Why didn't my Citranila plant/ Mosquito plant come back? What can I do
by
Grma
+7
I trimmed two of these last year and they never came back. Does anyone know how to take care of them.
Im so bad with plants. Again Northern calif.
cold.
citronela and mosquito plants...are a variety of scented geraniums. Read up on geranium care and how to prune. The plants can get leggy reaching for light. The pruning can get you starts for new plants. Dip the cut end in a rooting hormone, stick it in some potting mix. Water. Yeah that’s it easy care.
Don't cut them back until spring, mulch the roots heavily-about 4-6 inches- if they're in the ground. If they're in pots overwinter them inside somewhere.
Plant in pot and take inside
They are not hardy in your zone. http://homeguides.sfgate.com/citronella-mosquito-plant-59002.html
Go to Google for directions.
They are only a perennial if in zones 9b through 11. If in other zones they will die and not come back unless you dig them up and bring indoors. Hope this helps.
If you have them in a pot and it gets too cold at night they won't survive outside. In a pot they are exposed to the elements compared to in the soil. In pots they are more apt to be affected by the weather.
I live in zone 7 I have never had one to live through the winter. I have to replant in the spring.