The vigorous development and rhizomatic roots make it a chief candidate for propagation from division.

Citronella grass is ideal for rising as potted crops because it permits you to transfer crops into a wide range of areas to fit your wants.  You might must spend money on bigger pots as your container crops outgrow smaller containers, or just divide the plant and replant a division in the identical container and share the others with fellow gardeners.  Container rising mosquito plant is an effective possibility for colder zones because it permits your plant to be simply moved indoors over winter to guard them from frost.

Citronella Plant Care

This grass is native to the tropics. Nevertheless, it is rather adaptable to cooler climates if you know the way to take care of it. Let’s speak about mosquito crops, data you’ll must know to take care of them, and sustaining their beautiful foliage in your backyard!

Solar and Temperature

Citronella is primarily a sub-tropical grass with a choice for full solar (at the least six hours) and heat temperatures.  In extremely popular climates present shade or filtered daylight throughout the hottest time of the day to stop the leaves from scorching, make sure it will get at the least six hours of daylight. In areas with much less warmth, give the plant extra mild.

Don’t let this plant’s tropical origins put you off rising it if you’re positioned north of the equator!  Hardy to USDA zones 10-12, the citronella plant can tolerate temperatures all the way down to 32ºF (0ºC) however won’t tolerate extended intervals of frost. Convey your citronella indoors in massive pots when the primary frost is forecast.

Water and Humidity

Present lengthy deep drinks when the soil begins to dry out or present irrigation by way of soaker/drip hoses to keep up constant moisture.  This grass prefers constantly moist soil however surprisingly can tolerate lengthy intervals of drought. Scale back watering throughout the winter months however test usually to make sure crops haven’t fully dried out, particularly these grown in containers. A soaker hose or different type of drip irrigation on the base of the plant can be utilized to help in watering your backyard.

Soil

For optimum outcomes develop citronella in a wealthy loam-based, free-draining soil or compost. Citronella could be very adaptive to most soil sorts and as soon as established will do effectively.  The place soils are very poor, dig in some natural matter earlier than planting to supply vitamins and to assist with moisture retention.  Soil pH needs to be impartial, and effectively drained soils are finest.

Fertilizing

Fertilize citronella annually in spring with high quality slow-release nitrogen-rich fertilizer. In case your plant is wanting just a little lackluster, then a fast feed with a liquid nitrogen fertilizer or all goal plant meals ought to deliver it again to wholesome rising habits. Including a high inch of compost a few times a yr across the base of your plant will even work in lieu of fertilizers or all goal plant meals.

Pruning

Citronella crops require little or no pruning when grown of their pure surroundings. At most, maybe they will profit from the odd trim of brown leaves and deadheading each few weeks to stop self-seeding. Vegetation grown in containers in cooler climates will profit from a tough prune to six inches (15cm) above the crown earlier than bringing them right into a sheltered space or indoors over winter. New shoots will seem in spring prepared for going again outdoors.

Propagation

This grass is unlikely to develop viable seeds until grown in optimum local weather circumstances.  Even with viable seeds, germination is erratic. The principle type of propagation for citronella crops is by way of division. The vigorous rising nature of citronella lends itself completely for division to maintain plant measurement underneath management.  It’s additionally a good way to maintain container-grown crops in test.

Divide a wholesome plant that’s at the least 2-3 years outdated and has developed root system.  Dig up all the plant and utilizing a noticed, spade or knife divide the plant into as many divisions you require.  Pot every division up individually or replant into new positions within the backyard.  Water effectively till crops are established. If utilizing this technique, ensure there’s ample time for the brand new mosquito crops to turn out to be well-established earlier than the primary frost.

Root cuttings are an alternative choice for those who don’t want to dig up a complete plant. Root cuttings needs to be taken in winter when crops are dormant and their roots are nutrient-rich, thus giving cuttings one of the best probability to develop.  Merely take away soil from the bottom of the plant till roots are seen and minimize off 2-3 inches of root with a clear pair of snips. Place the reducing right into a pot of compost and place someplace shiny and heat, conserving the compost moist.  Shoots ought to seem in early spring.

Troubleshooting

Citronella is a straightforward plant to take care of with few rising issues.  Listed below are a few issues to look out for simply in case. Figuring out these will enable you to keep a wholesome plant.

Rising Issues

Your mosquito plant advantages from afternoon shade to guard the leaves from solar scorch throughout the hottest time of the day.  The scorched leaves are ugly and the harm reduces the plant’s potential to photosynthesize thus decreasing the plant’s total well being.

Moist ft may also be an issue for citronella crops.  Though they like soil to be constantly moist, heavy moist soil will scale back the flexibility of the plant to take up vitamins from the soil and can trigger crops to deteriorate. It could even trigger root rot and the loss of life of the plant.  Develop citronella grass in free-draining, loam-based soil to keep away from this rising drawback.

Pests

This citronella tends to not be affected by pests.

Ailments

Commercially grown citronella might be topic to leaf blight.  That is notably prevalent in sub-tropical climates the place crops are grown densely to supply citronella oil. Lack of air circulation gives good circumstances for blight to take maintain and can lead to a discount in each the amount and high quality of oil extracted.  Blight is much less widespread in home gardens until crops are allowed to turn out to be very congested.  Indicators of blight are darkish spots or lesions on leaves from which necrosis begins to rot the leaves.  Take away and destroy affected leaves instantly.  Divide congested crops each few years and take away lifeless or dying foliage to enhance air circulation. Copper fungicides could also be helpful to assist forestall blight.

Ceaselessly Requested Questions

Q: Do citronella crops actually preserve mosquitoes away?

A: The oil extracted from the leaves of citronella crops has some pure mosquito repellent qualities when utilized in candles, lotions, and oil burners.  The crops of their pure kind don’t assist in repelling mosquitoes.

Q: Does citronella plant like solar or shade?

A: Citronella plant likes to develop in a shiny sunny spot, however will profit from some shade on the hottest a part of the day to guard leaves from scorch.

Q: Is citronella houseplant?

A: Citronella is usually confused with the citronella geranium or scented geraniums (Pelargonium citrosum, generally referred to as Citrosa geranium), which have a lemony scent and make wonderful houseplants. Sadly, the citronella geranium doesn’t repel mosquitoes.  True citronella crops are massive grasses rising as much as 6ft tall and 4ft extensive and are unsuitable for many indoor development for very lengthy. It does make for a wonderful patio plant as most individuals have sufficient room on their patio for a bigger species.