Far Eastern lemongrass - cultivation and care

Far Eastern Schisandra is a special plant that has pronounced healing properties. In terms of medical value, it can be compared with ginseng. Also, culture is used for design purposes. To grow a beautiful flower, you need to properly care for it.

What does lemongrass look like, which family does it belong to:

The plant is a deciduous liana that reaches 15 m in length and has a trunk 2.5 cm in diameter. The crop belongs to the Lemongrass family. It is often called Chinese lemongrass. The shoots and leaves of the flower have a pronounced lemon aroma. That is why the culture got its name.

Schisandra has a number of beneficial properties.

Common varieties

When growing lemongrass at home, the following varieties are usually chosen for this:

• Firstborn. This variety is characterized by high resistance to frost, fungi and parasites. The plant has cylindrical fruits that reach 7 mm in diameter. Juicy pulp has a sour taste. When pressed on the fruit, juice is released.
• Garden 1. This is a fast-growing vine that is capable of producing a large harvest. Its fruits are characterized by a pronounced aroma.

Medicinal properties and history of use

The roots and stem of lemongrass contain many valuable components that bring great health benefits.

Since ancient times, people have known that the plant gives the body strength and helps to cope with fatigue. In China, lemongrass has been used for medical purposes for about 2000 years. In the Khabarovsk Territory, culture juice has been produced for human consumption since 1967.

The plant has medicinal properties and helps to achieve the following effects:

• reduce blood sugar parameters;
• cope with high cholesterol;
• improve the condition of cancer;
• expand peripheral vessels.

Home remedies should be combined with medications. You must first consult with your doctor.

Features of caring for lemongrass in the Far East at home

Growing and caring for Far Eastern lemongrass has certain characteristics. When planting a plant on a site, it is imperative to make a frame. To do this, you need to put pillars 2-2.5 m high. A wire should be pulled through them. As needed, the bushes need to be tied to them.

Temperature

The seedling needs a sunny and warm place. This crop is not recommended to be grown in the shade. Do not expose it to strong drafts or dry winds. The plant develops best at a temperature of + 22 ... + 25 degrees.At the same time, the culture is considered to be sufficiently resistant to frost.

In winter, it can withstand temperatures as low as -40 degrees

Lighting

The plant needs good lighting. Thanks to this, the foliage will retain a rich green color, and the fruit clusters will retain long stalks. To develop normally and look attractive, lemongrass should be illuminated by the sun for at least 8 hours.

Watering

In its natural environment, lemongrass grows in conditions of moderate humidity. Therefore, the bushes need to be watered on time. In dry weather, 6 liters of water should be used for 1 bush. From above, the soil must be mulched.

Spraying

In dry weather, the foliage of the plant should be sprayed as it dries faster than the roots.

Humidity

High humidity is harmful to the plant. Watering the soil is necessary after it has completely dried out. With a high occurrence of groundwater, lemongrass should be planted on a hill.

Priming

To grow lemongrass, you need to huddle it periodically. To do this, it is necessary to add some soil around the stem without touching the roots. It is also helpful to use mulch to help retain moisture after wetting the soil.

Top dressing

The plant must be fed with ammonium or potassium nitrate. Also, the bush can be fertilized with organic matter - manure or bird droppings.

The culture is fed, among other things, with ammonium nitrate

Features of care in winter and during rest

With the arrival of winter, young plants need protection from the cold. To do this, it is recommended to cover them with spruce branches or dry foliage. Adult bushes do not need to be insulated.

When growing a crop in indoor conditions in winter, it has to be illuminated. For this, special phytolamps are used. You should not fertilize the bushes during the dormant period. The number of waterings should be significantly reduced.

When and how it blooms

Far Eastern lemongrass blooms for 5-6 years of life. The buds bloom in May-June. The flowering process lasts 1.5-2 weeks. It has certain features.

Types of flowers

The culture is characterized by white buds. Before falling off, they acquire a delicate light cream color.

Flower shapes

In shape and appearance, lemongrass flowers resemble magnolia. In this case, the buds form inflorescences. Each of them contains 3-5 flowers.

Flowering period

The flowering period begins in May-June. It lasts for 1.5-2 weeks. The flowers grow on long stalks and slope slightly towards the ground.

The plant has white-creamy-pinkish flowers.

Pruning lemongrass when kept in a room

If lemongrass is a houseplant, it is recommended to prune it in the fall. This should be done before the dormant period begins. It is also permissible to carry out the procedure in early spring, before the start of the movement of juices. In this case, it is necessary to get rid of dry and damaged shoots.

How Far Eastern lemongrass reproduces

The plant can be propagated in a variety of ways. In this case, it is necessary to adhere to the instructions of specialists.

Germinating seeds

Planting lemongrass seeds is recommended in spring or autumn. Previously, they are immersed in cold and wet sand for 1 month. When planting, the seeds must be deepened into the ground by 2 cm. The distance between the bushes should be at least 15 cm. Sprinkle the seeds with peat or humus on top.

Rooting cuttings

When propagating lemongrass by the cuttings method in mid-June, you need to cut off young shoots that contain at least 4 buds. They must be deepened into damp ground by 4 cm. Then the sprouts should be watered and covered with foil.

Other options

Also lemongrass can be propagated by such methods:

• Shoots. To do this, you need to take one of the stems of the plant, separate it from the root and then plant it in a new place.
• Layers. In this case, you need to choose a strong shoot and bend it to the ground. Then you need to cover it with earth and systematically water the shoot. After a while, he will start up the roots. At this stage, the offshoot must be separated from the main plant and planted in a new place.

Transplanting at home - choosing the right container for planting

Mature bushes can hardly tolerate a transplant. Typically, this procedure is performed when there is a need to move the sprout to a permanent site. Schisandra has well-developed roots. Therefore, he needs a deep pot. Immediately after transplanting, the bush must be watered.

Details about medicinal properties, instructions for use

All plant fragments have healing properties. They need to be stored in paper bags or glass containers.

Roots

Lemongrass root should be harvested in spring or fall. Dried raw materials must be crushed. It contains a lot of essential oils, therefore it is permissible to use it for the treatment of varicose veins, head lice, hypotension. Root-based products are used to treat tooth decay and inflammation in the oral cavity.

The roots of the plant have medicinal properties

Vine

Lemongrass vine should be harvested in August. During this period, it contains a maximum of phytoncides. To preserve the raw material for a long time, it must be dried under a canopy.

Fruit

Also, a healing tincture can be made from the fruits of the plant. To do this, 20 g of fruit must be mixed with 100 ml of alcohol. Insist on the composition for 10 days. Then the berries should be squeezed out, and the product should be filtered through cheesecloth and infused for another 2 days.

An infusion can be made to treat pathologies of the nervous system and improve the functioning of the immune system. To do this, 10 g of fruits must be brewed in a glass of boiling water. The tool should be drunk 2-3 times a day, 1 tablespoon. This is done half an hour before meals.

Stems

The stems of the plant are harvested during fruiting. You can also harvest the bark of a plant. This is best done in the spring. It is worth making medicinal tea from young stems and bark. To do this, you need to take 1 liter of boiling water for 10 g of raw materials. The composition helps to cope with colds.

Far Eastern lemongrass is a beautiful and useful plant that is grown by many gardeners. To succeed in this, it is necessary to properly care for the culture. At the same time, it is required to maintain optimal moisture parameters, timely cut and feed the crop.