Lemongrass is a tropical plant that’s native to Southeast Asia. It’s hardy down to USDA zones 10 and 11, which means it can withstand pretty high temperatures and humidity levels. Lemongrass is also well-known for its versatility in cooking—it has a lemony flavor with hints of ginger and mint. You can use lemongrass in soups, stews, curries, salads…and even smoothies! But how much sun does lemongrass need? How do you know if your plants are getting enough sunlight? And what happens if they don’t have enough?
In this article, we’ll answer these questions and more so you can keep growing beautiful, healthy lemongrass year after year with minimal problems.
How Much Sun Does Lemongrass Need?
Lemongrass is a tropical plant that needs at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. It also prefers warm temperatures and prefers to be planted in full sun. Lemongrass will not tolerate cold weather, so it’s best to avoid planting lemongrass in areas where frost is likely to occur.
Additionally, lemongrass cannot be grown indoors as it does not thrive in indoor environments and requires plenty of space for its roots to spread out.
Does Lemongrass Prefer Full Sun?
Lemongrass is a tropical plant that prefers full sun. Unlike many other herbs, lemongrass can grow in partial shade, but it won’t thrive in that environment. If you live in a climate with hot summers and mild winters, plant your lemongrass in an area where it gets at least six hours of sun per day.
If you live somewhere with cold winters (like me!), you’ll want to keep your plants indoors for the winter or add artificial lighting if possible.
Can You Grow Lemongrass in Shade?
Lemongrass is not a shade plant, so it prefers full sun. But if you have partial shade in your garden, it can still grow well there. Just make sure that the plant gets about 6 hours of sunlight each day and you’ll be good to go!
If you’re growing lemongrass indoors on your kitchen windowsill or under a grow light, remember that it will do best in bright indirect light (like near an east-facing window).
Why Too Much Sun Can Be Bad for Your Lemongrass
Sun exposure will have a negative impact on your lemongrass. Sunburned leaves can turn yellow, fall off and even kill your plant if they are not treated quickly enough. If you notice the bottom of your lemongrass plants turning brown or yellow, it’s because they have been exposed to too much sun.
As mentioned earlier, Lemongrass is a tropical plant that thrives in warm conditions, so too much sunlight will make it uncomfortable for them to survive as well as cause damage to their leaves or even worse kill them altogether!
If you want things to go smoothly with your planting project then try watering every morning before 9 am or after 5 pm when there’s no direct sunlight hitting the soil where they’re planted.
Signs Your Lemongrass Isn’t Getting Enough Sunlight
While sunlight is great for lemongrass and they need plenty of it each day, sometimes the plant may not get enough sunlight.
Below are some of the signs to look for when your lemongrass isn’t getting enough sunlight.
- Lemongrass leaves will turn yellow, curl, and may become brittle.
- Leaves fall off.
- The new growth at the top of the plant becomes discolored into brown spots.
- The stems become discolored with dark brown to black spots and die back.
Where Does Lemongrass Grow Best?
Lemongrass is a tropical plant that grows best in warm climates. This means that if you live where the temperature drops below freezing, you will have to grow lemongrass indoors.
However, if you grow lemongrass outdoors in your garden it will thrive as long as it has rich soil and full sun exposure. Lemongrasses can also be grown in sandy soil because they don’t need much water to survive.
Conclusion
Lemongrass is a tropical plant and needs lots of suns so that it can grow. If you have a shady spot in your yard where you want to plant lemongrass, it’s best to choose another plant instead. If you have full sun exposure and want to try growing lemongrass there, then go ahead! Just make sure that the soil drains well (so there aren’t any standing puddles) and doesn’t dry out quickly because these conditions will help keep pests away too.
