Lemongrass - lots of leaves, thin stem

Justin starts with ...
Whenever I try to grow lemongrass, I end up with a huge amount of leaves, but only a very thin stalk. I give it a hair cut every now and then, but it just grows back and the stem doesn't get any fatter. Any ideas why this might be? Thanks.

Pauline says...
I have the same with mine, and they are definatly ones sold as lemon grass 'herb'.

HappyEarth says...
how old is your lemongrass? It will take a year or two to develop thick stems. No -give it plenty of water and no haircut

hope this helps :)

Rich
www.happyearth.com.au

amanda says...
Hi John, U may want to get your plant checked - it doesn't look like any lemon grass I have seen? My current one from Vietnamese family in town - would u like me to post a photo?

Speedy says...
Hi Folks,
If you've grown 'lemongrass' from seed, chances are that it's not the lemongrass you want for stems for use in Asian food.

Looking at the photos posted here in this thread, it looks like 'East India Lemongrass' (Cymbopogon flexuosus).

Ive noticed this being sold as seedlings and seed in nurserytrade for the last 10-12 yrs.
It's a nice scented grass in it's own right, as are most Cymbopogon spp. I've grown/seen,
but it's just not the same as the true lemongrass (C.citratus).

I've only had the true lemongrass flower for me once in the last 25yrs of growing and using it.
I watched closely for seed, but there was none.

Get a division from someone growing the real thing or one from a nursery that has obviously been grown from division.

You should have decent stems to harvest within 6-8 months.

Replant from division every 1-2 yrs to keep fresh young vigorous plants on the go, depending on how much you use.

In humid climates it grows quickly but can get a rust in the lvs. and
lose vigour if the clump gets thick (usually after 2 1/2 to 3yrs).

Speedy says...
Burns well doesn't it!
I saw a whole 15m row of it go up once.
start one end, burned to the other in about a minute and a half.
Vwooosh!

Rahaidi says...
Hmm those pictures don't look like the lemongrass that I grow here in Perth. Seems too long and as you say too thin. Perhaps another variety of it.

They tend to grow very easy and vigorous here. I tend to divide them and mound them up when planting. I know they love chook poo. This will green them up for awhile. Too fatten them up leaves are cut about half way. They also like full sun to fatten them up otherwise shady areas will make them to leafy long and ...thin.

They're easy to propagate. Just go to your local local asian grocery or even coles and try to get ones that have a bit of stalk and simply dunk them in water half way and wait for it to grow some roots. Better if you do this in the warmer months though.

randey says...
hi amanda, i let the grass go after its been burnt and wait for the new shoots to appear then hit it with a bit of blood and bone and some poo. and away it goes. leave it for a few months to harden up and pick away. and yes amanda a good hot and sour soup aaargh i can taste it now.

randey says...
sorry amanda. friends of mine used to own a malaysian restaurant and every time we went there it was waiting for me. i will try and get his recipe although he doesn`t usually part with anything

Rahaidi says...
Thanks all the same R but I have them growing pretty well in my area NOR.

Rahaidi

randey says...
can but try amanda. see my note on the dragon page

culebra says...
I used to have what i believed to be the real deal. it was great stuff, excellent for stems. unfortunately it died last summer (too dry). I now have another type which produces moreso leaves rather than stems.

Brad says...
This link indicates that there are two edible lemon grasses:
"Only two of the 55 species of Cymbopogon are used as lemongrass. The East-Indian lemongrass(Cochin or Malabar grass) and the West-Indian lemongrass are typically used for cooking."

It seems like the West Indian is propagated and supplied by division, but the East Indian by seed.

Speedy says...
Hi Brad,
3 clumps in a 300m pot.
up end it and plant them out seperately.
They should come away nicely this time of year.
You should be able to use them this season.
To overcome rust, keep them vigourous and the rust will disppear til cold weather slows the plants down again and/or they get too big.
There's no real escaping the rust when clumps get congested or cold weather.

I usually divide off a clump and grow new plants every yr or so.
:-)

au0rey says...
Hi Speedy,

I have five small clumps of lemongrass which I got from kmart and flowerpower...I didnt know there are more than one type of lemongrass.

Mine has a bit of purplish tint on the young stems now. I am looking at the ones which grow fat and used for asian cooking. I hope i didnt buy the wrong one.

How do you differentiate between'East India Lemongrass' (Cymbopogon flexuosus) and lemongrass (C.citratus)? Is the latter the one used for asian cooking?

Would you be able to see it from the pictures?

Pictures - Click to enlarge
Picture: 1	Picture: 2

CinCin says...
Hi,

I have just cultivated two very large lemongrass plants that my father planted in my front garden - they had taken off and were almost to the point of taking over the garden!

I am wondering if new plant will grow in the area where I removed the lemongrass, as there are still a lot of roots left in the soil.

I've still got on plant left in the garden and I'd hate to lose all my lemongrass so I might try seperating some of it and putting some in a pot.

Do I just pull a bit out, trim it back and repot it?

Thanks
C

snottiegobble says...
The more I compare my original L G with 2 pots I bought recently the more I suspect I have been duped. These new clumps have very thin stems (amongst others) almost like normal grass( very weedy looking) & so quite unlike the original that has fewer but thicker stems & bases. However I have seen some Asian recipes where the grass leaves are tied into a knot & used for flavouring (instead of throwing away) so I suppose this other grassy L G could be used just in this manner?

amanda says...
Hey snottiegobble - I am into winter stodge recipes at present - but will do. Like your new address!

DebD says...
Thats good news really. Lemongrass leaves are the "gold". Harvesting it 4 times a year increases the oil content. Boil the leaves and spray your orchid with it. It is antifungal and antibacterial. Have a cup after you finished spraying the trees and golden staph will never touch you. happy lemongrassing

Mira says...
It must be different type of Lemongrass,you should try the one with fat tree and less leave they have them both type at bunning. good luck

snottiegobble says...
The real lemongrass likes good fertile moist soil except in winter when the dampness can kill it by rotting away the stems at ground level. In Vic. it was paramount that I dug it up, potted it & placed it in a dry area with little watering. Even here in Sth west WA my clump showed signs of stress by having rotting old outer leaves near the base. Fortunately the white inner cores used for cooking were unaffected. ( Yes, lemongrass chicken was on the menu, yum!
BTW I think it is safe to say that if your lemongrass goes to seed it is NOT the true culinary plant used in so many asian recipes!

Ann says...
hi all i have lemongrass for wholesale if anyone want to purcharse contact me .0448777474

Mira says...
Hi Auorey,

Just saw the picture of your lemon grass there, I am sorry to say that yours one are the woody skinny lemon grass that not used in Asian cooking. See my pictures of lemon grass attached on my previous one, the picture number 3 you can see the different of the lemon grass you have and I have. The lemon grass we use in Asian cooking are much more fat and never goes to seed, and the color is light green and not purple. Make sure when you buy get the fat one and light green color. I bet now you already found the real lemongrass cause I saw your comment wrote in 2009 ;)