Before I explain you how to grow lavender in pots, let me just say that they are such lovely plants and attractive faster-growing houseplants. Due of their charming appearance, many people desire them in their homes. Let’s learn more if you want to cultivate them in a pot.
How Can Lavender Be Grown in Pots? Growing lavender in pots is simple, dependable, and it can be advantageous to bring them indoors during the winter to stay warm. Lavender grows quickly and needs plenty of water and sunlight to survive. To preserve their growth and appearance, lavender plants grown in pots also require pruning. Nevertheless, they are pruned to remove the wasted flowers so that they can reappear year after year in the same manner.
I myself have a lot of lavender that is flourishing both in pots and in the garden because I tested both methods and found that there isn’t a huge difference between them. While lavenders can grow more slowly in pots due to the limited nutrients, they can grow more slowly in gardens where they have more room to spread and so require more pruning.
Both methods delivered the flowers on schedule, and as you are aware, lavender plants produce more blooms the more room they have.
Beginners may easily take care of plants because all that is needed is good, fertile soil, frequent watering anytime our lavender plant gets thirsty, and a location that receives at least 6–8 hours of sunshine every day.
Yes, they grow in direct sunlight, which is why their growth is more rapid than that of plants that receive indirect or shaded light. Now that we are aware of some factors, let’s cultivate lavender in containers.
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Does lavender do well in pots?
Yes, lavender plants grow well in pots and other containers, and they can withstand some challenging environmental factors. Lavender in a pot is simple to cultivate and maintain, but you must remember to prune it when the time comes and to avoid overwatering. These plants are particularly well-liked for their vibrant flowers, and growing more of these in your garden is also made easier by creating potting soil.
There are numerous types of lavender that may be grown in pots or other containers, and their blossoms can be arranged into a variety of arrangements for decoration.
It is simple to cultivate them from seeds in pots, but for a quick method, you can also take cuttings, which may enable you to enjoy the next bloom if you do it right away. Fresh lavender seeds should be planted in the topsoil layer, lightly covered, and well watered so that the seeds can thrive in a humid environment that promotes the growth of sprouts.
Since my garden is overrun with more diverse plants and veggies than many of my neighbors’ lavender gardens are, I had to choose to cultivate my lavender in pots or large containers. Because overwatering could prevent your plant from growing, they require both regular pruning and misplaced water.
Does potted lavender come back every year?
If potted, two types of lavender—English and Lavandula x intermedia—can reappear each year. These potted lavender plants can survive below-freezing temperatures and recover from winters by growing again. If properly cared for and exposed to climatic circumstances that don’t significantly affect the plant or its leaves, these plants can live for many years.
Zone 5 is no match for our potted lavender, which may return every year and give us more lovely blooms. Lavandula latifolia, Lavandula stoechas, and Lavandula dentata are some of the other kinds. In the US and the UK, some have distinct names.
Zones 7 to 9 are typically suitable for Spanish lavender. particularly for Portuguese lavender, which can be grown in more zones between 7 and 10. While being hardy in zones 8 to 11, French lavender is not.
They will not thrive and will wither away if you try to cultivate them in colder climates outside of their natural zone. Potted lavender can be brought indoors, but no potted lavender will survive the winter if the temperature drops below freezing.
Some people contend that lavender plants can live up to 14 to 15 years with the right thorough care and continue to bloom during that time. The spent blooms need to be pruned so they can bloom and return the following season.
Even though the winter can be harsh this year, there are types of English lavender that thrive in colder climates. They come back every year after blooming and can withstand temperatures of 20 to 25 degrees Fahrenheit. The two types are Munstead and Hidcote.
I usually advise anyone looking to purchase lovely lavender to choose plants that will last well enough for many years. I’ve included links to lavender plants below.
How do you care for a potted lavender plant?
Regular watering, an acceptable temperature that isn’t too chilly, good sunlight, and soil that drains well are all necessary for caring for a potted lavender plant. It is necessary to keep lavender plants growing so that you can simply take care of them. Easy to grow and hardy flowering plants are lavender. Although they can tolerate drought, remember to water them if you want them to survive; otherwise, they may quickly droop and die.
Every few months, or whenever you notice longer growth, they need to be properly pruned because they grow bigger. For lavender plants, you also need a liquid fertilizer because as they expand, they need more nutrients and energy than potting soil can provide, which is why you need to feed the plants once a week. The fertilizer might make the bloom more vibrant and encourage it to grow other blossoms of this type.
The optimal conditions for growing lavender plants are full sunlight or a site that receives at least 7-8 hours of direct sunlight each day. Whenever the lavender plants feel dry, you must water them. Avoid overwatering them because doing so damages their roots and causes root rot and fungus infections. Always inspect the soil for two inches before watering, is what I would advise. Additionally, avoid watering soil that has water on it already.
Many lavender types do not survive the winter because they are unable to withstand the extreme cold. I usually suggest to my blog readers the varieties of English lavender that may survive the cold and grow each year. Although some of the types appear more endearing and robust, once winter arrives, they do not endure and have problems.
It is simple to relocate a potted lavender plant to a suitable area so it is not harmed by the cold. Lavender enjoys heat and despises cold climates, so providing a suitable temperature and atmosphere can increase their chances of survival in your home. However, sometimes it does survive the winter since they are put indoors promptly and given a warm temperature.
Personally, I used to store them in the garage. Lavender can survive there since it is warmer and more enclosed there. This is how you can keep them safe from the cold and snow. Additionally, you shouldn’t overwater them during the winter months because they can’t absorb it and their roots will decay as a result of the infection.
Additionally, you shouldn’t give them plant food during the winter months, and fertilization should only be done during the growing season.
Why is my potted lavender dying?
You must ascertain which of these causes has caused the dying of your potted lavender. There are several instances where different lavender kinds don’t endure the winters, causing them to freeze to death.
Second, they may be receiving too much water, which causes their roots to rot, or they may have an infection, which results in leaf drop or wilting, which results in the plant dying. Choosing the proper type of lavender is also vital.
The soil draining too slowly is another reason why potted lavender had problems. Clay-based soils have effects that limit water drainage, which causes an issue with root rot and could cause your plant to die. Lavender plants prefer soil that drains well without pausing too long at the roots.
Sometimes soil accumulates too much fertilizer or organic debris, which makes it difficult for water to drain and causes the water to linger on the soil for prolonged periods of time, which causes potted lavender plants to perish.
The plant may offer you warning indications when you notice this kind of problem, such as yellowing and browning of the leaves. If your plant’s roots become harmed, you should immediately replace the soil.
As you are aware, potted lavenders require a lot of sunlight for at least 6 to 8 hours, and if they do not receive enough light, they will not thrive and eventually wither away. Sometimes people take them to a place where there isn’t even 4 hours of direct sunshine because of the way the house is built or perhaps because there isn’t enough room.
As a result, the plant receives less sunlight and does not grow as well as when it receives adequate sunshine. Your potted lavender plant can be relocated to various settings so you can test which ones are best for your plant before settling on one.
There are other additional issues, such as the soil’s acidity, which should range from 6.5-7.8 and is typically favorable for lavender if it can be higher than 6.5. Low humidity may also result in water loss from leaves, which results in leaf browning. Another difficulty is that pruning your lavender plant during the incorrect season will cause it problems.
Growing lavender in pots from seed
You can see your plant’s development from seed to blossoms by starting lavender plants from seeds in containers. You must first buy lavender seeds from a reliable source, and you may either use a little pot or a large container to facilitate the germination of several lavender seeds. Because all you have to do is scatter some seeds on top soil, it is a simple and beginner-friendly procedure.
Then cover them with compost or perlite. I suppose you need to cover the seeds with a 0.5 inch layer of dirt. Lavender seeds should be gently moistened. You must regularly sprinkle light water on hot days to provide the seeds enough humidity during the early stages of germination. They should apply enough water to the ground to make it humid.
Lavender seeds need two to three weeks to germinate, and it’s best to move each seedling to its own pot once it’s between an inch and two inches tall. After that, they will grow more quickly. Fill each pot with high-quality fertilizer potting soil.
Every day, either provide water or inspect the soil; if it’s wet, don’t. A seed doesn’t need direct light or even indirect light during the early stages of germination; all it needs is a cool place to grow. This is why location is so important.
You may have seen those movies where many people root out cuttings using what appears to be a chemical process using rooting hormones. However, there are other approaches, such as poking two or three holes in a polythene sheet and covering your pot with it for the entire day.
This polythene will completely enclose the pot’s top. To hasten the germination of seeds, they will trap air and raise the relative humidity. Additionally, you can drill two or three little holes to provide your plant air.
In this manner, your plant might germinate in about a week. When using the stem cutting technique, the rooting hormone is applied by dipping the stem in the powder and then putting it in the pot. The rooting hormone accelerates the plant’s growth by increasing the amount of roots it produces.
In the end, seed propagation takes longer than stem cutting to complete. There are two main ways to grow plants: from scratch or from an existing one. Any of these propagation techniques can be used, and they both require some learning.
Best lavender for pots
Hidcote and Munstead kinds of English lavender, also referred to as pot lavender, are the best. Due to their mature size of over 18 inches (45 cm), which can be readily cultivated in pots and containers, these lavender can be potted. Other varieties of lavender that are larger than 35 inches (90 cm) in diameter cannot be cultivated in pots because they require a larger container to accommodate only one lavender. It is preferable to cultivate them on borders, lawns, or landscapes.
The two lavender cultivars I recommend can withstand extremely cold temperatures and can reseed each year. You should give potted lavender plants regular waterings and a spot with six to eight hours of sunlight when growing them.
Our potted lavender plants have expanded over the past four years, and the blossoms have returned as a result of shifting their location throughout the winter and protecting them from the extreme cold. In order for them to grow again the next season, I use a pruner to chop off some of the larger top leaves that are in the dormant stage and bring them indoors where the temps are warmer.
Lavender plants don’t like getting too much water or staying wet for a long time, therefore you should never overwater them. When they are overwatered, they experience fungal infections or root rot, which cause the browning or yellowing of their leaves.
Which types of pots are best for lavender? It is simple, doesn’t cause the water to remain for an extended period of time, can shield the roots of your plants from heat, and has more depth. Additionally, due to its capacity to become dry within a few hours of exposure to air, That has a minimal risk of becoming overwatered.
Terracotta and ceramic are two of my favorite pots for growing lavender; both have excellent drainage, but the ceramic ones look best when showcasing the plant inside. While ceramic ones are similar to terracotta ones with good draining and space but also have a design and look that people are eager to buy, terracotta ones are primarily very popular because they can get air outside which helps it to get dry and avoid any future overwatering.
As you are aware, the world is now capable of speaking, and if they don’t discover positive things about you or your home, they will speak negatively about you and them. I do not advise using any metal or wooden pots because they are easy to tip over, the water doesn’t dry out completely, and it can spoil.
If you’re on a tight budget, using a plastic pot as a temporary fix is a good idea, but for the sake of nature’s safety, I advise against taking any plastic pots.
Purchase terracotta lavender pots from Amazon.com
Purchase Ceramic Lavender Planters –
Link 1: Amazon shopping
Link 2: Buy things on Amazon
Best soil for lavender in pots
I advise producing your own potting mix before providing you with the list of soils for lavender in pots. It is simple, but if you prefer not to wait, I will provide a list of the finest soils for lavender plants.
Recipe 1 for Lavender Soil Mix for Container Growing
Recipe 2 for soils with lavender
You can compost flower and vegetable waste using any organic material, even cow manure. The soil drains the water instead of allowing it to remain there thanks to the perlite in the mix. The finest thing to hasten seed germination or rooting is a coco coir used in the second formula.
Here is a list of the top potted lavender soils:
WONDER SOIL, No. 1 Grass-Based Potting Soil
Compressed organic potting soil, number two
FoxFarm Potting Soil, No. 3.
Miracle-Gro Potting Mix, No. 4.
In pots, does lavender spread?
Lavender doesn’t grow well in containers, and the only way it can spread is if the flowering heads that bear it drop their seeds onto the container. Even with the larger existing lavender, there is a minimal probability that it will survive in full sun as there will be too much heat for 6–8 hours. This is because the seeds do not receive enough nutrients and can take a long time to germinate. Additionally, the initial stage of seed germination requires moist soil and humidity.
Since lavender cannot reproduce on its own, you must either collect the seeds from the spent blooms or buy it from a seller or nursery.
By cutting the lavender back after it blooms, you can prevent it from spreading. The plant benefits from this cutting by getting ready for the upcoming season. The plant grows quickly, and with the right nutrients and care, it can grow to be 30 to 40 inches tall (100 cm).
There are numerous sorts of lavender plants, and they spread based on their size. Some of them can be grown in pots or other containers at a reduced size.
For instance, a semi-dwarf lavender plant can expand to 20–24 inches whereas a dwarf lavender plant grows to about 24 inches. Many huge lavenders are used in gardens and other landscapes because of their quick growth and height of over 40 inches (100 cm).
Growing lavender in pots in texas
Texans who live in USDA zones 7a to 9a can grow lavender in containers. Spanish, English, and Portuguese lavender are all easy to grow in Texas since they can withstand cold winters and are hardy in the region to which Texas belongs.
English lavenders are better suited for cooler climes, so people who live in the northern portion of Texas—usda zone 6b—should try them out. If your area experiences too much cold, you’ll need to take extra care of your lavender plant in pots.
How often to water lavender in pots
The strong sunlight in zones 8, 9, 10, and 11 makes it necessary for potted lavender to be often watered.
Wrap Up
I hope you now understand the solution to the question, “How to Grow Lavender in Pots,” and if you want to read more, scroll down.
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