how to winter citronella plant

Wintering Indoors You can move the potted citronella outside to a spot that receives full sun during the warmer spring to fall months once nighttime temperatures are regularly above 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Then you can choose to bring the plant indoors to a sunny spot for the winter only.

How do you prepare Citronella plants for winter?

Cut stems back by 4 inches with sharp pruning shears and remove the bottom leaves from the stems. Place them in a mixture of damp sand and peat moss in a separate container. Keep them moist and in indirect light until they start to grow roots. They will be ready to place outdoors in the spring with the mother plant.

Can Citronella plants survive the winter?

These plants are sensitive to cold and will die if they are exposed to frost. In warm climates where frost does not occur, citronella plants can remain outdoor year-round. In colder regions, plants may be moved inside for the winter until warmer temperatures return.

Should I cut back my citronella plant?

Keeping the foliage looking healthy and tidy with regular pruning can help with this. Citronella plants can reach 2 to 4 feet (0.6 to 1 meter) in height. ... The lacey, fragrant leaves also work well in summer floral bouquets so feel free to prune often. The stems also can be cut and dried.

How do you care for a citronella plant indoors?

Just water them deeply when the soil dries. They do well in full or part sun. Indoor Mosquito plants should be kept near a sunny window, preferably a south or west facing window. When indoors allow the soil to dry before watering thoroughly.

Is citronella perennial or annual?

Citronella geraniums will survive outdoors year-round as a perennial in USDA plant hardiness zones 9b through 11—i.e. much of the West Coast, the Southwest, and the Southeast of the United States. In other zones, they can be brought inside during the winter or left outside as an annual.

Is the citronella plant poisonous to dogs?

Citronella candles and oils are a popular mosquito repellent, but the citronella plant is toxic to pets. Use caution when using citronella products around your pet, and make sure they don't have access to any citronella plants in your garden.

Can you root citronella in water?

Citronella Geranium Cuttings

Softwood stem cuttings root more rapidly than semi-hardwood or hardwood cuttings. Remove any blooms from the cuttings and all the leaves except for the top two. ... Keep the stem cuttings in water until you stick them in potting soil.

Can citronella grow in shade?

Check out citronella as a plant that repels mosquitoes. Citronella is known as the mosquito plant because the citronella scent is infused into many candles and sprays. ... This plant loves a little afternoon shade and rich, moist soil.

Can you grow citronella from a cutting?

Citronella-scented geranium is easily propagated from stem cuttings. The cuttings should be 4 to 6 inches long, but more importantly they must have at least two leaf nodes -- the raised buds along the stem that leaves or new stems can grow from.

How do you multiply Citronella plants?

Cut 3 to 5 inches off the tip of a branch and remove all but the top two or three leaves. Dip the cut surface at the end into a dish of rooting hormone and sink it into the planting mix at least three nodes -- the thick parts of the stem where leaves and branches start -- deep. Put several cuttings in each pot.

Why are my Citronella plants dying?

A lack of light can also cause the leaves to turn brown: if the lower leaves are dying off while new growth at the branch tips appears to be reaching for the window or light source then you have insufficient light and you need to move the plant to a brighter window or supply supplementary light from a grow light.

Why is my citronella plant leaves turning yellow?

Citronella mosquito plants grow as tender perennials in USDA zone 7 and need winter protection. ... These plants do not tolerate overwatering. Too much water and the leaves begin to turn yellow before dropping off the stems. If unsure whether or not the mosquito plant needs water, then do not water.

How often should you water a citronella plant?

A good rule of thumb says it's best to water your citronella plant at least once a day, and In general, a citronella mosquito plant in good condition should use up to 30 inches of water per annum.

Is citronella plant poisonous to humans?

"Citronella," a misnomer, is the name given for a class of lemony-scented grasses. No evidence has been found for human toxicity. The base chemical of the plant, citral, is categorically rated low, slightly toxic, not acutely toxic or not rated. True citronella is derived from drying the plant Cymbopogon nardus.

What does citronella smell like?

Oil of citronella is a naturally occurring insect and animal repellent distilled from two grass varieties. It is yellow to brown and has a grassy/floral smell. ... Oil of citronella is also commonly found in foods and beverages as a flavoring agent.

Does a citronella plant need full sun?

Growing and caring for mosquito plants is easy. These plants prefer at least six hours of sunlight every day whether it is planted outside or indoors near a window but can also tolerate some partial shade. ... They are tolerable of a wide variety of soil as long as it's well draining.

Is citronella plant and lemongrass the same?

Though citronella grass may sometimes be called lemongrass, they are two different plants. ... However, citronella grass has reddish colored pseudostems, while lemongrass is all green. The oils can be used similarly, though they are not exactly the same.

Is citronella easy to grow?

The distinctive citronella aroma is a strong smell which masks other attractants to mosquitoes, making it harder for them to find you. ... Citronella is a perennial 'clumping' grass which grows to a height of 5 – 6 feet. It can be grown directly in the ground in climate zones where frost does not occur.

Why is citronella bad for dogs?

Besides having no mosquito-deterring citronella oil in it, as a member of the geranium family, they contain geraniol and linalool, both of which are highly toxic to dogs and could cause gastrointestinal distress.

What bugs does citronella repel?

List of pest-repelling plants

Plant	Pests
citronella grass	repels insects, may deter cats
citrosa	proven not to repel mosquitoes
clovers	repel aphids and wireworms
common lantana	repels mosquitoes

Do dogs like citronella oil?

Citronella oil has been long used as an animal repellent and is not harmful to dogs, humans or the environment. Fido dislikes the smell of citronella, and when used correctly, it can help keep your yard intact.