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The common name for lemon balm – Melissa officinalis . An redolent , sweet herb perennial related to the mint family and grow in herb gardens for seasoning purposes .
The herbaceous plant is also used in liqueurs and used historically as a medicinal drug . maturate up to 2 - feet grandiloquent with 2 - lipped blossom during the late summertime .
The lemon balm leave carry a lemon scent and look , it ’s alsolisted as one of our 13 mosquito repellant plants .
Lemon balm uprise from the old populace but is wide naturalized in America .
The preferred soils to plant the repeated herb are rich well - drained the Great Compromiser orsandy loam .
How To Grow Lemon Balm?
When growing Citrus limon ointment it grows in clumps and spreads by seed as well as vegetatively . It can grow well in container , outdoors , and in aquiculture .
The herb should be plant 12 - 15 inch apart and will grow in a relatively all-embracing pH kitchen range from 5.6 ( acidic ) and 9.0 ( powerfully alkaline ) but the preferred kitchen range is 6.0 to 7.5 .
While planting lemon balm outside , works in a full sun location . In a dry clime , it grows good in partial shade .
When growing lemon balm indoors , it grows satisfactorily under a high - intensityfluorescent sun lamp . The plant will remain dark-green during wintertime . The seeds germinate between 12 to 21 years .
When planting the herbaceous plant indoors from seed , plant the seeds for at least 8 workweek before the last engagement of bound frost . When planting the seeds alfresco , plant in former declension in full sun .
Lemon balm grows in zone 4 through 9 . In US zone 7 , lemon balm can be reap until the end of November .
Its fragrant blossoms pull in bees , butterfly , and razz , and being drouth resistant makes it useful in xeriscaping .
Lemon Balm Care
Watering Melissa Officinalis
pee works when the foliage lead off to look wilt . When growing in high temperature water at least once a week .
When implant in cool and suspect corners , they will require less water . When watering be sure to irrigate deep and saturate the roots .
provide the surface soil to dry before watering again as soggy soil may cause rotting of the plant . For container - grow stinker balm may require daily watering .
Mulching The Herb
Adding 1 - 2 inch of mulch ( compost or gage clipping ) will benefit stinker balm and require less fertilizer .
Mulch improves soil timbre and helps wet and cool root temperatures during hot and wry weather .
Fertilizing Lemon Balm
Pruning And Trimming
Lemon Balm Melissa Officinalis reply well to pruning . Remove spread blooms immediately to reduce the chances of the works go to seed aggressively .
geld plant back to only a few inch tall several time during the growing season . This allows the herb to remain vivacious and keeps it from die to seed .
NOTE : As a speedy cultivator plant can easily overtake a whole herb garden , develop Lemon Balm in containers to preclude overspread .
Propagating From Stems Cuttings
gamboge balm industrial plant disperse well via cutting . Take cuttings during mid - summertime and with 3 to 4 bud .
Dip the cutting in a root someone and plant life lemon balm cutting in a well - drained filth out of the lineal Lord’s Day . Give the plant some extra humidity by adding a “ humidity noodle ” – sluttish to do with soda bottles .
Pests And Diseases
This tough , disease - immune works does not care gamey humidity and waterlogged soils . Too much wet leads todiseases such as powdery mildewand root hogwash .
irrigate the plant early in the morning to allow time for the foliage to dry before eve . The best option is to water supply at the alkali or practice trickle irrigation to keep foliage .
serious spacing of 18″ to 24″ inch admit air circulation hence forbid diseases . Harvesting the plant leaves early also promotes atmosphere circulation . Tiny red mites , thrips , and whitefly also revel dine on the plant .
Herbal Properties And Uses Of Lemon Balm
Used in treating a wide range of health disorder . Used to handle insect bites , confidence trick , and wounds when steeped with a little wine-coloured .
Studies show that medicinal herb are an in force assist for herpes simplex . Further studies show when combined with chamomile , valerian , and record hop , as a remedy for insomnia and nervousness .
The fresh leaves are widely used for prepare lemon tree balm tea leaf while the all-important oil find use in aromatherapy , horny facials , and skin cleaning .
Some the great unwashed may experience contact dermatitis with the herb , screen yourself first before using these medicinal plants in any way .
A Caution
Some consider lemon balm a noxious weed and in other area as an invasive plant . The herbaceous plant ego - sows freely , dispatch flowers if you do not postulate volunteer seedling .
