Citronella oil, the savior all through the battle in opposition to the mighty mosquito! For people who reside in a heat humid native local weather then you will need 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, generally commonly known as citronella geranium, is simple on the attention and smells unbelievable, however it absolutely definitely does nothing all through 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 the leaves that repels bugs and it might solely be harvested through crushing the leaves. The existence of those grasses with their medium inexperienced texture alone won’t 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 sweetness merchandise offering them with an unmistakable lemon scent. Planting it’s an environment friendly means so as in order so as to add quite a few contrasting textures to your yard.
Fast Care Knowledge
| Frequent Decide | citronella plant, mosquito plant, citronella grass, geranium grass, and nardus grass |
| Scientific Decide | Cymbopogon nardus, Cymbopogon winterianus |
| Household | Poaceae |
| Peak & Unfold | 6ft x 4ft |
| Mild | Full picture voltaic to partial shade |
| Soil | Loam |
| Water | Fastened frequent watering |
| Pests & Ailments | 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 definately positively might very properly be assured you would possibly want found the widely known citronella plant, moreover referred to 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 quite a bit as 6ft from the middle of the plant. These flowers will readily self-seed however require mounted temperatures of between 20-22 C to germinate. Seeds are gentle brown, dry, and typical of grasses/cereals. Crops grown in cooler climates are quite a bit a lot much less further susceptible to provide viable flowers.
Mosquito crops will unfold naturally through creeping underground rhizomes and might 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 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 satisfactory to repel mosquitos like bug zappers however sadly this isn’t true. It’s the oil contained all by the leaves that’s utilized in mosquito repellents, however it absolutely definitely must be extracted first through the technique of distillation. For people who merely crush the leaves by hand you could launch some oil, however not satisfactory 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 quite a few mosquitoes away if you happen to’re working all through the yard! Finest to pair them with bug zappers for many fascinating outcomes.
The extracted mandatory oil of citronella mosquito crops has a powerful lemony perfume usually used to fragrance cosmetics, soaps, deodorants, and pores and pores and pores and skin lotions notably used as mosquito repellents. Citronella candles and oil burners are used at night time as mosquito repellent. The anti-bacterial and anti-fungal nature of the oil makes it fantastic for cleansing and disinfecting merchandise. Warning ought to be used when utilizing these merchandise. Inhaling the oil vapors would possibly 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 going to be edible, in distinction to its shut cousin Cymbopogon citratus, normally typically referred to as lemon grass.
You perhaps have purchased a ‘citronella plant’ with lacy foliage and a citrus scent, then it’s just about positively you would possibly want lemon-scented geranium, generally commonly known 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 ensuing from this fact are ineffective at retaining these pesky mosquitoes from biting. Sadly, members of the geranium household could also be fairly crops to your yard amongst fully totally different flowers, however their lacy leaves merely don’t repel mosquitoes efficiently!
Planting Citronella Plant
Mosquito plant might very properly 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 season season season earlier than 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 will not be going to be advisable as germination might very properly be erratic. The vigorous progress and rhizomatic roots make it a main candidate for propagation from division.
Citronella grass is sweet for rising as potted crops on account of it enables you to change crops into a wide range of areas to fit your wants. It’s potential 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 throughout the an similar 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 within the occasion you understand how one can take care of it. Let’s focus on mosquito crops, knowledge 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 range for full picture voltaic (no less than six hours) and heat temperatures. In terribly widespread climates present shade or filtered daylight through the most popular time of the day to forestall the leaves from scorching, ensure that it will get no less than six hours of daylight. In areas with quite a bit a lot much less warmth, give the plant further gentle.
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 through which all the way in which right down to 32ºF (0ºC) however won’t be going to tolerate extended intervals of frost. Carry your citronella indoors in giant pots when the primary frost is forecast.
Water and Humidity
Present extended deep drinks when the soil begins to dry out or present irrigation through soaker/drip hoses to take care of mounted moisture. This grass prefers persistently moist soil however surprisingly can tolerate extended intervals of drought. Scale back watering through the winter months however verify repeatedly to make sure crops haven’t completely dried out, notably these grown in containers. A soaker hose or fully totally different kind 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 is also 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 produce dietary nutritional vitamins and to assist with moisture retention. Soil pH needs 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 making an attempt significantly lackluster, then a fast feed with a liquid nitrogen fertilizer or all intention plant meals ought to convey it as soon as extra to healthful rising habits. Along with a predominant inch of compost just some cases a yr all through the underside of your plant will even work in lieu of fertilizers or all intention plant meals.
Pruning
Citronella crops require little or no pruning when grown of their pure atmosphere. At most, probably 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 hard prune to six inches (15cm) above the crown earlier than bringing them correct proper right into a sheltered home or indoors over winter. New shoots will seem in spring prepared for going as soon as extra outside.
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 absolutely for division to deal with plant measurement beneath administration. It’s furthermore an environment friendly technique to protect container-grown crops in verify.
Divide a healthful plant that’s no 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 all through the yard. Water efficiently till crops are established. If utilizing this method, 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 within the occasion you happen to don’t want to dig up an entire plant. Root cuttings needs to be taken in winter when crops are dormant and their roots are nutrient-rich, thus giving cuttings most likely the 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 just some factors to look out for merely in case. Figuring out these will assist you shield a healthful plant.
Rising Factors
Your mosquito plant advantages from afternoon shade to guard the leaves from picture voltaic scorch through 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 successfully being.
Moist toes could also be a problem for citronella crops. Though they like soil to be persistently moist, heavy moist soil will scale back the ability of the plant to take up dietary nutritional vitamins from the soil and should set off crops to deteriorate. It would 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.
Ailments
Commercially grown citronella might very properly be topic to leaf blight. That is notably prevalent in sub-tropical climates the place crops are grown densely to provide citronella oil. Lack of air circulation affords fantastic circumstances for blight to take protect and should 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 bolster 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 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 a wonderful houseplant?
A: Citronella is often confused with the citronella geranium or scented geraniums (Pelargonium citrosum, generally commonly known as Citrosa geranium), which have a lemony scent and make improbable houseplants. Sadly, the citronella geranium wouldn’t repel mosquitoes. True citronella crops are giant grasses rising as quite a bit as 6ft tall and 4ft large and are unsuitable for lots of indoor progress for very extended. It does make for a ravishing patio plant as most individuals have sufficient room on their patio for an excellent greater species.