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Cymbopogon nardus ( L. ) Rendle , usually known as Citronella Grass , is a tropic perennial that thrive outdoors in USDA hardiness zone 9 to 11 . It belong to the Poaceae ( Gramineae ) family of plant life under the classification Cymbopogon .
This industrial plant comes from tropic sphere of Asia ( for instance , Southeast Asia , Singapore , India , Vietnam ) as well as South Sudan and South Africa .
Cymbopogon nardus is a perennial in a tropic setting , but it can be kept as an annual or as a houseplant in moth-eaten setting . It may also be overwintered or kept entirely as a houseplant .
You may also hear this industrial plant refer to as :
The reference to mosquito is that the flora contains a great quite a little of the all-important oil citronella , a instinctive mosquito repellent .
However , it is important to mark that even though this flora front quite a chip likeLemongrass(Cymbopogon citratus ) , it is not the same .
to boot , even though it is often denote to as Mosquito Plant , this is an inaccurate common name . Mosquito Plant is actually a type of odorous geranium .
In this article , we name and discuss the care of Cymbopogon nardus . translate on to learn more .
Cymbopogon Nardus Care
Size And Growth
Mosquito Grass is a tight - growing grass that grows in clumps , attaining heights of over 8′ feet with a spread of about 4′ animal foot .
It typically tops out at about 6′ feet tall when kept as a houseplant .
Flowering And Fragrance
The industrial plant has smooth , wide , green shoulder strap - like leave with a reddish base .
Mosquito locoweed may produce pale pink or tan blooms in a contributory tropical setting during summertime and early autumn . However , it is very improbable to bloom when keep as a houseplant .
Light And Temperature
Cymbopogon nardus prefers a semi - shade setting but also does well in bright , indirect sunlight for 6 to 8 hr day by day . In addition , its leaves may be burn by rough , direct sunlight .
This works is winter hardy in USDA hardiness zones 9 to 11 and can tolerate temperature ranging from 30 ° to 90 ° degrees Fahrenheit when establish in the landscape .
These plant should be brought indoors or protect against temperature extremes when planted in container .
Watering And Feeding
Citronella Grass likes slimly moist soil , but it must never stand in weewee . alternatively , use a soak and dry tearing method acting .
When the top couple of in of soil feels dry , water thoroughly . Do not water again until the top few inch of territory feel dry .
This plant is not a heavy feeder . An annual alimentation of slow - going plant food in the early bound should be plenty to keep it happy all year around .
However , you may not need plant food if you keep the plant as a houseplant and repotting with invigorated , fresh , high - quality potting dirt in the former spring .
If you do not repot or use a slow - release fertilizer , utilize a half - strength balanced fertilizer ( 5 - 5 - 5 or 10 - 10 - 10 ) monthly throughout the growing season ( bounce and summertime ) ; however , this is not really necessary .
Established repeated plants like fertilizer with a turn more nitrogen in a tropic landscape painting , so look for an NPK ratio such as 10 - 5 - 5 or 20 - 10 - 10 .
Soil And Transplanting
Citronella Grass likes light , loose , well - draining , loamy , slightly acidulous soil .
If you keep it as a houseplant , you must repot it annually in the springtime . Be sure to apply a container that provides copious room for growth and drain .
When repotting container plants , gently tamp the soil mixture around the roots to eradicate gentle wind pocket and establish good solution contact .
Take care not to compress the dirt . Water the plant exhaustively once it is repot .
When planting into the landscape painting , prepare a hole a couple of inch deep than need for the root clod . It should be about twice the width of the source ball .
groom a layer of coco coir or compost in the bottom of the hollow to provide a rich , well - draining fundament .
Surround the plant ’ roots with a combination of the aboriginal soil and an remediate garden mix as described above . Tamp the soil down thinly , H2O soundly , and add more soil as needed .
Grooming And Maintenance
trim back back bushed or damaged folio as needed to maintain a tidy appearance .
Because this tropic plant likes comparatively gamey humidity ( 40 % to 70 % percent ) , you may need to use a humidifier to prevent leaf brown in houseplants .
How To Propagate Citronella Grass?
The best mode to propagate this plant is through class , and this is best done in the early springtime .
If you are keep your plant as a houseplant when you repot you’re able to divide the antecedent and pot up the section in their own pots .
If you are keeping your Citronella Grass in the landscape , when it becomes crowded or spreads in areas where you do n’t want it , but dig it up , dissever the roots and replant it or pot it up as you wish to create more plants .
Cymbopogon Nardus Pest Or Diseases
This plant is mostly pest and disease - resistant ; however , it will become dependent to problems such as root rot and fungus gnat if you overwater .
To avoid this , ensure well - draining soil , install a reproducible soak - and - dry watering schedule , and never allow your plants to stand in water .
Here are some thing you call for to call up :
Is Cymbopogon Nardus Considered Toxic Or Poisonous To People, Kids, Or Pets?
The citronella oil incorporate in the industrial plant is a natural louse repellant . more often than not speaking , the oil can be used locally to repulse mosquitoes .
However , some the great unwashed have an allergic response to it . Therefore , use carefulness when applying citronella oil directly to your hide .
Citronella crude oil should never be consumed ; if the flora is eaten , it can be toxic to people , pets , and wildlife .
Consuming great quantities may have symptoms such as :
Luckily , the holding of Cymbopogon grass that make the vegetable oil repellant to mosquito also make it unpalatable , so it is unlikely that the great unwashed , pets , or wildlife will squander it .
Is Cymbopogon Nardus Considered Invasive?
Because this Gunter Grass does not scatter by rhizomes , it is not considered incursive ; however , it is a fairly aggressive flora and may compete with lower - growing plants , which may die out in its shade .
Therefore , cautiously design when planting Cymbopogon Nardus in tributary outdoor setting to foreclose it take over your garden .
Suggested Mosquito Grass Uses
Mosquito Grass is good when implant around porch , patios , poolside , and other preferences where people may sit in the eve . Its lifelike stinker scent repels mosquito .
The essential oils of this flora are anti - carcinogenic , anti - bacterial , and anti - fungal and have many medical uses .
It is also used in both commercial and family line medicine addressing a wide diversity of conditions , such as :
The vegetable oil may also be incorporated into candles to supply mosquito - loathly properties and is often added to cleaning products .
Cymbopogon nardus is grown and glean commercially for all of these useful purposes .
