You can grow lemongrass in pots almost anywhere in the US, even where winters dip well below freezing.
Plant one lemongrass plant in a 5- to 10-gallon pot with drainage holes, fill it with a rich, well-draining potting mix, give it at least six hours of direct sun, and water whenever the top inch of soil dries out. Then move the pot indoors before fall nights drop below 50°F.
The pot is the whole trick. Lemongrass is a tropical grass that dies in frost, and a container lets you treat it like a summer patio plant and a winter houseplant from one season to the next.
Once you get the pot size, watering, and timing right, a single clump can supply you with fresh stalks for years.
Why Do Pots Work Well for Lemongrass in Most of the US?
Pots work well because the lemongrass plant is a frost-tender perennial, and a container lets you move it out of the cold. In the ground, it only lives through winter in the warmest corners of the country. If you are stocking up, a pot with drainage holes is the first thing I would pick up.
You don’t need seeds to fill a pot, either. I often grow lemongrass from a grocery-store stalk, and my lemongrass care guide covers water, sun and feeding once it’s rooted.
The plant is also tidy in a container. It grows as a clump of arching leaves and spreads slowly outward from the center, so it fills a pot without running all over a bed.
What Changes in Cold-Winter Regions?
West Indian lemongrass is hardy only in USDA zones 10 and 11. That covers South Florida, Hawaii, and parts of southern Texas, Arizona, and coastal California.
In zone 9 (much of the Gulf Coast and the warm Southwest), a planted clump can survive with mulch and a frost cover, but it’s a gamble.
Everywhere else, from the Midwest to the Northeast and the Pacific Northwest, the ground option means replanting every spring. A pot changes that math. You grow it outside from late spring to early fall, then carry it into a sunny window or a frost-free garage.
I think a pot is the smartest way to learn how to grow lemongrass in any zone colder than 10. Even Florida gardeners like pots for patios, since the clump stays a manageable size.
Which Lemongrass Is Best for Cooking?
For cooking, I’d pick Cymbopogon citratus, also sold as West Indian lemongrass. It’s the type in grocery stores and the one most recipes mean. It grows as a dense clump that reaches about 2 to 4 feet tall in a season.
You may also see East Indian lemongrass, Cymbopogon flexuosus. It’s a bit more compact, sometimes with purple-tinted stems, and it works in the kitchen too. Skip citronella grass (Cymbopogon nardus) if you want stalks to eat; it’s grown for its oil.
Choose a 5- to 10-Gallon Pot with Good Drainage
A 5-gallon pot is the smallest size I’d use for one plant, and a 10-gallon pot gives you a bigger, more productive clump. Whatever you choose, it needs at least one open drainage hole in the bottom.
The material changes how fast the soil dries, so pick it with your climate and schedule in mind.
How Much Room Does One Plant Need?
Plan on one plant per pot. A 5-gallon container is roughly 12 to 14 inches across and works fine for a first season.
If you want plenty of thick stalks for cooking, step up to 10 gallons, about 16 to 18 inches wide. More soil holds more water, so a big pot also forgives a missed watering on a hot July day.
Potted lemongrass gets top-heavy as it grows 3 to 4 feet tall. A wide base keeps it from tipping in wind, which counts on balconies and rooftops.
Plastic Pots, Terracotta, and Fabric Grow Bags
Each material has a clear trade-off:
| Pot type | Dries out | Weight | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plastic | Slowly | Light | Hot, dry regions and busy gardeners |
| Terracotta | Fast | Heavy | Humid areas and gardeners who overwater |
| Fabric grow bags | Very fast | Very light | Root health and easy moving |
Plastic holds moisture the longest, which helps in the Southwest. Terracotta breathes and stays cooler, but a 10-gallon clay pot full of wet soil is hard to carry indoors in October.
I like fabric grow bags for lemongrass. They let roots breathe, they drain well, and they’re easy to lift. Just know you’ll water more often in summer heat.
What Potting Mix Does Lemongrass Need?
The best potting mix for lemongrass is rich, holds steady moisture, and still drains quickly. Moist soil with good drainage is its basic need.
Build a Moisture-Retentive Mix That Still Drains
Start with a bagged organic potting mix. It’s light, sterile, and made for containers.
To make it richer and fast-draining, I’d blend:
- 2 parts organic potting mix
- 1 part compost
- 1 part perlite or coarse pine bark fines
The compost feeds the plant and holds water. The perlite keeps air pockets open so roots don’t sit soggy. That balance gives you a well-draining potting mix that won’t dry to dust by afternoon.
Aim for a slightly acidic to neutral pH, roughly 6.0 to 7.0. Most bagged mixes already land in that range.
Why Garden Soil and Standing Water Cause Trouble
Garden soil packs down hard in a pot. It turns into a dense block that stays wet at the bottom and starves roots of air, and it can carry weed seeds and soil pests.
Standing water is the other problem. A saucer that holds runoff for days keeps the crown wet and invites root rot. Empty saucers 30 minutes after you water, and set pots on feet or bricks during rainy spells.
Plant a Nursery Start, Rooted Stalk, or Seedling
You have three ways to start: buy a live plant, root a grocery stalk, or sow seeds indoors. Live lemongrass plants from a nursery are the fastest, while seeds take the longest.
Set a Live Plant or Division at the Right Depth
Live lemongrass plants show up at garden centers in spring. Here’s how to plant lemongrass in pots from a start:
- Fill your pot with premixed soil to about 2 inches below the rim.
- Dig a hole the size of the nursery pot.
- Set the plant at the same depth it grew before. Don’t bury the crown deeper.
- Firm the mix around the roots and water until it drains from the bottom.
A division from a friend’s clump goes in the same way. Make sure it has roots and several stalks.
Root a Store-Bought Stalk Before Potting
Pick firm, fresh stalks with the bulb base intact. Trim the tops to about 6 inches and stand them in a glass with an inch of water on a sunny sill.
Change the water every couple of days. Roots appear in about two to three weeks; pot them once roots reach 1 to 2 inches long. You can regrow lemongrass from store-bought stalks with my full steps.
Some stalks never root because stores trim them too close. Start three or four so at least one takes.
Start Seeds Indoors Before Warm Weather
Lemongrass seeds need warmth, about 68 to 77°F, to sprout. Sow them in late winter, roughly 8 to 10 weeks before your nights warm up.
Scatter seeds on moist seed-starting mix, barely cover them, and keep the tray on a heat mat under a grow light. Expect sprouts in two to three weeks.
When seedlings are a few inches tall, move them into small pots, then into their big pot later. If you want to grow lemongrass from seed, I cover timing.
Give the Pot Full Sun and a Warm Spot
Lemongrass wants the sunniest, warmest spot you have. Sun builds thick, fragrant stalks, and heat drives fast growth.
Find at Least Six Hours of Direct Sun
It needs full sun, which means 6 or more hours of direct light a day. In shade, the plant stays thin and pale, with weak flavor.
A south- or west-facing patio is ideal in the North. In the hot Southwest, a little afternoon shade can prevent scorched leaf tips. Learn more about how much sun lemongrass needs.
Move Plants Outside After Nights Warm Up
Wait until nights stay above 60°F before the pot goes out for good. In much of the Northeast and Midwest, that’s late May or early June.
Harden the plant off first. Set it outside in light shade for a couple of hours, then add an hour or two of sun each day for about a week. Pull it in if a cold night sneaks back.
Keep Pots Out of Pets’ Reach
The ASPCA lists lemon grass as toxic to cats, dogs, and horses. Eating it mostly causes stomach upset like vomiting and diarrhea.
Cats love chewing grassy leaves, so I’d set the pot on a high plant stand or a fenced balcony. Indoors in winter, keep it in a room your pets don’t use. Read more in my post: is lemongrass safe for pets.
Water Thoroughly, Then Check the Soil Again
Water until it runs out of the drainage holes, then wait until the top inch of soil feels dry before watering again. Lemongrass likes plenty of moisture, and in a pot you supply all of it.