During the warm summer months, you can easily cultivate lemongrass in a pot on the balcony or even plant it outdoors. Since lemongrass is not hardy, the question arises in autumn: what to do with the perennial grass plant when there is a risk of frost?

Lemongrass is not hardy and very sensitive to frost

The heat-loving Asian spice should move to its winter quarters as soon as the temperatures drop below five degrees at night. In contrast to many other plants that have to hibernate indoors, lemongrass needs a warm location.

Optimally suitable is:

  • the heated conservatory
  • a heated greenhouse
  • a sunny and warm place on the windowsill

Since lemongrass needs a lot of light even in the cold season, the space must have enough daylight. If this is not possible, you can provide sufficient lighting with plant lamps.

Overwinter lemongrass in the pot

If you have tended the lemongrass in the herb garden during the summer months, you must put the spice in a bucket in the autumn. Since the spice is very sensitive to waterlogging, first fill the planter with a drainage layer of expanded clay (€19.73). Normal potting soil is suitable as a substrate, which you can loosen up with a little sand.

Dig up the bulbs carefully without damaging the roots. If the perennial has grown very large during the summer, you can now divide and multiply it. Plant the lemongrass deep in the ground, as the plant has a strong root system.

care during the winter months

Lemongrass is very sensitive to moisture and needs a dry climate. Water the plant only when the soil feels completely dry. Do not harvest lemongrass during the winter months and do not thin out the plant too much. Since there are enough nutrients in the fresh substrate, you do not have to fertilize the spice at first.

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Category:

Herbs