Doing some trial and error trying to learn how to post a picture. I may also be posted in the wrong tic. Feel free to move it whereever. I can grow anything but computer technology is SOOOOO not my expertise. Anyway, a question This is a citronella plant I bought last summer. I have watered it and kept it in good sunnlight in my window. I just played it with it and untangled the plant. It is about 5 ft long . Someone said that citronella is a form of geranium. Is that true? Also should i cut the long vine and root it in water ? Will that give the main plant a chance to thicken out? Or would that hurt it? I am not too knowledgeble on geraniums or citronella. Thanks!
I know this plant as CITROSA, and it is indeed a Geranium. Mine tends to get rather leggy indoors during the winter, but the cutoffs are easy to root in water. I give mine a good trimming each spring and they grow back with vigor. Mine gets moved outdoors after the last frost date. They are very forgiving. Pelargonium citrosum (Citrosa Geranium, Mosquito Plant)
Citronella comes from a fragrant South Asia grass, Cymbopogon nardus. The geranium has the same scent, but less of the insect repelling properties. It still is a lovely plant, and well worth having, both for the foliage and the scent.
Marlingardener is correct DAJ24 ... the true Citronella is from the leaves and stems of different species of Cymbopogon (lemongrass). Citrosa is often (incorrectly) called Citronella because it has similar scent.
