How to Grow Lemongrass (Serai) at Home in Malaysia
How to grow serai in Malaysia from seed or market stalks: sowing, big pots, watering, feeding, pests, dividing clumps and harvesting lemongrass.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Days to harvest
- 120–180 days
- Updated
- 2026-11-04
Yes — lemongrass (serai) is one of the easiest herbs for lowland Malaysia once it is established. It loves heat, sun and rain, and a single clump can supply a household for years. To be honest about the start, though: most Malaysians grow serai from stalks, not seed. A fresh stalk from the market can root in water in 1–3 weeks and give usable stalks in roughly 3–4 months. Seed works too, but it is slower — expect about 4–6 months before you can cut thick stalks. The one key tip either way: give it a big pot, full sun and plenty of feeding, because serai is a large, hungry grass.
Quick facts
| Item | Lemongrass |
|---|---|
| Sun | Full sun, 6 hours or more |
| Sowing depth | Very shallow: surface sow and cover with a light dusting (about 0.2–0.5 cm) |
| Germination | 7–21 days; can be uneven |
| Spacing | 60 cm or more between clumps; one clump per large pot |
| Days to harvest | About 120–180 days from seed; about 3–4 months from a rooted stalk |
| Container | At least 30 cm wide and 30 cm deep; bigger is better |
| Support | None |
Seed or market stalks?
Stalks are the quick, reliable route. Choose fresh, firm serai with the base still intact (a little of the hard bulb at the bottom, ideally with traces of root). Trim the leafy top to about 20 cm, stand the stalks in a glass with 3–5 cm of water in a bright spot and change the water every couple of days. When roots are about 3–5 cm long, plant them.
Seed is useful if you cannot find fresh stalks with intact bases, or want many plants at once. The seed is small and light, and seedlings look like fine grass for the first weeks, so patience is needed.
Choosing a spot and container
Serai needs as much sun as you can give it — a sunny yard, a roof terrace or the brightest part of a balcony. In shade, stalks stay thin and the plant flops.
A mature clump is big, often around a metre tall with leaves spreading wide. In the ground, give each clump about 60 cm of space. In containers, use a large pot, polybag or tub at least 30 cm wide and 30 cm deep. Big pots full of wet soil are heavy, so on a balcony check the load first:
The leaf edges are sharp enough to cut skin, so place the pot away from walkways where people brush past.
Soil and potting mix
Lemongrass likes rich soil that holds moisture but drains:
- 2 parts garden soil or potting mix
- 1 part compost or well-rotted manure
- A few handfuls of burnt rice husk (sekam bakar) to keep it loose
How to sow lemongrass step by step
- Fill a tray or small pots with fine, moist seedling mix and level it.
- Scatter seeds thinly over the surface.
- Cover very lightly with a dusting of mix, about 0.2–0.5 cm, and press gently.
- Water gently with a fine sprayer so the light seed does not float away.
- Keep warm and moist. Place the tray in bright shade. Seedlings usually appear in 7–21 days.
- Give sun. Once seedlings are up, move them into morning sun so they do not stretch.
- Pot on. When seedlings are about 10–15 cm tall, usually around 6–8 weeks after sowing, transplant small clumps of 2–3 seedlings into their final large pot or garden bed.
Planting rooted stalks
Plant rooted stalks about 5 cm deep, upright, 2–3 stalks together if you want a fuller clump sooner. Firm the soil, water well and give light shade for a few days. New leaves from the centre are the sign that it has settled in.
Watering in hot and rainy weather
- Hot spells: serai is fairly drought tolerant once established, but it grows fastest with steady moisture. Water pots when the top 3–5 cm is dry; in full sun that may be every day or two.
- Rainy season: lemongrass handles heavy rain well in the ground. In pots, make sure drainage holes are clear so the base does not sit in water.
- Mulch around the base with dry leaves or rice husk to hold moisture in dry weeks.
Feeding
Lemongrass is a grass, and grasses love nitrogen. Mix compost in at planting. Once it is growing well, feed a balanced granular fertilizer every 3–4 weeks, scattered around the edge of the pot and watered in, following the label. Add a layer of compost on top every couple of months. Pale, yellowing leaves usually mean it is hungry.
Tidying and dividing
Old outer leaves dry out and turn brown. Pull or cut them away to keep the clump clean and airy. If the clump becomes messy, trim the leaves back to about 30–40 cm; they will regrow.
After a year or two, a potted clump fills its container and the stalks get thinner. Lift the whole clump, cut or pull it apart into sections of several stalks with roots, and replant in fresh soil. Extra divisions make good gifts.
Common pests and diseases in Malaysia
- Leaf rust and leaf blight: orange-brown streaks or spots, or browning leaf tips, especially in crowded, humid clumps. Cut affected leaves off, thin the clump and avoid overhead watering in the evening.
- Mealybugs: white, cottony clusters at the base of the stalks. Brush them off and spray with mild soap solution or diluted neem oil.
- Spider mites: fine speckling on leaves in dry weather. Hose the leaves down.
- Rot at the base: soft, smelly stalks in a waterlogged pot. Improve drainage and replant healthy stalks.
Overall, lemongrass has fewer pest problems than most vegetables.
Harvesting
Harvest stalks once they are about 1 cm thick or more at the base. Choose outer stalks, and either cut them at soil level with sharp shears or twist and pull them off with the bulb. Leave plenty of stalks in the clump so it keeps growing. Wear gloves and long sleeves — the leaf edges are sharp.
Use the pale lower part of the stalk for cooking. The green leaves are fibrous but fragrant, and many people tie them in a knot to flavour drinks or soups.
FAQ
My lemongrass seeds have not sprouted. What went wrong? The seed may have been covered too deeply or washed away. Sow on the surface with only a dusting of mix, and keep it moist and warm for up to three weeks.
Why are my serai stalks so thin? Usually not enough sun, a pot that is too small, or not enough fertilizer. Move it to full sun, feed regularly and divide crowded clumps.
Can I grow serai from stalks bought at the supermarket? Yes, if the base is intact and the stalks are fresh. Old, dried-out stalks rarely root.
Is lemongrass the same as citronella? No. They are related grasses, but citronella is grown for its oil, not for cooking.