Homeowners often plant citronella plants in their yards to keep mosquitoes at bay. However, the plant can’t live all year round in colder climates, so those who live in colder climates need to remember to bring the plant inside during the winter and then back outside when the weather warms up.
You should also make sure that your plants get enough sunlight. Citronella plants like being outdoors and not being too close to other plants that will steal their sunlight or block it with their leaves.
How to plant Citronella seeds
Citronella is a popular garden plant that repels insects and mosquitoes.
It is a vigorous grower, tolerant of poor soil conditions, and can be grown in pots and containers.
Citronella plants are easy to germinate from seed because they are not fussy about soil conditions. You can buy seeds online or from your local nursery or garden center.
Here’s how to germinate Citronella seeds:
- Fill a pot with potting soil and water it thoroughly to moisten the soil thoroughly.
- Sprinkle the seeds evenly over the surface of the potting soil
- Cover them with 1-2 mm of potting soil
- Keep the container in bright light for 15 hours per day at room temperature
How big do Citronella plants get?
Citronella plants get between 2 and 3 feet tall.
The citronella plant is a type of grass, and it belongs to the genus “Cymbopogon” which has about 150 different species. It is native to the tropical and subtropical regions of India, China, Japan, Southeast Asia, Africa, Australia, and some Pacific Islands.
Best soil and fertilizer for Citronella plant
Soil and fertilizer are essential for the growth of plants. If you are planning to grow a Citronella plant, you should know that it requires well-drained soil and prefer a lot of sun.
You should also ensure that the soil is rich in organic matter. Citronella plant needs to be grown with compost, manure, or other organic materials that have been mixed with potting soil or peat moss.
The type of fertilizer will vary based on how much sunlight your plant gets every day and what type of fertilizer is available in your area. But at the very least, you should ensure that the fertilizer has nitrogen as its main component. In addition to this, it is important to fertilize once every month for optimal growth.
How to propagate citronella
Citronella plants can be propagated from seeds or cuttings.
Collect and break off a branch from an older citronella plant, take cuttings of about 30cm long, remove any leaves below 10cm (leave the top 10cm).
Soak in water for a couple of days to allow roots to start developing. Dip the end of each cutting into rooting hormone before planting them into pots filled with well-draining compost and water thoroughly.
