Herbs · Beginner friendly · 5 min

Split a lemongrass clump and pass it on

Give a rooted side shoot its own pot instead of starting from seed.

Reference photograph: Obsidian Soul · CC0. Display may be cropped. Not the offered plant or packet.

By Growhood · Updated 9 November 2026

Watch the technique

Follow this article's GCC timing and care advice alongside the demonstration.

Dividing a lemongrass plantBy Gammel Gardens on YouTube
Video notes
A clump-division demonstration, matching the rooted-shoot method in this article rather than promising success with a trimmed supermarket stalk.
Links only, with no embedded player or autoplay. Video link checked 10 November 2026.

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01
Choose a healthy clump and a gentle spell
Use correctly identified culinary lemongrass, Cymbopogon citratus, rather than an unidentified ornamental grass. Look for a vigorous clump with several shoots. Avoid dividing during a heatwave, cold snap or drought stress. A rooted division is generally more dependable than a trimmed shop-bought stalk with no living base.
02
Expose the outer shoots
Wear gloves because the leaf edges can cut skin. Water a dry parent beforehand, allow excess to drain, then lift a container plant or carefully loosen one side of an in-ground clump. Work in shade. Keep the main clump and its roots supported rather than pulling stalks out by the leaves.
03
Separate shoots with roots attached
Find an outer section with a few healthy shoots and its own roots. Use a clean blade or spade to separate the base, preserving as much root as possible. Remove dead material. If long leaves make handling difficult, shorten them modestly, leaving healthy foliage. Replant the parent promptly.
04
Replant at the original depth
Place the division in a drainage pot with fresh mix, keeping the crown at its previous soil level. Firm gently, water to settle and drain fully. Keep in bright shelter during recovery. Do not bury the growing point deeply, and do not leave the pot in a full saucer.
05
Watch for fresh shoots, then share
Keep the mix evenly moist but not waterlogged while roots recover. Gradually introduce morning sun and the final outdoor position as growth resumes. Wait for a firmly anchored plant with new growth before sharing. Explain that lemongrass becomes a large clump and needs more than a tiny decorative pot.

Growing timeline

Rooted divisions often settle over 2 to 4 weeks

You'll need

An established Cymbopogon citratus clump
Gloves
Clean sturdy knife or spade
Drainage pots
Fresh well-draining potting mix
Water and labels

Care & Gulf growing tips

GCC timing: coastal lowlands, inland cities, mountains and Dhofar have different seasons. Choose mild weather and healthy active growth, not a date alone. Dubai's cooler October to March period is a starting point for many outdoor projects, not a GCC-wide rule.
Best long-term home: a bright outdoor container or garden position with room to grow. Indoors requires substantial light; an ordinary dim room is unsuitable.
Protect young divisions from hot wind, severe afternoon heat and frost. Warm-weather growth does not mean a fresh division can tolerate an exposed summer rooftop.
Keep away from chewing pets; ingestion can cause stomach upset. Gloves protect hands from sharp leaf edges.
Share locally only after healthy roots and new growth are established. Label the species, propagation date and care needs. Inspect for pests, take cuttings only with permission, and check local plant-health rules before moving plants across borders.

Sources & further reading

Original Growhood guidance informed by these references. Overseas planting calendars are not GCC calendars.

Share what you've grown

Watch the technique

Growing instructions

Choose a healthy clump and a gentle spell

Expose the outer shoots

Separate shoots with roots attached

Replant at the original depth

Watch for fresh shoots, then share