Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus), also known as fever grass, is an easy and useful herb you can grow at home in a warm, tropical climate. Known for its refreshing citrus scent and flavour, lemongrass is commonly used in herbal teas, soups, stews, and natural remedies for fevers.
Surprisingly, you don’t need a big garden to grow it. With just a pot, good soil, and plenty of sun, you can grow lemongrass in containers on a porch, balcony, or your backyard.
In this guide, I’ll show you how to grow lemongrass in a pot and how to use it to enjoy the benefits.
Why Lemongrass Is Perfect for Tropical Container Gardens
If you live in a tropical region like Nigeria, you’re already in the ideal climate for growing lemongrass. This hardy grass loves heat and water, thrives during the rainy season, and survives the dry season.
It’s also:
- Easy to grow and fast-growing
- Pest-resistant and low-maintenance
- A natural mosquito repellent
- Useful in both cooking and traditional home remedies
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced gardener, lemongrass is a rewarding choice for your home garden.
What You Will Need to Get Started
To grow lemongrass in a pot, you will need the following:
- Fresh lemongrass stalks with the base intact (from the market, nursery, or a friend)
- A large container (at least 30 cm deep and wide)
- Well-draining soil (mix garden soil with compost or aged manure)
- A sunny spot that receives at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily
How to Plant Lemongrass in a Container
Step 1: Prepare Your Stalks
Get some fresh lemongrass stalks (technically called pseudostems) that still have their thick bases. Cut the leaves off and use them immediately. If you leave them on the stalks, they will dry up and be wasted.
The stalks will grow new leaves and new roots, so don’t worry if there are no roots at the base of the stalks.
Step 2: Prepare Your Pot
Fill your pot with rich, loose soil that drains well. You can add compost for extra nutrients.
Step 3: Plant the Stalks
Plant 1 – 3 stalks in the pot, burying them about 5 cm deep in the soil and spacing them about 10 cm apart. Gently firm the soil so that the stalks are stable and upright. Water thoroughly.
Step 4: Choose the Right Spot
Place the container in direct sunlight. A porch, balcony, or an open space in your garden corner works well. Lemongrass needs warmth and regular moisture to thrive. If possible, place your plant where it will receive rainfall as well.
Care Tips for Healthy Lemongrass
- Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist, especially in the hot, dry season. Avoid letting it dry out completely, but if it does, cut off the dry leaves and give your plant a fresh start.
- Feeding: Feed with compost or compost tea every few weeks to support lush growth. If grown directly in the ground, you do not need to feed, as the plant’s roots can wander in search of nutrients to take care of itself.
- Pruning: Trim dry or brown leaves regularly to keep the plant neat and to encourage new growth.
- Pests: Lemongrass is naturally pest-resistant, but occasionally check for aphids or ants.
- Diseases: If you notice yellow spots and dark brown streaks on the leaves of your lemon grass, it might be a fungal infection. Cut off the affected leaves or all the leaves, space out the stalks, and start again. Promote vigorous growth by feeding with compost. Avoid overhead watering, which causes moisture to get trapped among the leaves, encouraging fungal infections.
How and When to Harvest Lemongrass
Lemongrass is usually ready to harvest within 3–4 months. Look for thick, green stalks at the base of the plant. Use a sharp knife or garden scissors to cut stalks close to the soil level. The plant will regrow from the base, and you can harvest repeatedly.
Alternatively, you can pull up a plant from the clump and cut the stalk at a point close to the roots. Then replant the stalk in another pot for a new plant to develop. This is a great way to thin out your clump and avoid overcrowding in containers.
Harvest lemongrass in the mornings when the fragrant essential oils are concentrated in the plant.
Use harvested stalks fresh or dry them for later.
Uses of lemongrass
Lemongrass adds a burst of flavour to teas, jollof rice, fish, and soups. To use lemongrass in cooking, bunch up a few leaves and tie them securely in a knot.
Drop the bunch in the pot or pan when the dish is almost ready. Cover it to simmer or boil. After the sweet aroma of lemongrass has infused into the dish, remove the bunch of leaves before serving.
You can also chop up the leaves and infuse them with other herbs or on their own as tea. Strain before serving.
Some people use only the thick stalk where the oils are concentrated, and ignore the leaves.
In herbal remedies, lemongrass is decocted with neem leaves and used in a hot bath to reduce fevers.
To use lemongrass as an insect repellent, you should release the essential oils by crushing a few leaves in your palm or infusing them in water. Rub or spray the infusion on your skin to repel mosquitoes.
Lemon Grass vs Citronella
Edible lemon grass should not be confused with citronella (Cymbopogon nardus), which looks like it but differs in having a wider leaf blade and reddish pseudostems. Cymbopogon citratus has greenish pseudostems.
Both have a citrus fragrance when crushed, but citronella has a stronger scent and is primarily used in insect repellent and air freshener formulations. It could be poisonous to humans if consumed. I once mistook it for lemon grass and suffered for it.
And there you have it! My best guide for growing lemongrass at home in containers. So, how about planting a few stalks this season and enjoying fresh lemongrass?
Thanks for reading.
