Citronella Plant: Know tips to grow this natural mosquito repellent plant

Despite having the same name as the grassy plant used to ward off mosquitoes, Pelargonium citrosum, the citronella plant, is actually a scented geranium. The citronella plant is one source of citronella oil. The citronella plant emits a characteristic perfume similar to that of grass; however, it smells more lemony than grassy.

The best time to arrange your potted plants is from spring through early summer, and if you’re looking for a new plant for your yard this year, think about getting a citronella plant. The citronella plant has gorgeous pink blossoms and green, lacy foliage, making it perfect for window boxes or patio pots.

See also: Mosquito repellent plants: A natural way to keep the pests out

Citronella plant: Key facts

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Citronella plant: Description

Citronella is a member of the geranium family with a citrus scent in its leaf. When the leaves are crushed and the oil is applied to the skin, it smells great and may help to naturally repel insects. (The plant itself has no repellent effect on pests.) Lacy leaves give plants their medium green tint. They can be used as a summer border or one of several contrasting textures in a garden composition or a large mixed container, growing upright to 2 to 3 feet in height.

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How to grow a Citronella plant

1. Decide on your cutting. Cut two to three inches from a healthy stem using a pair of scissors or pruners. Two nodes are good to have in the cutting (the bumps that grow stems, leaves, and buds).
2. Remove all leaves save for two. Only leave two leaves on the stem, ideally towards the cutting’s tip, to allow the stem to root.

3. Insert the cutting into a tiny pot of soil, bottom end first. Keep the leaves moist; you can achieve this by misting them frequently or by covering the cutting with the lid of a cherry tomato container to create a greenhouse effect. A sufficiently moist environment will aid plant germination. In a month, you should have roots!

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Citronella plant: Maintenance

Although the citronella plant can be kept indoors in a pot, it is most likely to thrive outside. If you live in a cooler region, you should move it inside for the winter.

Light

Citronella plants benefit from more light because they can get leggy without it. A stronger plant with more blossoms is the result of proper lighting. They can tolerate direct sunlight, but they prefer brilliant, filtered light, which they can find, for instance, beneath a tree or on the west side of your house, where the sun won’t be present all day.

Soil

Citronella plants thrive in a variety of soil conditions. Choose a potting medium, such as a peat moss-based potting mix, that keeps the roots moist between waterings. A soil mixture of perlite, peat moss, and garden soil can also promote growth.

Humidity and temperature

Citronella plants are hardy and can withstand temperatures ranging from the high 30s to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. If the temperature is below freezing or above 90 degrees, bring the plant inside. Both circumstances have the potential to harm the plant. High moisture levels, according to Saltiel, can also cause them to rot; they favour humidity levels ranging from 40 to 70 per cent.

Watering and feeding Citronella plants

Water

Even if you have your citronella plant outside, don’t rely on rain to water it. Regularly inspect the soil and properly water it when the top few inches seem dry. Don’t put it off for too long. The lower leaves will turn yellow in extreme dryness, and the older leaves will fall off.

Fertiliser

Flowering in the summer can be encouraged by keeping a healthy plant with fertiliser. When citronella plants are actively growing in the spring and summer, it advises fertilising them once a month. In the fall, fertilising should cease. For optimum development, pick a balanced fertiliser with magnesium.

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How to overwinter Citronella plant

If you want to overwinter your citronella plant, then a good idea is to move them indoors when the night temperatures hit around 7 degree Celsius as if the plant stays outside below this temperature, it won’t be able to finely adjust with the indoor growing methods. When indoors, keep the plant where it gets bright light. Water the citronella plant when the top soil becomes dry and move the plant out when night temperatures increase above 7 degree Celsius.

Citronella plant vs citronella grass

• Citronella geranium and citronella grass are not the same things. Citronella geranium is botanically known as Pelargonium citrosum, and citronella grass is scientifically known as Cymbopogon nardus or Cymbopogon winterianus.
• Citronella grass grows in clumps and can grow to be quite large, up to six feet tall, and four feet broad when mature. It features tall, slender lance-shaped leaves that resemble grass blades.

Citronella plant: Uses

It has various uses as follows: –

• As an insect deterrent
• As a fungicidal agent
• To deal with parasite diseases
• To aid in wound healing
• To improve mood or combat weariness

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