How To Propagate Citronella Plants: 3 Effective Methods

To learn how to propagate citronella plants, there are three methods: You can use their seeds, propagate them by dividing, or by using stem cuttings.

Citronella or mosquito plants are super easy to propagate; just make sure you select healthy plants. Read this article to learn how to get new citronellas!

How To Propagate Citronellas by Division in 5 Steps?

To propagate citronellas by division, select a healthy plant, prepare the pot or planting hole, remove the plant from the soil, identify and split sections in the roots and plant each division separately. This is the most popular and quickest method.

The plants grow multiple stems attached to their roots, so you just need to split them. If you grow citronella indoors, this propagation method will save you much time.

1. Select and Water a Healthy Plant

Start by identifying a healthy plant. Propagate only healthy plants so that the new ones will grow healthily. Use a plant that is at least a year old. Check the stems and leaves of the plant and ensure they are free from diseases.

When you select the best plant to propagate, water it a day before you propagate it. Watering it will keep it hydrated and help it heal easier from propagation stress. Citronella plants may die if you propagate them when they are dehydrated.

2. Prepare the Pot or Planting Hole

After selecting and watering your plants, it’s time to prepare their pot or planting hole. Your new citronella pots should be well-drained. Remember to make drainage holes in the pot. Also, the planting hole should be deep enough to accommodate the entire root system.

When you have pots and planting holes ready, prepare the potting mix. The potting mix or substrate can be a mixture of peat moss and perlite for your citronella grass. For the plants to grow in the ground, simply use well-drained soil.

3. Remove the Plant From the Soil

At least 24 hours after watering your plant, it is time to remove it from the soil. Carefully dig out the plant and make sure that you do not damage the roots. When the plant is out, shake off soil or dirt from the roots.

If possible, rinse the roots so that you can see them easily. Remove dead roots from the citronella so that you will only produce plants with complete roots. If you do not remove the bad roots now, some of your citronella divisions will have only bad roots.

4. Identify and Split Sections in the Roots

If you carefully look at the roots and stems of citronella, you’ll notice natural divisions or sections in the plant. Each section has at least a stem and a collection of healthy roots. If you can identify two or three sections or divisions in one plant, you can use that plant for propagation.

Use a clean knife or any sharp tool to split the sections. Do not use your bare hands so that you do not harm the plant. Carefully divide the plant so that each division will have a stem and some roots.

5. Plant Each Division in a Pot of Planting Hole

It is good practice to wait a few hours for the fresh cuts or wounds in the divisions to dry out before planting them. When you see that the cuts are dry, plant the divisions in fresh potting mix or soil. Use a fresh substrate so that you do not expose the plants to microbes.

After planting the divisions, continue to water them until you see a sign of new growth. This signifies that the plant will survive the propagation. Shade the citronella division from the hot sun so it does not get too stressed.

How To Propagate Citronellas by Stem Cutting in 5 Steps?

To propagate citronella by stem cutting in five steps, you need to prepare the pot and potting mix, collect healthy stems from healthy and mature stems, prepare the cutting for propagation, plant the cutting in the substrate, and continue caring for it.

If you are growing citronella plants and love starting things fresh, this is the best method for you. Have you ever wondered what to do with citronella cuttings?

1. Prepare the Pot and Potting Mix

To grow citronella from a stem cutting, use a pot and potting mix. A suitable potting mix is a mixture of peat moss and sand. Remember to regularly fertilize the cutting, as the substrate does not have nutrients.

Please use a new substrate for the stem cuttings so you do not expose them to microbes or diseases. Also, remember to make drainage holes in the pot.

2. Collect Healthy Stems From Healthy and Mature Plants

After preparing the pot and potting mix, it is time to collect a healthy cutting from a healthy plant. Identify a healthy stem and cut it from the plant. The cutting should be at least 4-6 inches long. Also, the cutting should have some leaves, especially at the top.

3. Prepare the Cutting for Propagation

Start by pruning the lower leaves of the cutting, as those leaves may be too close to the soil. Also, dip the citronella cutting in a rooting hormone powder to grow new roots quickly. If the cutting looks dirty, rinse it with clean water and ensure you only plant a clean cutting.

4. Plant the Cutting

Make a hole in the substrate. Plant the citronella cutting in that hole and then use your hands to firm up the soil around it. When the cutting can stand on its own, water it.

If you have ever wondered how to propagate citronella in water, this is the step. You can start the cutting in water if you like. Remember to regularly replace the water with a clean one so the cutting can stay safe from harmful microbes.

5. Continue Caring for the Cutting

Keep the cutting in a bright and warm location or greenhouse. For potted cuttings, continue watering them for a few weeks until you see new leaves. When you see two or more pairs of new leaves, you can transplant the new scented geraniums to their permanent spots.

When planting citronella in water, you’ll see roots growing in less than 10 days. As soon as you see new leaves forming, plant the citronella in its permanent spot.

Continue watering your citronella until it is well-established. Also, do not fail to fertilize the plants after transferring them to their permanent spots.

How To Propagate Citronellas by Seeds in 5 Steps?

To propagate citronella by seed in five steps you should collect the seeds from your plant, prepare a seed tray and potting mix, plant the seeds, water and care for the seeds while they sprout, and then transplant the seedlings.

1. Collect Seeds From Your Plants

Usually, citronella grows seeds in summer. Collect the seeds in the fall when the seed heads are dry. If you collect them too early, they may not grow successfully. However, do not plant them yet. Store them in a dry, cool, and dark place until spring next year. You can start them indoors in late winter if you like.

2. Prepare a Seed Tray and Potting Mix

A suitable potting mix is a mixture of peat moss and perlite. You can also add sand if you like. Remember to have a fertilizer nearby, as the substrate does not have enough nutrients to grow citronella plants.

You can use any type of seed tray for your citronella plants. You can buy from nursery shops or online stores. Ensure that the trays permit water drainage. You can also use large pots for the seeds if you like.

3. Plant the Seeds

When the substrate and pot or tray are ready, sow the citronella seeds on the surface of the substrate. Each seed should not be too close to the other. After sowing them, cover them with sand. The covering should be around 1/8 inch deep.

4. Water and Care for the Seeds

Immediately after covering the seeds with sand, mist them with clean water. Ensure that the substrate is evenly moist but not soggy. Continue watering the seeds until they germinate.

Keep the pots or trays in a spot with indirect sunlight. If you like, you can cover the pot using a clear lid or wrap of plastic to grow the seeds in a warm spot. This plastic wrap also traps moisture and prevents the substrate from getting dry quickly.

Your citronella seedlings should be ready for transplanting in less than a month. They are ready when they have two or more pairs of leaves.

5. Transplant the Seedlings

When the citronella seedlings are ready for transplanting, transfer them to their permanent spots. Remember to be careful with their roots when removing them from the tray or pot. After transplanting them, continue to water them until they are well-established.

Conclusion

Growing a citronella mosquito plant to produce more plants will be super easy for you now. Before propagating the plants, remember these points:

• Citronella geraniums are very easy to propagate; you just need healthy ones.
• If you want to propagate by seeds, wait until springtime before you plant the seeds after collecting them in the fall.
• Plant citronella cuttings in a new substrate so you do not expose them to microbes in an old substrate.

Now, you know how to propagate citronella grass, right? Remember to use only healthy plants.