Lemon verbena typically drops its leaves when temperatures dip below 40 degrees F, entering dormancy. It’s possible to overwinter lemon verbena outdoors in zone 8 and warmer, but it’s wise to help plants harden off. To do this, reduce watering a few weeks prior to the typical onset of below-freezing temperatures.
How do you rejuvenate verbena?
Cutting back a Verbena will rejuvenate the plant and encourage it to push out new growth, creating a full look. If a trailing Verbena looks leggy or the stems are sparse, cutting the plant back will allow it to grow back with a more compact and full appearance.
How do you save lemon verbena?
Store them in an airtight container out of direct sunlight. You can also strip the fresh leaves from the stems and dry them on a screen, in the microwave or oven. When the leaves are completely dry, store them in an airtight container out of sunlight. Be sure to label and date the container.
How do you care for lemon verbena indoors?
Lemon verbena should be watered regularly. You never want the soil to fully dry out, but you don’t want soggy roots either, which is why drainage is so important. You can use a general fertilizer every few months to encourage growth. Overwintering verbena.
Can verbena be overwatered?
Yes, you can overwater Verbena. Well-draining soil can help prevent overwatering—also, only water when the soil is dry to the touch. Plants grown in pots dry rather quickly, so container-grown Verbena will need to be watered more frequently.
Why is my lemon verbena dying?
Lemon verbena will die if its roots are continually wet. If you’re growing verbena in a pot, choose a large one. This should be least 12 inches in diameter for a young plant, though you need to be prepared to transplant up as the plant grows.
What’s wrong with my verbena?
Verbenas can suffer from a variety of problems, but most occur when they are grown in low light, poorly drained soil, or when the soil stays excessively moist from excessive watering. Poor air circulation from over crowded conditions can also lead to disease problems.
Is lemon verbena a perennial?
A native of tropical climates, lemon verbena is perennial in frost-free areas. To savor the flavor in regions with cold winters, try growing lemon verbena in a container you can carry indoors.
What can I do with my lemon verbena plant?
This lemon-scented herb has a number of culinary uses ranging from rich roasts to sweet citrusy desserts and jams. Lemon verbena can be used to make flavorful olive oil-based salad dressings, subtle lemon ice cream, and lemon verbena jelly, as well as season poultry dishes, salsa verde, and soups.
How do you propagate lemon verbena?
How to Propagate Lemon Verbena
- Collect Lemon Verbena Cuttings. Fill a 4-inch plastic or terra cotta pot with a mix of equal parts perlite, coarse sand and coir.
- Remove the Leaves.
- Apply Rooting Hormone Powder.
- Plant the Cutting.
- Cover With Plastic.
- Protect From Direct Sunlight.
- Check Moisture Levels.
- Check for Roots.
How often should you water lemon verbena?
Keep the surface of the soil moist, but don’t oversaturate the plants; The roots do not like to stay wet. When the top two inches of soil are dry, water and aim for a moisture level that resembles a wrung-out sponge. Plants grown indoors for the winter months can be watered once a week, but may be kept on the dry side.
Should you cut back lemon verbena?
Lemon verbena is a shrubby herb that grows like crazy with very little help. However, cutting back lemon verbena every so often keeps the plant neat and prevents a leggy, spindly appearance.
Does lemon verbena need full sun?
Lemon verbena prefers full sun and free-draining soil that has been amended with compost. Heavy clay or overly wet soils will cause the roots to rot. Plant it near the edge of the bed where you’ll be apt to brush by the foliage, causing the leaves to release some of their lemony scent.
Why are my verbena leaves drying up?
Your verbena plant may wilt with too much water or too little. Keep in mind that a verbena plant that is wilting does not necessarily always need water. Sometimes verbena plants wilt when they have too much water. Always check the soil dryness to determine if you should give the verbena plant some water.
How do you water lemon verbena?
Lemon verbena requires regular watering and well-drained soil. To water lemon verbena, soak the soil thoroughly to saturate the roots, and then let the soil dry before the next watering. Watering at the base of the plant keeps the leaves dry and helps prevent stem rot and other diseases caused by wet conditions.
How often do you water verbena in pots?
Containers are great for Verbena, as established plants are somewhat drought-tolerant, and they like to dry out between watering. Container-grown Verbena usually needs water once a week, but feel the soil and water when the top few inches are dry to the touch.
Will my verbena come back?
Verbena rigida and its cultivars die down at the end of the growing season and reappear in spring through spreading underground rhizomes. Colonies can be kept in check easily by lifting these shallow-rooted subterranean stems, which can be used to propagate plants or composted.
Why are my lemon verbena leaves curling?
its leaves are naturally puckered so maybe when growth is small or slow it tends to look like some kind of leaf curl disease. however, as it warms up and grows larger then it starts growing longer and larger and more “normal” looking leaves and is back in glorious shape all summer.
How do you get verbena to bloom again?
Deadhead faded flowers or blooms to ensure that blooming continues all through the gardening season. Some people do not regularly deadhead faded blooms. But, deadheading is necessary if you plant verbena for summer blooms. If the blooms slow, trim the whole plant by a quarter for a new show of flowers in 2 to 3 weeks.
How do you keep verbena looking good?
Pruning and deadheading:
Although most do not require deadheading to keep them blooming, you may want to trim back trailing varieties if they begin to overtake containers or crowd out other plants in the garden. Give them a light trim every now and then for fuller plants and more prolific flowering.
Can lemon verbena survive winter?
Rosemary, lemon verbena, and a few other perennial herbs are not reliably winter hardy. Extra winter protection can be provided by cutting plants back to within a couple inches of the ground after the first hard frost and covering the remaining stub with soil.
Elvira Bowen is a food expert who has dedicated her life to understanding the science of cooking. She has worked in some of the world’s most prestigious kitchens, and has published several cookbooks that have become bestsellers. Elvira is known for her creative approach to cuisine, and her passion for teaching others about the culinary arts.