Lemongrass Plant Care Winter
It grows well in plant containers and can be used fresh or dried in teas or in culinary dishes it is popular in asian cuisine.
Lemongrass plant care winter. The stalk is used for cooking and the leaves are used for teas. A vigorous grass lemongrass is easy to grow with these simple plant care tips. Plant lemongrass in spring once all chances of frost have passed. For the rest of us it s a potted plant that comes indoors for the winter.
The care of lemon grass. It s a perfect plant for growing in ground as you would with ornamental grasses or in containers. Lemongrass is a great plant for an edible garden or a kitchen garden. Lemongrass is a subtropical plant and cant handle freezing temperatures.
As a tropical plant lemongrass isn t exactly suited to the chilly temperatures of winter in much of north america. Lemongrass plants that live for more than one season benefit from an annual haircut to tidy up plants and remove dead foliage. However there are ways to help this herb survive the cold and come back healthy and vigorous in spring. Space plants 24 inches apart.
Harvesting involves cutting it with a sharp knife flush to the surface of the soil. Lemongrass prefers a location with full sunlight exposure for the best growth. In colder climates lemongrass goes dormant in the winter. The leaves will turn brown and you ll think the plant has died off.
In addition to its delicious and delicate flavor lemongrass cymbopogon citratus makes an attractive plant in the garden whether you grow it in the ground or in containers. Lemongrass likes it hot so grow it in an area with full sun and fertile well drained soil with a ph of 6 5 to 7 0. Ideally they want temperatures constantly above 50 f. Lemongrass tea can be calming and soothe stomachs.
Milder climates still see a green plant in winter but the leaves will look a bit bedraggled. When temperatures fall below 40ºf it begins to suffer. How to grow and care for lemongrass in containers. Only the very hottest regions of the united states can grow lemongrass outdoors.
If you care to grow it indoors or just want to move it indoors during the winter be sure to either place it in a window that gets six hours of sunlight per day or. A delicate plant lemongrass is easily propagated via stem cuttings or as mentioned divisions. Shear your plants to about 6 inches high at the end of winter when plants are in their resting phase. When planting lemongrass in pots one of the best things you can do for your plant is to harvest it frequently as this encourages new growth.
Lemongrass plants will rebound quickly and send up new shoots when warm weather returns. Quick guide to growing lemongrass. The only real risk is cold temperatures. Care for indoor lemongrass plants is easy and productive.
How to grow lemongrass indoors.