Domakihub Grow Lemongrass in Pots: Mediterranean Container Guide
Regrow supermarket lemongrass stalks in containers and keep them thriving through Greek winters.
Reviewed by Domakihub garden pros · 2026-06-23 · 5 min read
Lemongrass is one of the easiest aromatic plants to grow on a Greek balcony, terrace, or hotel courtyard — and you can start for free by rerooting stalks bought at any supermarket. The video above walks through the full process from rooting store-bought stalks to harvesting and dividing mature clumps, while this guide layers on the practical details specific to Greece: container choices, soil mixes, and the overwintering decisions that catch coastal property owners off guard when a rare frost hits. Whether you manage a holiday villa, a city apartment or a boutique hotel, a pot of lemongrass delivers fresh citrus fragrance, a steady culinary harvest, and a genuinely low-maintenance green feature.
Why Lemongrass Thrives in the Greek Climate — With One Catch
Greece's Mediterranean sun and warm, dry summers are almost perfect for lemongrass, which is native to tropical and subtropical Asia. Given full sun and consistent watering, a single stalk planted in spring can grow into a dense clump half a metre wide by late summer, producing the tall, aromatic blades used in teas, marinades, and Thai-inspired cooking.
The catch is winter. Lemongrass is frost-tender and dies back below about 4°C. Mainland Greece, northern islands, and even coastal Attica can see brief freezes in January and February. In pots, roots are far more exposed than in the ground, so an unprotected container on an open terrace can lose the plant overnight. The good news: containers are exactly what makes overwintering manageable — you can simply move them.
Choosing the Right Container and Soil Mix
Lemongrass grows a vigorous root ball and appreciates space. Start a single rooted stalk in a 20–25 cm pot, then move up to a 35–40 cm container once it fills out, which typically happens within one growing season. Terracotta breathes well but dries quickly in Greek heat; a glazed ceramic or a thick plastic pot retains moisture more evenly. Whatever material you choose, excellent drainage is non-negotiable — standing water rots the base of the stalks.
A mix of good-quality potting compost and around 20–30 % coarse perlite or fine gravel gives the drainage lemongrass needs while holding enough moisture between waterings. Avoid heavy, clay-rich soils. A slow-release granular fertiliser worked into the top layer at planting and reapplied in midsummer keeps growth strong without the salt build-up that frequent liquid feeding can cause in hot, fast-draining pots.
From Supermarket Stalk to Thriving Pot in Five Steps
- 1
Select and root fresh stalks
Buy lemongrass stalks with intact bases — the lower 5 cm should be firm and pale, not dried or brown. Remove any dead outer leaves, then stand three or four stalks upright in a glass of water so just the bases are submerged. Place on a sunny windowsill and change the water every two days. Within one to three weeks, white roots 2–4 cm long will emerge from the base. Once you see those roots, the stalks are ready to pot.
- 2
Pot up and establish outdoors
Fill your container with the prepared soil mix and make a shallow well in the centre. Nestle the rooted stalks together (planting a small cluster gives you a bushier result than a single stalk) and firm the mix around them, keeping the rooting zone just at soil level. Water thoroughly and place the pot in the sunniest spot available — south or south-west facing is ideal. For the first two weeks, water more frequently to help the young roots establish, then settle into a routine of watering when the top 3–4 cm of soil feels dry.
- 3
Water, feed, and harvest through summer
From May to September, lemongrass grows fast and needs consistent moisture. In peak summer heat, a large pot may need watering every day or two. Apply a balanced slow-release fertiliser once in May and again in July to support the heavy growth. Begin harvesting once the outer stalks are at least 1 cm thick at the base: twist and pull individual stalks outward from the clump, or cut them with a clean knife just above soil level. Always leave the inner, thinner stalks to keep the clump producing.
- 4
Divide when the clump outgrows its pot
By late summer a healthy clump may have ten or more stalks and fill the container completely. As the video above demonstrates, dividing is straightforward: ease the whole root ball out, use a sharp spade or large knife to split it into sections of three to five stalks each, and repot each section into fresh compost. Division refreshes the plant's vigour, gives you free starts for other pots around a property, and prevents the root congestion that slows growth in a pot-bound clump.
- 5
Overwinter safely for Greek conditions
Before the first cool nights of November, move pots to a sheltered spot — a covered terrace, a glass-in veranda, or indoors near a bright window. Cut the tops back to about 15 cm; the plant will die back to the base anyway and shorter stalks make moving easier. Water very sparingly through winter (once every two to three weeks is usually enough) and do not fertilise. On the mainland or higher elevations, bringing the pot fully inside is the safest option. On Crete or the Dodecanese, a south-facing wall with a layer of horticultural fleece over the pot on the coldest nights is usually sufficient.
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FAQ
- Can I grow lemongrass year-round outdoors in Greece?
- On Crete and the warmer southern islands, established plants in sheltered spots often survive mild winters with only fleece protection. Elsewhere in Greece — including coastal Attica, the Peloponnese, and most of the Aegean islands — brief frosts are possible and potted lemongrass needs to be moved under cover or indoors from November to March to guarantee survival.
- How long does it take from supermarket stalk to first harvest?
- Allow two to three weeks for roots to form in water, then roughly three to four months of outdoor growth before the stalks are thick enough to harvest meaningfully. A stalk planted in April in Greece is typically ready for its first harvest in July or August.
- My lemongrass stalks went brown and mushy at the base — what went wrong?
- Base rot is almost always caused by overwatering combined with poor drainage. Lemongrass needs moisture but cannot tolerate waterlogged roots. Check that your pot has large drainage holes, that the saucer is not holding standing water, and that you are letting the top few centimetres of soil dry out between waterings. Remove any affected stalks, let the pot dry out for a few days, and the remaining healthy stalks should recover.