LEMONGRASS FROM STALKS

 

 

To be honest, I wasn’t expecting them to grow after being left forgotten in my fridge for over three weeks.

The leaves and stalks were brown and dry.

To my surprise, new shoots grew from midsection like this after sitting in 3 cm water for two days.

 

STEP 1 – Trim away leaves and let base sit in plain water

 

 

TIP – Change water (tap) when they become murky

 

STEP 2 – Covered the rooting container like this to prevent mosquitoes from breeding

 

 

 

The midsection turned from brown to green and grew taller.

 

 

At the base, there were new green shoots and roots.

 

 

In only tap water, in a covered container, new growth was evident on leaves and roots.

 

 

With these roots, they can be planted in soil or liquid nutrients to grow better.

For faster growth, they should be planted in the ground or individually potted and not like ours.

But we do not have enough pots during the COVID19 stay in and have to let them be.

 

TIP – Lemongrass love heat and sun

 

 

 

HYDROPONIC LEMONGRASS

Plants in liquid nutrients set grew even faster.

We hang them on sunny windows like this.

 

 

With any hydroponic plants, extra care is needed to make sure mosquitoes’ access to the reservoir is sealed.

 

 

Maintain healthy roots with enough aeration for better plant growth.

 

 

 

BENEFITS & USES OF LEMONGRASS

 

 

• Cooling herbal teas (boil with Asian Pandan leaf, *optional * rock sugar)
• Steep stalks (smashed it) and leaves in hot water for a soothing tea
• Pound Leaves for extract as mosquitoes repellent
• A flavoring spice in South-East Asian Cruisines (seafood spicy broth, BBQ seafood, chicken, Thai green curry)
• UDAKO – soothing brew for indigestion (boil with 1 cup milk, sugar, grated ginger, mint leaves)