By mumu
If you’ve ever made Thai curry or lemongrass tea from scratch, you already know how different fresh lemongrass is from the dried stuff in a jar. The fragrance alone — that bright, citrusy, almost gingery scent — is reason enough to grow your own.
The good news is that lemongrass does remarkably well in containers. It’s a tropical grass that loves heat, grows enthusiastically in summer, and can be brought indoors when temperatures drop. Here’s everything you need to grow it successfully in pots.
What Kind of Lemongrass Should You Grow?
There are two main types of lemongrass, and they’re both worth knowing about before you buy:
Cymbopogon citratus (West Indian lemongrass) is the one used in cooking — the thick, pale stalks you find in Asian grocery stores and use in curries, soups, and marinades. This is what most people want to grow, and it’s the most widely available type at garden centers.
Cymbopogon nardus (citronella grass) looks very similar but has a more medicinal, camphor-like scent. It’s used in candles and insect repellents, not cooking. Make sure you’re getting the right one if culinary use is your goal.
Container and Soil Setup
Lemongrass grows into a large clump — easily 3–4 feet tall and wide by midsummer in warm conditions. It needs a substantial container to match.
A 5-gallon pot works for a single plant early in the season, but if you want a productive plant that produces plenty of harvestable stalks, a 10–15 gallon container is much better. The bigger the container, the bigger and more productive the clump will grow.
Lemongrass isn’t fussy about soil, but it needs good drainage. A mix of quality potting mix with some added perlite or coarse sand works well. It prefers a slightly acidic to neutral pH — most potting mixes are fine without amendment.
Sun and Temperature
This is where lemongrass really shines as a container plant — it absolutely loves heat and full sun, which containers in a sunny spot provide in abundance.
Give it at least 6 hours of direct sun, and more if possible. In a hot, sunny position against a south-facing wall, lemongrass can grow remarkably fast during summer. It thrives in temperatures between 65–95°F (18–35°C).
The critical thing to know: lemongrass is frost-sensitive. Temperatures below 40°F (4°C) will damage or kill it. This is exactly why containers are ideal — you can bring lemongrass indoors before the first frost and overwinter it as a houseplant.
Planting Lemongrass in Containers
You have three options for getting started:
- Buy a plant from a nursery — The easiest and fastest option. Garden centers stock lemongrass in spring and summer.
- Propagate from a grocery store stalk — This actually works. Buy fresh lemongrass stalks (with the base intact), place them in a glass of water, and wait 2–3 weeks for roots to develop. Then pot them up. It’s slow but satisfying.
- Divide an existing clump — If you already have a large lemongrass plant, divide it in spring by splitting the root clump into sections and potting each section separately.
Plant in spring after the last frost, when temperatures are consistently warm. Fill the container with potting mix, plant at the same depth the plant was growing, and water well.
Watering and Feeding
Lemongrass likes consistent moisture — it’s a tropical plant and doesn’t appreciate drying out completely. Water when the top inch of soil feels dry, and water deeply. In hot summer weather, a large container may need watering every 2–3 days.
For feeding, lemongrass is a relatively heavy feeder during its active growing season. A balanced liquid fertilizer every 2–3 weeks from late spring through summer will keep it growing vigorously. Reduce feeding in late summer and stop completely when you bring it indoors for winter.
| Season | Watering | Feeding |
|---|---|---|
| Spring (establishing) | Moderate — keep moist | Every 3–4 weeks |
| Summer (active growth) | Regular — check every 2–3 days | Every 2–3 weeks |
| Fall (slowing down) | Reduce gradually | Stop feeding |
| Winter (indoors) | Minimal — once every 2 weeks | None |
How to Harvest Lemongrass
Lemongrass is ready to harvest once the stalks are at least ½ inch thick at the base — usually by midsummer. Here’s how to harvest without damaging the plant:
- Grab a stalk close to the base and twist-and-pull it free, or cut it off at soil level with a sharp knife
- Remove the outer leaves — the pale, tender inner layers are what you want
- The bottom 4–6 inches of the stalk is what’s used in cooking — the upper green leaves can be used for tea
- Only harvest outer stalks — leave the center of the clump to keep producing
- The more you harvest, the more the plant grows — regular harvesting encourages new stalk development
Overwintering Lemongrass Indoors
In most climates, lemongrass won’t survive outdoors through winter. But it’s easy to overwinter indoors:
- Before the first frost, cut the plant back to about 6 inches tall
- Move the container indoors to a bright, warm spot — a sunny window or under a grow light
- Water sparingly through winter — just enough to prevent the soil from drying out completely
- In spring, move back outdoors gradually once nighttime temperatures stay above 50°F (10°C)
- Feed and water regularly as growth resumes — it will bounce back enthusiastically
Final Thoughts
Lemongrass is one of those container plants that genuinely surprises people. You start with a small nursery plant in spring, and by midsummer you have a dramatic, architectural clump that looks beautiful on a patio and gives you an endless supply of fresh lemongrass for cooking.
Full sun, a large enough container, consistent watering, and bringing it indoors before frost. That’s really all it takes. 🌿
Questions about growing lemongrass in containers? Visit the Contact page!
— mumu, Green Garden Tips
