No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeArchiveGrow Your Own Bug Repellent with Citronella

Grow Your Own Bug Repellent with Citronella

Common Name: Citronella

grass

Spanish Name:

Citronela

Latin Name: Cymbopogon

nardus and C.

winterianus

Family: Poaceae

Geo-distribution: Originating in southern Asia, citronella is a fragrant grass that has adapted to most tropical countries around the world. It grows well in the coastal and mid-range elevations of Costa Rica.

Botanical Description: Both citronella and lemon grass are members of the Poaceae family and are similar in appearance. However, citronella has a stronger aromatic scent, which most of us are familiar with as citronella oil. Citronella grows much taller (two meters) than lemon grass, and the stems are red at the base of the plant. These plants produce long, flowering stems, which produce seeds annually.

Uses: Citronella oil is obtained from different Cymbopogon species. It is also present in several other plants, including geraniums and basil. The principal compounds of citronella oil are geraniol and citronellol, which are used in perfumes, household disinfectants and soaps, as well as insect repellents.

Taiwan, Guatemala, Honduras, Indonesia, Brazil, China, Sri Lanka, India, Argentina, Ecuador, Madagascar, Mexico and the West Indies are leading producers of citronella oil.

Preparation:

Household cleaner and disinfectant. Boil several chopped stems of citronella and three lemon rinds in two liters of water. Cool, strain and use for kitchen cleanup and general household cleaning.

Insect repellent. Finely chop one stem of citronella and one small cactus pad (known as tuna in Spanish). Add to one liter of alcohol in a clean glass jar with a tight cap. Shake the ingredients once a day for three days. Strain the liquid into a new container and discard the pulp. Apply generously and frequently to the skin to repel insects.

Citronella candles. Add several finely chopped citronella stems to one liter of melted candle wax. Simmer for several minutes to extract the citronella oil from the stem. Pour the melted wax into your favorite candle molds and discard the chopped citronella stems.

Notes: Citronella plants are sold in many nurseries across the country, or you may come across citronella growing in your neighborhood. In this case, carefully dig away several of the stems and their roots, which grow from the base of the mother plant. Be sure to trim off the leaves, while leaving the main stem intact.

You can plant these stems in plastic nursery bags full of good, fertile soil, leaving them in the shade for several weeks until they begin to form new growth. After several months, they can be transplanted to permanent sites around the house or garden.

Citronella does well in full sun and partial shade. Citronella plants can also be grown in large pots around the home or apartment to help repel mosquitoes. These hardy plants have no significant pest or disease problems and require no special attention._

 

Trending Now

Celebrate 128 Years of Costa Rica’s National Theater

The National Theater turns 128 this month, and starting Sunday, October 12, it opens its doors for a week of events that mix music,...

Costa Rica’s Hyatt Centric Escazú Finalist in GRI Awards

Costa Rica's hotel scene keeps building momentum on the global stage. The Hyatt Centric San José Escazú stands out as a finalist for Best...

Guatemala Accepts First Honduran Deportees from US

Guatemala has started accepting deportees from other countries as part of its deal with the United States, with the first group of Hondurans arriving...

Guatemala Joins Costa Rica and Ecuador in Building Anti-Gang Prisons

The Guatemalan government has put forward a new bill aimed at hitting gangs harder, with steeper sentences and a dedicated high-security prison, as the...

Costa Rica TSE Seeks to Lift President Chaves Immunity

Costa Rica's electoral tribunal has stepped up pressure on President Rodrigo Chaves by asking lawmakers to strip his immunity over claims of political interference...

New Poison Dart Frog Species Discovered in Peru’s Amazon

Peruvian researchers have identified a new poison dart frog in the Amazon rainforest, adding to the region's rich array of wildlife. The tiny creature,...
Avatar
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica