Potted Lavender
• Sun - Lavender is a plant that loves the sun. Potted lavender will do best if it can spend the summer outside on a porch or balcony that receives ample amounts of sunshine. Some shade is OK, but the more sun the better. In winter, if the plant is brought inside, a south facing window will provide enought light to get the plant through its dormant period. Don't have any room outdoors? Lavender can be grown successfully indoors, but it will be best if it can get direct sun through a window for several hours each day. • Room - Most lavender varieties are medium to large plants. It is important that you plan on providing enough room for a quickly growing plant. Most lavenders will reach their full size in 3-5 years, so it is possible to get a few years of enjoyment from potted lavender before it gets too big to handle. • Winter - Unless you live in a climate that has very mild winters, you should be prepared to bring your potted lavender indoors for the coldest months. Consider that a potted plant outdoors will be much more sensitive to cold temperatures than the same plant in the ground. It is estimated that the soil temperature in an above-ground container will be as much as 15ºF (8.4ºC) colder than the ground. If you choose to leave your plant outdoors, insulate the pot with bubble wrap packaging material, either inside or outside the pot. Also, water early in the day, allowing enough time for the soil to drain well before the freezing night time temperartures. This will make a big difference in whether or not your plant survives the winter. Soil - The soil for your potted lavender must be able to drain very well. Place large gravel or stones in the bottom of the pot to ensure that the drain holes do not plug up. Mix sand and peat moss to make your own potting soil. Most commercial potting soils will not drain well enough and will put your plant at risk for root rot or fungal or bacterial diseases. Fertilizer - When mixing your potting soil, include a slow release fertilizer in the mixture. This will provide your plant with a steady supply of nutrients to keep it healthy. Another option is to fertilize in the spring and autumn with a good natural fertilizer such as bone meal or fish emulsion, applying to the top of the soil immediately before watering. Watering - Watering is more important with lavender in pots than lavender in the garden. Since the soil is mixed to drain so well, it will dry out quickly. The plants can dehydrate quickly and will be very hard to recover once they reach that point. Check the soil daily and water as soon as it drys but before any signs of stress to the plant. Repotting - Lavender plants should be repotted annually until they are fully mature. This will prevent them from becoming root-bound and will keep them growing and healthy. Repot in the early spring or early autumn as long as there is enough of the growing season left to allow the plants to get established in their new pots before going dormant for the winter. Mix soil as mentioned above and apply rooting hormone duringrepotting. Lavender Varieties - With all of the varieties of lavender available, it may seem difficult to choose one that will thrive in a container. Some of the smaller English Lavenders (Lavandula Angustifolia) that are suitable include 'Lavenite Petite', 'Irene Doyle' and 'Nana Alba'. Other medium and larger varieties will work as long as the pots are large enough and they have plenty of room and sunshine. Return to Growing Lavender from Potted Lavender |