The lemongrass in your grocery store’s produce aisle is often still alive. If the bulb at the bottom is intact, you can grow lemongrass from stalks by standing them in a glass of water, and roots tend to show up in 1 to 3 weeks.
To grow lemongrass from a store-bought stalk, pick a firm stalk with its base intact, trim the top, set the bottom 1 to 2 inches in water in a sunny window, change the water every 2 days, and plant it in rich, well-drained soil once the roots reach 1 to 2 inches.
From there, growing lemongrass at home is mostly a matter of heat, sun, and steady moisture.
A single $1 or $2 stalk can become a clump you cut from for months.
The Regrowing Timeline at a Glance
When you propagate lemongrass from grocery stalks, expect about 3 to 4 months from the jar to your first real harvest in warm weather. Cool rooms and short days stretch every stage. If you are stocking up, a good potting mix is the first thing I would pick up.
| Stage | Timing | What you’ll see |
|---|---|---|
| Day 0 | Purchase day | Trim tops, set bases in 1 to 2 inches of water |
| Week 1 to 3 | Rooting | White root nubs at the base, then thin roots |
| Week 2 to 4 | Leaf growth | Fresh green shoot from the center of the stalk |
| Week 3 to 5 | Planting | Roots 1 to 2 inches long, ready for soil |
| Month 2 | Establishing | New side shoots begin forming at the base |
| Month 3 to 4 | First harvest | Outer stalks about 1/2 inch thick and 12 inches tall |
Stalks started in late spring move fastest. If you root stalks in fall in the Northeast or Midwest, plan on slower growth indoors and a first good harvest the next summer.
Where to Find Stalks That Will Root and How to Choose Them
The best lemongrass stalks for rooting come from busy stores that restock often, and the one feature that decides success is an intact base. Freshness and thickness come next.
Where Can You Buy Fresh Stalks?
Asian grocery stores are my first pick. They sell a lot of fresh lemongrass, so stock turns over quickly, and the stalks are often sold whole with the bulb still attached.
Farmers markets are another good bet in summer, especially in the Southeast, Southwest, and California, where local growers harvest it outdoors. Those stalks may only be a day or two out of the ground.
Regular supermarkets work too, but check carefully. Many sell stalks in plastic clamshells, trimmed short and sitting in the cooler for a week or more.
Nearly all of these stalks are West Indian lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus), the cooking type.
East Indian lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus) is grown more for oil and is mostly sold as seed, so if you’re working from lemongrass seeds, check out my guide to growing lemongrass from seed.
What Does a Viable Base Look Like?
A stalk that will root has a hard, slightly swollen bulb with a flat, solid bottom called the basal plate. That plate is where new roots grow from.
Look for these signs:
- A pale white to light green bulb that feels firm when you squeeze it
- A visible ring or small brown nubs of old roots on the bottom
- Green or green-tinged outer leaves without a lot of shriveling
- No soft, mushy, or gray spots near the bottom
Skip stalks with a dried, papery, or hollow-feeling bulb. If the base has been sliced off flat with no plate left, that stalk won’t root, no matter how fresh it looks.
I’d buy 4 to 6 stalks even if you only want one plant. Some will fail, and extras give you a better shot at a full pot.
What Should You Try If Every Stalk Is Trimmed Too Short?
If every stalk in the store has the base cut away, try a different store before you try harder with the ones you have. Asian grocers are the most likely to sell whole stalks.
You can also ask the produce staff whether they have untrimmed stalks in the back. Some stores trim on site and may set a few aside for you.
If you can’t find usable stalks at all, live lemongrass plants from a garden center or nursery are a reliable backup. They’re common in spring in the herb section, and one plant gives you a head start of several weeks.
How to Grow Lemongrass from Stalks in Water
Rooting in water is the easiest way to propagate lemongrass from store-bought stalks because you can watch the roots form. You need a glass, clean water, and a warm, bright spot.
Trim the Tops Without Damaging the Base
Cut the tops off so each stalk is about 4 to 6 inches long. Shorter stalks lose less moisture, and the plant puts its energy into roots.
Peel away one or two dry outer layers if they look brown or papery. Leave the bottom alone. Don’t cut, scrape, or slice the base, because that’s where roots grow.
Save the trimmed tops for tea or broth. They still have plenty of lemony flavor.
Set the Bases in Water and Refresh It Regularly
Stand the stalks upright in a glass or jar with 1 to 2 inches of water. Only the bulb and a bit above it should be underwater.
Here’s how I’d set it up:
- Use a clean glass, narrow enough to hold the stalks upright.
- Fill with room-temperature tap water or filtered water.
- Place the glass in your sunniest window, ideally south- or west-facing.
- Change the water every 2 days, and rinse the glass when you do.
- Keep the room above 65°F if you can. Cold windowsills slow rooting.
Fresh water is the step people skip, and it’s the one that stops rot. Stale water turns cloudy and smells sour, and that’s when bases go slimy.
Watch for Roots and New Leaf Growth
Small white bumps should appear at the bottom within 1 to 2 weeks in warm conditions. Thin roots follow soon after.
You’ll also see a new green shoot pushing up from the center of the cut top. That’s a good sign the stalk is alive and growing.
If one stalk roots and another doesn’t, keep both going for up to 4 weeks. After that, a stalk with no roots and a softening base can be tossed.
Can You Root Stalks Directly in Soil?
Yes, you can propagate lemongrass straight in soil, and it skips the transplant step. The trade-off is that you can’t see the roots, so you have to judge progress by new leaves.
Plant an Intact Base in a Draining Mix
Push the trimmed stalk about 1 to 2 inches deep into moist, loose potting mix. I’d use a 4- to 6-inch pot with drainage holes so the soil dries a little between waterings.
A light mix works best here. Organic potting mix with a handful of perlite drains well and still holds enough moisture for new roots.
Firm the soil around the base so the stalk stands upright. A wobbly stalk struggles to root.
Keep the Soil Moist While You Wait for Growth
Keep the soil evenly damp, like a wrung-out sponge, for the first 3 to 4 weeks. Check it daily by pushing a finger an inch down.
Set the pot in bright light and warmth, the same as you would a water glass. A clear plastic bag tented loosely over the pot holds in humidity for the first week or two.
New green growth from the center tells you the lemongrass plant has rooted. A gentle tug that meets resistance confirms it.
When and How Should You Plant Rooted Stalks?
Plant your rooted lemongrass stalks into their permanent home once the roots are 1 to 2 inches long and outdoor nights stay above 60°F. Waiting much longer than that makes the roots tangle and harder to handle.
How Long Should the Roots Be?
Roots of 1 to 2 inches are ideal. At that length they’ve grown enough to take up water from soil but haven’t become a fragile, matted ball.
Stalks with only tiny nubs can go back in the water for another week. If roots grow past 3 inches, plant soon so they don’t twist together.
Handle rooted stalks by the stalk, never by the roots. Water roots are tender and break easily.
How Deep and Far Apart Should the Stalks Go?
Plant each stalk 1 to 2 inches deep, so the bulb and roots sit fully under the soil. Burying it deeper invites rot.
In the ground, space stalks about 24 inches apart. A mature lemongrass plant forms a clump 2 to 3 feet wide and 3 to 4 feet tall.
In a container, you can set 2 to 3 stalks a few inches apart in one large pot. They’ll fill in as a single, fuller clump.
Choose Pots, Soil, and Sun for New Plants
Lemongrass wants a big container, fast-draining but rich soil, and at least 6 hours of direct sun. Get those three right and the plant does most of the work.
Pick a Container with Room to Grow
For growing lemongrass at home in containers, I’d go with at least 5 gallons per plant. A 10-gallon pot gives a group of stalks room to form a real clump.
Fabric grow bags are a smart choice. They’re light enough to move indoors in fall, and the fabric lets extra water escape so roots don’t sit wet.
Plastic or glazed pots work too if they have drainage holes. For more on sizes and placement, see my guide to growing lemongrass in pots.
Provide Drainage, Rich Soil, and Plenty of Light
Fill containers with organic potting mix blended with about one-quarter compost. That gives the plant nutrients while still draining freely.
In garden beds, work 2 to 3 inches of compost into the top 8 inches of soil. Heavy clay, common in parts of the Southeast and Midwest, benefits from a raised bed or mound.
Give the plant full sun, 6 to 8 hours a day. In hot Southwest summers, a little afternoon shade keeps leaves from scorching.
What to Expect During the First Month After Planting
Expect slow top growth and a few yellow leaves in the first 2 to 3 weeks, followed by fresh green shoots once roots settle into soil. That pause is normal.
Help Transplants Adjust to Soil and Outdoor Sun
Water-grown roots need time to adapt to soil. Keep the soil evenly moist for the first 2 weeks so they don’t dry out while they adjust.
If you’re moving pots outside, harden them off. Start with 2 hours of morning sun in a sheltered spot, then add an hour or two each day over 7 to 10 days.
Jumping straight from a windowsill to full afternoon sun can bleach and burn the leaves. Wind is also hard on new stalks, so pick a sheltered spot at first.