Citronella oil, the savior contained in the battle in opposition to the mighty mosquito! For people who reside in a heat humid native local weather then it is best 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. Nonetheless, 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, typically known as citronella geranium, is easy on the attention and smells implausible, however it absolutely completely does nothing contained in the battle in opposition to pests.
The true citronella plant is a huge tufted perennial grass with inexperienced leaves rising upright to 6ft tall (1.8m) and 4ft large (1.2m) throughout the precise circumstances. It’s the oil contained all by means of the leaves that repels bugs and it’d solely be harvested by means of crushing the leaves. The existence of those grasses with their medium inexperienced texture alone simply is not 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 strategy so as in order so as to add numerous contrasting textures to your yard.
Fast Care Information
| 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 |
| Mild | Full photograph voltaic to partial shade |
| Soil | Loam |
| Water | Mounted widespread watering |
| Pests & Sicknesses | Leaf blight |
All About The Citronella Plant
For people who uncover a plant at yard facilities or large self-discipline retailers with the botanical set up Cymbopogon nardus or Cymbopogon winterianus then you definitely undoubtedly positively might probably be assured you would possibly want found the well known citronella plant, moreover 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 circumstances are met for rising, the citronella plant will produce panicles of flowers on spikelets borne on extended flowering stems protruding as loads 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 loads a lot much less further susceptible to supply viable flowers.
Mosquito crops will unfold naturally by means of creeping underground rhizomes and might develop to be considerably invasive of their pure tropical native local weather with its vigorous rising habits, out-competing current flora and cultivated crops.
This grass is often grown in a summer season 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, however it absolutely completely must be extracted first by means of the technique of distillation. For people who merely crush the leaves by hand chances are you’ll 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 considered one of many pure methods to utilize a mosquito repellent, and that citronella scent could also be worthwhile in retaining numerous mosquitoes away in the event you’re working contained in the yard! Finest to pair them with bug zappers for many fascinating outcomes.
The extracted important oil of citronella mosquito crops has a robust 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 might set off an allergic response in some folks and citronella oil may additionally irritate delicate pores and pores and pores and skin. The citronella plant will not be edible, in distinction to its shut cousin Cymbopogon citratus, usually generally generally known as lemon grass.
You probably have purchased a ‘citronella plant’ with lacy foliage and a citrus scent, then it’s just about undoubtedly you would possibly want lemon-scented geranium, typically known as the citronella geranium, which is definitely a part of the geranium household. The lacy leaves scent very like this grass, however the leaves don’t comprise the insect repellent citronella oil and ensuing from this fact are ineffective at retaining these pesky mosquitoes from biting. Sadly, members of the geranium household could also be stunning crops to your yard amongst utterly totally different flowers, however their lacy leaves merely don’t repel mosquitoes efficiently!
Planting Citronella Plant
Mosquito plant might probably be planted all yr prolonged if grown in tropical, subtropical, or heat temperate climates. The vigorously rising mosquito plant acquired’t take extended to find out. In cooler climates wait till late spring to early summer season season season earlier than planting out into the yard.
Select a location in full photograph 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 will not be advisable as germination might probably be erratic. The vigorous progress and rhizomatic roots make it a main candidate for propagation from division.
Citronella grass is correct for rising as potted crops on account of it permits you to change crops into quite a lot of areas to fit your wants. It’s doable chances are you’ll ought to put money into better pots as your container crops outgrow smaller containers, or just divide the plant and replant a division inside the same container and share the others with fellow gardeners. Container rising mosquito plant is an environment friendly likelihood 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 in case you understand learn to take care of it. Let’s focus on mosquito crops, data you’ll ought to know to care for them, and sustaining their pretty foliage in your yard!
Picture voltaic and Temperature
Citronella is primarily a sub-tropical grass with a range for full photograph voltaic (not less than six hours) and heat temperatures. In terribly well-liked climates present shade or filtered daylight through the most popular time of the day to forestall the leaves from scorching, make certain that it’ll get not less than six hours of daylight. In areas with loads 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 one of the simplest ways proper right down to 32ºF (0ºC) however simply is not going to tolerate extended intervals of frost. Carry your citronella indoors in large 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 means of soaker/drip hoses to take care of fastened moisture. This grass prefers persistently moist soil however surprisingly can tolerate extended intervals of drought. Scale back watering through the winter months however affirm repeatedly to confirm crops haven’t completely dried out, considerably these grown in containers. A soaker hose or utterly totally different kind of drip irrigation on the underside of the plant can 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 earlier than planting to provide dietary nutritional vitamins and to assist with moisture retention. Soil pH ought to be impartial, and efficiently drained soils are most fascinating.
Fertilizing
Fertilize citronella yearly in spring with a wonderful top of the range 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 ought to convey it as soon as extra to healthful rising habits. Along with a principal inch of compost a few situations 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 surroundings. At most, probably they will 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 earlier than 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 circumstances. Even with viable seeds, germination is erratic. The principle kind 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 strategy to maintain container-grown crops in affirm.
Divide a healthful plant that’s not less than 2-3 years outdated and has developed a wonderful root system. Dig up all the plant and utilizing a noticed, 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 earlier than the primary frost.
Root cuttings are one different choice in case you happen to don’t want to dig up a complete plant. Root cuttings ought to be taken in winter when crops are dormant and their roots are nutrient-rich, thus giving cuttings among the many best 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 must look in early spring.
Troubleshooting
Citronella is an easy plant to take care of with few rising factors. Listed beneath are a few factors to look out for merely in case. Figuring out these will help you shield a healthful plant.
Rising Factors
Your mosquito plant advantages from afternoon shade to guard the leaves from photograph voltaic scorch through the most popular time of the day. The scorched leaves are ugly and the injury reduces the plant’s expertise to photosynthesize thus decreasing the plant’s fundamental properly being.
Moist toes might also be an issue for citronella crops. Though they like soil to be persistently moist, heavy moist soil will cut back the power of the plant to take up dietary nutritional vitamins from the soil and will 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 might probably be topic to leaf blight. That is notably prevalent in sub-tropical climates the place crops are grown densely to offer citronella oil. Lack of air circulation presents superb circumstances for blight to take maintain and will end in a discount in each the amount and top of the range of oil extracted. Blight is method a lot much less frequent in residence 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 could also be helpful to assist forestall blight.
Ceaselessly Requested Questions
Q: Do citronella crops actually shield 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 photograph 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 a wonderful houseplant?
A: Citronella is generally confused with the citronella geranium or scented geraniums (Pelargonium citrosum, typically known as Citrosa geranium), which have a lemony scent and make incredible houseplants. Sadly, the citronella geranium wouldn’t repel mosquitoes. True citronella crops are large grasses rising as loads as 6ft tall and 4ft large and are unsuitable for lots of indoor progress for very extended. It does make for an beautiful patio plant as most individuals have sufficient room on their patio for a a lot larger species.
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