You'll want to keep the potting mix relatively moist and take care not to allow the soil to dry out completely. When you water them, make sure that the soil is moist and not wet. Wait until all chance of frost has passed in the spring before planting citronellas outdoors. Even if they can't completely banish these buzzy insects, citronellas are attractive and easy-to-grow. Plant the stems three inches above the ground and place them under a grow light. Fall is a Great Time to Plant - Learn More. Citronella plants are worth growing! Growing citronella plants indoors is the best way to enjoy them year-round and keep them as part of your collection for years to come. To grow citronella grass from seed, lightly scatter the seed on the soil surface. Check your plant regularly for any signs of infestation. If you do not have a spot for your citronella plant that provides full sun, the plants will tolerate partial shade but will just not perform as well. Essential oils do not dissolve in water; hence, this step is optional. Its important that your citronella plants are provided with soil that drains well. Bury the stem, making sure to get a node (where a leaf is growing) underground. Citronella plants like to stay moist, so make sure youre watering them at least once a week. These bug repelling plants do not tolerate low temperatures or frost. Use insecticidal soap or a combination of canola oil and soap to control insects. They need a considerable amount of fresh water, and they should be pruned every few weeks. You'll be wise to follow the package instructions. Water the base of the plant, not its foliage or the surrounding soil. One of the most beautiful aspects of the Citronella plant is that it is able to survive in shade, as well as direct sunlight. [[ item.price == '$0.00' ? Save the branches for vases or use the leaves like edible geranium leaves. For its maximum. Unlike other crops, you don't need to bury citronella seeds. As the weather gets colder and the days get shorter, its important to take extra care of your citronella plant to prevent pests and disease. Are you wondering how to care for the citronella plant in order to effectively protect you and your loved ones from the troublesome mosquitoes? However, you dont want to jerk your citronella plants from the luxury and temperate climate of indoor living to the great outdoors, with its beating sun and harsh winds. Don't fertilize too often; feeding ivy once a month during the warmer months is usually a good bet. As the weather begins to cool down and the days grow shorter, you may be wondering what to do with your citronella plant to keep it healthy over winter. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. to repot your Citronella plant. Lets get started. Citronella plants are one of the most popular geraniums out there! That way the seeds will stick to the soil and not fly away. The cold weather can damage the leaves, and the shortened days mean the plant doesnt get as much sunlight. If you live in a cold climate, youll need to take some special care of your citronella plant to make sure it survives the winter months. I like to sort of fluff them up when I go outside to get the oils in the leaves flowing a bit. It grows best at temperatures between 59F and 69F (15C to 200.6C). To get rid of spider mites, use a mixture of 1 part rubbing alcohol to 4 parts water (for example, a 1/2 cup of rubbing alcohol to 2 cups of water). How do you care for a potted citronella plant? To make a liniment that you can rub or spray on your skin, Citronella plants are one of the most popular geraniums out there! Ready to find out how to raise citronella plants indoors? Citronellas are water-loving plants and will appreciate the soil remaining moist for longer than average. That means most gardeners will need to either raise their citronella plants indoors or bring them inside in the winter months if they want to enjoy their citronella plants on a long-term basis. Plant the citronella geranium in spring. To ensure the stem can root, only leave two leaves from the stem, ideally at the tip of the cutting. If you live in an area with long winters, you can supplement the plants natural light with a grow light. When planting your citronella plant, make sure to follow the proper plant care instructions. Brown leaves and stems can be caused by too much or too little sun or too much water. If you grow them as houseplants, give them a sunny window. Citronella plant care requires very minimal effort and low maintenance. How To Care For Scindapsus Treubii Dark Form: 8 Tips For A Healthy Plant, Aglaonema Emerald Beauty: Care and Growth Tips, Do Onions Grow Underground? 40-70% humidity is best. Start about 6 weeks before the last frost. The oil is often used in insect repellents spray and outdoor candles. If youve been growing your citronella plants outside, unless youre in zones 9 through 11, youll need to bring them indoors if you want them to survive the winter. Citronella plants prefer warm climates, so you'll want to keep them in an area that gets at least 6 hours of sunlight every day. Hold the covered stem in place with a rock or bend a piece of wire or paper clip into a U-shape and pin it down. Then find a sunnier spot for your citronella plant, one that gets at least six hours of daily sunshine. You can also root non-woody cuttings in water. It will take a few weeks for the new plants to put down roots in the container. Cover the plant with a combination of three parts potting soil and one part earth. They are easy to grow and make a great addition to any garden. If you need to overwinter them, pot them up or propagate some stems to bring in before the temperatures drop. I really love these plants because you have a pretty plant to decorate your outdoor living space and they actually work! Amazon, the Amazon logo, AmazonSupply, and the AmazonSupply logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. You might even have one on your patio now. Fill a pot or a shallow container with soil and compost then water it to make it damp. For best results, the containers you grow your citronella plants in must have drainage holes in the bottom. Water deficiency is one possibility. Find a healthy stem and make a snip about 3-5 inches down the shaft. Place the pot on a heat mat if you have one to improve the germination rate. The leaves can be burned as an insect repellant and are known to act as a natural mosquito repellant. For potted citronellas, use an all-purpose container mix. Each day, leave the citronella plants outdoors for a little longer, like an hour or two, until theyre spending the whole day outside. The most common problem is dark spots on the plants leaves. Citronella plants are also beautiful a flower bed, with lacy leaves and pretty blossoms tinged with pink, purple, or red. Your indoor citronella plants need at least six hours of direct sunlight each day to thrive. To care for a citronella plant provide bright direct sunlight and at least 5-6 hours of direct sunlight a day. Save pruned, non-woody stems or make three-to-five-inch cuttings of non-woody stems. After the first two weeks, renew the substrate and fertilize it with worm castings or compost. Outdoors vs. Indoors. Water the plant regularly and make sure that the soil remains moist but not wet. Citronella plants growing indoors that are not getting enough sunshine will let you know by developing etiolated foliage. Just water them deeply when the soil dries. Apply a 12-month controlled-release fertiliser at the start of spring each year, and supplement that with monthly applications of a water-soluble or liquid plant food to keep the grass strong and healthy. When indoors allow the soil to dry before watering thoroughly. 'Free' : item.price ]]. The plant's roots are located just below the surface of the soil, so it is important to keep the soil moist but not wet. This keeps Citronella Plants much healthier than watering a little bit every day. If you don't have access to a greenhouse, consider planting them on a windowsill in a sunny room. If you have a sunny spot and think youll enjoy having these plants indoors I recommend bringing them indoors. Filed Under: House Plants, Indoor Gardening Tagged With: citronella geranium, growing citronella, growing indoor citronella, indoor gardening, Your email address will not be published. A very pretty plant to decorate your outdoor living space. The rule of thumb is to check the top inch of soil. 5 Use a well-drained soil comprised of loam and chalk or sand. Save pruned, non-woody stems or make three-to-five-inch cuttings of non-woody stems. Citronella plants are known for their strong, citrusy smell that can keep mosquitoes and other pests away. Choose your cutting. Both are nicknamed mosquito plants, but we're referring to the geranium types here, known for their lacy, green leaves and pinkish or lavender flowers. How often do you water citronella plants? Water when the top 1" of soil dries out and ensure a temperature between 59-70F (15 -21C). This is because there are two types of plants considered as Citronella. Citronella plants thrive when the temperature is between 59 and 69 degrees Fahrenheit (15 to 20.6 degrees Celsius). If you prefer, bend a stem that's still attached to a plant and put it on top of the soil in a nearby pot. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. You can bring them outside again in early spring, when the cold weather passes. In case of frost, bring the plant indoors. 2. If youre like me, you love citronella plants. Citronella plants that you keep indoors benefit from a bit of light pruning over the winter. After all, you want to make sure that the plant is getting what it needs to grow successfully. Fertilize using a balanced water-soluble fertilizer of NPK 5-5-5 or 10-10-10. Citronella plant is a scented geranium native to Asia and known as a mosquito repellent. Why Is My Snake Plant Growing Out And Not Up? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Our gardening obsessed editors and writers choose every product we review. If citronella remains outside when temperatures fall much below that. Feed regularly with water-soluble plant food for abundant blooms. Soil: rich loam soil that retains some moisture but drains well after rain or watering. One of the most beautiful aspects of the citronella plant is that it is able to survive in shade, as well as direct sunlight. Now you know all about Citronella Plant Care! Trim the leaves from the bottom of the stem. It belongs to the pelargonium genus and has a distinctive fragrance. Ive been keeping some in my outdoor garden, but Id like to try raising one as a houseplant. Paul C. ANSWER: Yes, citronella plants do quite well indoors. Revive your thirsty plants by letting them soak in water for a few hours. Prevent these issues by only watering the soil at the base of your citronella plant. Apply neem oil or horticultural oil to the infected plants. For this reason, this plant has also earned the name 'mosquito plant' in the past few decades. Department of agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 to 12. However, make sure that you place it in an area where it will get good sunlight and isn't too close to your home or garden, as the plant can spread quickly and take over an area. Even though they require up to six hours a day of sunlight, it doesn't necessarily require direct sunlight. Citronella plant care and using the citronella plant to repel mosquitoes is very easy. The temperature should stay somewhere between 15 and 21 degrees Celsius without sudden drops.
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