Citronella plants are known for their lemony aroma and beautiful visual appearance. Their ability to repel mosquitoes make it a popular choice for indoor and outdoor areas. Citronella plants are of two types - grass and scented geranium. Citronella grass is similar to lemongrass while the scented geranium gives a refreshing citrus scent.
The stems of citronella grass produce oil, a natural mosquito repellent, commonly called the mosquito plant and can grow up to six feet tall. It can be grown easily from mere stem cuttings. Citronella geranium is grown from the plants purchased from the garden centers and never grows from seeds.
Step by Step Process to Propagate Citronella Using Cuttings
It’s easier to propagate a stem cutting from an existing plant than growing it from a seed. If you plan to grow from seeds, start the process 10-12 weeks before the last frost in spring. The best stem to propagate is the one with a few leaf nodes from which new roots can emerge. Here’s the step-by-step process:
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Choose non-woody stems and make 3-5 inch cuttings from the stems using clean pruners. Make sure the cutting from the stem has two or three nodes.
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Snip off the lower leaves to prevent rot. But leave two or three leaves near the top of the stem.
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Put the cut ends in the rooting hormone.
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Put the cutting in the soil from the cut side. Check if there is sufficient moisture and that the soil is well drained. Keep misting the leaves to maintain the mixture.
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Roots are ready to transplant in three or four weeks.
| Some Tips | Instead of planting the stem directly into the garden, you can keep it in a small pot of soil and transplant it later. But make sure that it gets enough sunlight and water. |
How to Propagate Citronella From Seed?
Growing Citronella from seed is also an easy way. Citronella can be grown from seeds in the indoor area as well in the outdoor area.
Grow Citronella in the Outdoor
The first step is to wait for two weeks after the final frost (time can vary depending on the growing zone) because soil gets warm by then. Always choose the location that gets a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight. Start scattering seeds over the soil and cover them with plastic to boost germination. Keep soil moist for better and fast germination.
Grow Citronella in the Indoor
Take a 4-inch pot and pour in the potting mix. Take equal parts of potting soil, sphagnum moss, and sand, as this combination is perfect for healthy seed growth. Now, scatter seeds over the potting mix and cover it with a plastic sheet to expedite the germination process. Keep the pot in a sunny spot and mist the soil to keep it moist.
Once you notice seedlings emerging from the pots, remove plastic and transfer thin plants to larger pots for better growth.
Right Conditions to Grow Citronella Properly
Like every other plant, Citronella also needs care and the right conditions to grow healthy and strong. It needs:
Light
Just like other plants, Citronella also requires sunlight for proper growth, but they need indirect and bright light. Avoid direct exposure to sunlight to prevent scorching because newly grown seeds or cuttings can’t bear the brunt of direct sunlight.
Balanced Humidity
Humidity is an important factor that affects the growth of citronella plants. Keep the pot in a plastic bag to maintain balanced moisture, but don’t seal the plastic bag tight.
Moderate Temperature
Citronella grows very well in warm weather (not extremely warm), but cannot withstand cold temperatures. Try to maintain moderate temperature for roots to thrive.
Fertilizer
Plants need nutrients that are not fulfilled naturally. You should add fertilizer to the plants as per the directed quantity. For indoor citronella plants, the best option is to add water-soluble fertilizer.
Water
Though citronella plants don’t require much water, it’s important to check if the top layer of soil feels dry because then it's time to water them. Make sure the potted plants have holes at the base to drain out excess water, as Citronella don’t thrive in standing water.
Be Patient
Patience is the key to becoming a successful gardener because plants take their own sweet time to grow. You can’t expect them to grow overnight.
Conclusion
Growing Citronella is an interesting and simple way to add more plants to the indoor and outdoor space. There are various ways to propagate Citronella, such as seed or stem cutting. The steps are discussed in this article along with the right growing conditions for them.
