Citronella oil, the savior contained in the battle in opposition to the mighty mosquito! For a lot of who reside in a heat humid native local weather then it is advisable to have heard of citronella on account of the oil utilized in a burner, a candle or a magnificence lotion smothered on the pores and pores and pores and skin to repel mosquitoes from biting. However, have you ever ever learnt the place it comes from? Correctly, let me introduce you to the citronella plant, Cymbopogon nardus!
The citronella plant is to not be confused with one totally different lemony ‘supposed’ insect repellent plant, the scented geranium, Pelargonium citrosum (or Citrosa geranium). The scented geranium, generally usually referred to as citronella geranium, is simple on the attention and smells unimaginable, nevertheless it completely does nothing contained in the battle in opposition to pests.
The true citronella plant is a gigantic tufted perennial grass with inexperienced leaves rising upright to 6ft tall (1.8m) and 4ft large (1.2m) inside the actual situations. It’s the oil contained all by means of the leaves that repels bugs and it might solely be harvested by way of crushing the leaves. The existence of those grasses with their medium inexperienced texture alone should not be going to discourage mosquitos.
The plant’s oil has an extended historic earlier of medicinal use akin to treating lice, parasites, or worms, together with relieving migraines and fevers. Its antibacterial, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-fungal properties make it helpful in each cleansing and marvel merchandise offering them with an unmistakable lemon scent. Planting it’s an environment friendly method so as in order so as to add loads of contrasting textures to your yard.
Fast Care Knowledge
| Frequent Set up | citronella plant, mosquito plant, citronella grass, geranium grass, and nardus grass |
| Scientific Set up | Cymbopogon nardus, Cymbopogon winterianus |
| Household | Poaceae |
| Peak & Unfold | 6ft x 4ft |
| Light | Full picture voltaic to partial shade |
| Soil | Loam |
| Water | Mounted widespread watering |
| Pests & Sicknesses | Leaf blight |
All About The Citronella Plant
For a lot of who uncover a plant at yard facilities or large self-discipline retailers with the botanical decide Cymbopogon nardus or Cymbopogon winterianus you then undoubtedly could very nicely be assured you could want found the widely known citronella plant, moreover generally 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 extended brownish-red erect stems and rising to 3-4 ft extended (90-120cm).
Citronella grass is an fragrant evergreen perennial, native to Sri Lanka however frequent in most warm-temperate, subtropical and tropical areas of Asia and Africa. In cooler climates, citronella crops are grown as annuals and launched indoors over winter. It’s intently associated to lemon grass.
When optimum situations are met for rising, the citronella plant will produce panicles of flowers on spikelets borne on extended flowering stems protruding as rather a lot as 6ft from the middle of the plant. These flowers will readily self-seed however require fastened temperatures of between 20-22 C to germinate. Seeds are mild brown, dry, and typical of grasses/cereals. Crops grown in cooler climates are rather a lot a lot much less further extra prone to produce viable flowers.
Mosquito crops will unfold naturally by way of creeping underground rhizomes and may develop to be considerably invasive of their pure tropical native local weather with its vigorous rising conduct, out-competing current flora and cultivated crops.
This grass is normally grown in a summer time season season border or in window packing containers for its insect repellent properties. Many gardeners take into consideration that the citrus aroma of crops is ample to repel mosquitos like bug zappers however sadly this isn’t true. It’s the oil contained all by means of the leaves that’s utilized in mosquito repellents, nevertheless it completely have to be extracted first by way of the technique of distillation. For a lot of who merely crush the leaves by hand you could launch some oil, however not ample for repelling mosquitoes. Nonetheless, some gardeners swear that crushing and rubbing the leaves on their pores and pores and pores and skin might be going one in every of many pure methods to utilize a mosquito repellent, and that citronella scent can be worthwhile in retaining loads of mosquitoes away should you’re working contained in the yard! Most attention-grabbing to pair them with bug zappers for many attention-grabbing outcomes.
The extracted very important oil of citronella mosquito crops has a strong lemony perfume usually used to fragrance cosmetics, soaps, deodorants, and pores and pores and pores and skin lotions considerably used as mosquito repellents. Citronella candles and oil burners are used at evening as mosquito repellent. The anti-bacterial and anti-fungal nature of the oil makes it superb for cleansing and disinfecting merchandise. Warning ought to be used when utilizing these merchandise. Inhaling the oil vapors could set off an allergic response in some individuals and citronella oil can also irritate delicate pores and pores and pores and skin. The citronella plant just isn’t going to be edible, in distinction to its shut cousin Cymbopogon citratus, normally usually referred to as lemon grass.
You most likely have purchased a ‘citronella plant’ with lacy foliage and a citrus scent, then it’s almost undoubtedly you could want lemon-scented geranium, generally usually referred to as the citronella geranium, which is definitely a part of the geranium household. The lacy leaves scent similar to this grass, however the leaves don’t comprise the insect repellent citronella oil and due to this actuality are ineffective at retaining these pesky mosquitoes from biting. Sadly, members of the geranium household can be fairly crops to your yard amongst utterly totally different flowers, however their lacy leaves merely don’t repel mosquitoes efficiently!
Planting Citronella Plant
Mosquito plant could very nicely be planted all yr prolonged if grown in tropical, subtropical, or heat temperate climates. The vigorously rising mosquito plant obtained’t take extended to find out. In cooler climates wait till late spring to early summer time season season prior to planting out into the yard.
Select a location in full picture voltaic with some partial shade on the most popular a part of the day for mosquito plant. Leaves can develop to be merely scorched and look ugly. This grass is adaptable to most soil varieties, however the mosquito plant prefers moist loam-based soil that’s well-draining.
Rising mosquito crops from seed just isn’t going to be advisable as germination could very nicely be erratic. The vigorous progress and rhizomatic roots make it a foremost candidate for propagation from division.
Citronella grass is correct for rising as potted crops on account of it lets you swap crops into quite a lot of areas to fit your wishes. It’s doable you could ought to put money into bigger pots as your container crops outgrow smaller containers, or just divide the plant and replant a division inside the equal container and share the others with fellow gardeners. Container rising mosquito plant is an environment friendly threat for colder zones on account of it permits your plant to be merely moved indoors over winter to guard them from frost.
Citronella Plant Care
This grass is native to the tropics. Nonetheless, it is vitally adaptable to cooler climates once you understand one of the best ways to keep up it. Let’s discuss mosquito crops, data you’ll ought to know to deal with them, and sustaining their beautiful foliage in your yard!
Picture voltaic and Temperature
Citronella is primarily a sub-tropical grass with a various for full picture voltaic (a minimal of six hours) and heat temperatures. In terribly in type climates present shade or filtered daylight by the use of the most popular time of the day to forestall the leaves from scorching, ensure that it’ll get a minimal of six hours of daylight. In areas with rather a lot a lot much less warmth, give the plant additional mild.
Don’t let this plant’s tropical origins put you off rising it in case you are positioned north of the equator! Hardy to USDA zones 10-12, the citronella plant can tolerate temperatures all the way in which by which proper right down to 32ºF (0ºC) however should not be going to tolerate extended intervals of frost. Carry your citronella indoors in massive pots when the primary frost is forecast.
Water and Humidity
Present extended deep drinks when the soil begins to dry out or present irrigation by way of soaker/drip hoses to keep up fastened moisture. This grass prefers persistently moist soil however surprisingly can tolerate extended intervals of drought. Within the discount of watering by the use of the winter months however verify repeatedly to confirm crops haven’t completely dried out, considerably these grown in containers. A soaker hose or utterly totally different form of drip irrigation on the underside of the plant could also be utilized to assist in watering your yard.
Soil
For optimum outcomes develop citronella in a wealthy loam-based, free-draining soil or compost. Citronella may be very adaptive to most soil varieties and as shortly as established will do efficiently. The place soils are very poor, dig in some pure matter prior to planting to provide dietary nutritional vitamins and to assist with moisture retention. Soil pH have to be impartial, and efficiently drained soils are most attention-grabbing.
Fertilizing
Fertilize citronella yearly in spring with an impressive high-quality slow-release nitrogen-rich fertilizer. In case your plant is trying significantly lackluster, then a fast feed with a liquid nitrogen fertilizer or all goal plant meals should convey it as soon as extra to healthful rising habits. Along with a important inch of compost plenty of cases a yr all through the underside 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 ambiance. At most, maybe they’re going to income from the odd trim of brown leaves and deadheading each few weeks to forestall self-seeding. Crops grown in containers in cooler climates will income from a difficult prune to six inches (15cm) above the crown prior to bringing them correct proper right into a sheltered space or indoors over winter. New shoots will seem in spring prepared for going as soon as extra out of doors.
Propagation
This grass is unlikely to develop viable seeds until grown in optimum native local weather situations. Even with viable seeds, germination is erratic. The principle form of propagation for citronella crops is through division. The vigorous rising nature of citronella lends itself totally for division to maintain up plant measurement beneath administration. It’s furthermore an environment friendly method to maintain container-grown crops in verify.
Divide a healthful plant that could be a minimal of 2-3 years outdated and has developed an impressive root system. Dig up your entire plant and utilizing a seen, spade or knife divide the plant into as many divisions you require. Pot every division up individually or replant into new positions contained in the yard. Water efficiently till crops are established. If utilizing this technique, assure there’s ample time for the mannequin new mosquito crops to develop to be well-established prior to the primary frost.
Root cuttings are one different various once you happen to don’t want to dig up a complete plant. Root cuttings have to be taken in winter when crops are dormant and their roots are nutrient-rich, thus giving cuttings among the many greatest likelihood to develop. Merely take away soil from the underside of the plant till roots are seen and reduce off 2-3 inches of root with a clear pair of snips. Place the slicing correct proper right into a pot of compost and place someplace vivid and heat, retaining the compost moist. Shoots should look in early spring.
Troubleshooting
Citronella is an easy plant to keep up with few rising factors. Listed beneath are plenty of factors to look out for merely in case. Figuring out these will assist you defend a healthful plant.
Rising Factors
Your mosquito plant advantages from afternoon shade to guard the leaves from picture voltaic scorch by the use of the most popular time of the day. The scorched leaves are ugly and the hurt reduces the plant’s means to photosynthesize thus reducing the plant’s regular properly being.
Moist toes may also be an issue for citronella crops. Though they like soil to be persistently moist, heavy moist soil will in the reduction of the ability of the plant to take up dietary nutritional vitamins from the soil and may set off crops to deteriorate. It might even set off root rot and the demise of the plant. Develop citronella grass in free-draining, loam-based soil to keep away from this rising draw again.
Pests
This citronella tends to not be affected by pests.
Sicknesses
Commercially grown citronella could very nicely 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 supplies superb situations for blight to take preserve and may lead to a discount in each the amount and high-quality of oil extracted. Blight is way a lot much less frequent in dwelling gardens until crops are allowed to develop 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 ineffective or dying foliage to spice up air circulation. Copper fungicides can be helpful to assist forestall blight.
Ceaselessly Requested Questions
Q: Do citronella crops actually defend 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 picture voltaic or shade?
A: Citronella plant likes to develop in a vivid sunny spot, however will income from some shade on the most popular a part of the day to guard leaves from scorch.
Q: Is citronella an impressive houseplant?
A: Citronella is often confused with the citronella geranium or scented geraniums (Pelargonium citrosum, generally usually referred to as Citrosa geranium), which have a lemony scent and make nice houseplants. Sadly, the citronella geranium doesn’t repel mosquitoes. True citronella crops are massive grasses rising as rather a lot as 6ft tall and 4ft large and are unsuitable for lots of indoor progress for very extended. It does make for a gorgeous patio plant as most individuals have sufficient house on their patio for a fair larger species.
