Citronella herb: growing
Citronella forms delicate green tufts that have a delicate scent and repel insects. It is also used in cooking and as a means for losing weight.
Citronella herb in medicine and cooking
Lemon grass or lemongrass are other names for this plant. It belongs to the herbaceous perennials of the cereal family. This is a warm-loving native of the island of Sri Lanka. In temperate climates, it can live as an annual or winter at home in pots.
Citronella is used as food along with garlic.
This herb grows in bunches and can grow up to 1,5 meters. Its stem is tender, and the leaves are thin and long. A light citrus scent accompanies lemongrass, so it can be placed near a person: it repels insects.
Delicate bunches of lemongrass not only decorate the garden, they have very specific uses in medicine. Plant:
- removes toxins from the body;
- increases immunity;
- soothing;
- has a positive effect on metabolism.
The latter quality is valuable for those who want to lose weight. Lemongrass oil is used in cosmetology and aromatherapy. Greens are added to salads, used as a seasoning, and drunk as tea.
Heat-loving grass in the middle lane can be planted through seedlings. She loves high humidity and good drainage. Fertilized sand will be the ideal soil for it. She also needs a lot of sun and an area closed from the wind.
When planting seeds for seedlings, you need to soak them for 12 hours in a damp cloth, and then place them in the ground to a depth of 0,5 cm.After planting, the following steps are necessary:
- cover the pot with plastic wrap;
- place on a sunny windowsill without drafts;
- Plant the seedlings outside on May 5 at the earliest.
Before finally transferring the pot to the garden, the seedlings need to be hardened. Take the lemongrass outside for an hour, then for a longer period. If the bush is doing well, take out the pot completely.
Lemongrass should “move” back in mid-August when the nights get cold. You can keep the fragrant herb in a pot at home, periodically cutting off the herbs for cooking.
If the plant “sits” in a pot, then caring for it consists in watering and fertilizing. The grass loves moisture very much, so it should be watered often. To keep the soil moist, the planting should be mulched with peat or sawdust.
Fertilizer will be liquid organic matter or rotted manure
Lemongrass can be grown in temperate climates indoors, taking it outside in hot weather: the plant does not tolerate temperature extremes. This method allows you to enjoy the aroma of an exotic guest and its delicate taste.