Cymbopogon nardus

This is what they look like after about 6 mths of growth in the ground. I dug up a plot and gave some away. They look like the lemon grass plant. However when the stalks are examined the characteristic redness of the stalks show that they are the cymbopogon nardus. Lemon grass stalks are whitish in color.

Vitex trifolia

There was a discussion about this plant in the GCS forum. It was reported that the plant has some kind of properties in the leaves to help reduce the presence of the dengue carrying mosquito. I got cuttings from a kind GCS member when she was pruning her plant. They rooted easily and now I've transferred them to grow further in the CG. I will look for a place in the ground to plant it in the CG cos' understand the plant can grow into a tree.

Here's the link about the discussion ...
http://www.greenculturesg.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=16892&hl=Vitex+trifolia

Pelargonium citronella (Mosquito Plant)

I bought this from FEF at Hort Park and donated it to the CG when I was first involved in helping out in the CG. It was growing pretty well in full sun. When a shade was built over the area where this plant was growing, I noticed that the leaves started to grow a lighter green.
I also tried to propagate this plant via stem cuttings .... I tried to root the stems in soil as well as perlite .... both attempts resulted in failing to root the stems. I'm wondering if i should try again. Now I managed to transplant this to an area with full sun and it's suffering from transplantation shock!
My dear plant .... please don't die on me.

Cymbopogon nardus

About a couple of months back when I was first involved in CG I appealed for this plant and HL had gladly donated a couple of stalks to the CG. They are growing well in full sunlight and now I have enough to transplant them to grow them at the fruit garden gate area.

I also noticed that the leaves had been cut recently and discovered that someone from the group had been using the leaves to cook curry with it! She said the smell is very strong and fragrant and she loved that. She had already cooked curry twice it. And she and her family didn't die from eating the curry .... She didn't even want to use the lemongrass which was also growing nearby when I told her that the plant wasn't meant for cooking but it was a form of natural mosquito repellent. I wonder if I can confirm now that Cymbopogon can be used for cooking. LOL

Notice the stalks of the Cymbopogon. They are purplish in color while the lemon grass stalks are usually cream in color.

Citronella Plants for repelling mosquitoes.

There have been dengue cases around this area in Hougang and so I'm apprehensive when working in the garden. The future plan of this garden is to allow the children at the childcare centre to visit the garden and also to have a go at gardening. I'm thinking how to keep mosquitoes at bay. I came across the idea of planting Citronella plants to help repel mosquitoes and so went on to search for answers regarding the effectiveness of having these plants in the garden. Knowing that Green Culture has a forum board, I posted my question .... the link is here ... Citronelle to keep mosquitoes away.

Members from the board have been so kind and patient to help me answer the question .... though the effectiveness of the plant in the garden didn't seem too positive but I'm not giving up!

So far I understand ..... Pelargonium citronella (also know as the Mosquito plant) has some effects provided the plant must be shaken by the winds to distribute the citronelle fragrance and also a plant that looks like the lemon grass .... Citronella also know as Cymbopogon nardus.

Here are the pics of the two plants .....

This is the Cymbopogon nardus .... looking like lemon grass. Photo contributed by Dnn from Green Culture.

This is the Pelargonium citronella also know as Mosquito Plant.

Once I get hold of the plants, I'll show you where I planted them LOL