Learning how to revive lemongrass is important for those who grow it as a houseplant. While this herb does well outdoors, it does not do well indoors. It needs a lot of light and has low water requirements. When you do want to use it indoors it will need to be repotted every year or so in order to maintain the appearance of the plant.
Repotting your lemongrass plants is not difficult. You just need to follow some basic guidelines when caring for them. The first thing that you will need to know is that you should never overwater your plants. They can actually handle up to one and a half gallons of water per week, but you should keep the water on the minimal side since they will not like having their roots waterlogged up.
When it comes to fertilizing your growing lemongrass, use a light dusting of compost as opposed to fertilizer. Fertilizer will often wear thin, causing the roots of the plant to rot from the inside out. You can dilute compost by adding a few teaspoons of baking soda to a gallon of water. This balances the mineral content of the soil and keeps it from being too acidic. Other gardeners prefer to add a tablespoon of organic rock phosphate to the water when preparing their fertilizer.
Another way to revive your plants after they have been dormant for a while is to gently mist the leaves with a mixture of half water and half Lysol, an herbal solution that is often used in herbal medicine. Misting will help bring much needed moisture back to the leaves and will revive their color as well. Some people prefer to leave their plants in a plastic bag in the sun for a few days to completely dry out the roots, but this may not be necessary if you are diligent about watering your plants.
If you are planning to use natural methods on how to revive lemongrass essential oil, you should water your plants only twice a day, using a cool, moist cloth. You should try to pinch the flower heads gently to let them open up. You should keep the tops of the leaves damp and only lightly mist the leaves with your humidifier or spray bottle. You will not want to over-water your plants since the oils will become rancid on your hands.
When the leaves are turning brown or yellowish, it is time to repot your lemongrass. Remove the plants from the pot and break or bruise the leaves. Put the broken leaves into a large salad bowl or container and saturate them with warm water. Attach a wide tooth or pin to squeeze the leaves to release the essential oil and allow them to steep in the water for about twenty minutes.
Then, remove the plant from the container and hang it upside down over a bowl of hot, but not boiling, water. Allow the lemongrass to steep for three to five minutes, strain through a wire mesh strainer into a large bowl, and repeat this process if necessary until the leaf pieces have dissolved completely. Set aside to cool. Wipe your hands with a slightly damp cloth to avoid the lemongrass essential oil from becoming airborne, then rinse your mouth with cool water. Use a clean, dry towel to rinse your face thoroughly.
Once you have thoroughly cleaned and sterilized your hands, you can move on to how to revive lemongrass plant roots. Once you have removed all of the tiny, brown leaves on the stem and allowed them to dry, you can gently tug on the stems until they snap open. If you have not yet added any new soil, carefully add one tablespoon of lime per 5-inch pot. Water slowly, taking care to keep the bottom of the pot moist. As the lemongrass plant grows it will produce small, black blossoms, which are very attractive. After a few years you will be able to easily revive the plant and use it again.
