Lavender is a favored herb to grow in every garden for years because of its beauty, hardiness, medicinal value, and fragrance. It is normal to see lavender grown in pots and even indoors. Are you planning to grow lavender in your garden? Did you come to this post to learn how to care for lavender? We found the answers for you.
Lavenders are easy to maintain and only require basic care. Learning what they need at the right time can help you in raising these lovely flowers with ease:
- Sunlight
- Watering
- Soil
- Fertilizer
Would you like to learn more about lavender and how to grow it? We will tackle these lavender needs in the main discussion. Continue reading!
How To Care For Lavender
Lavender has a distinct, light, and fresh floral scent. The sweet aroma is not overwhelming or tangy. With the beauty of clustered soft purple buds, lavender is a perfect addition to every home and garden.
Lavender is part of the Lamiaceae family and a perennial sub-shrub. The green leafy could last throughout the year under favorable conditions.
Lavender has many uses. This beautiful plant is ornamental and edible, and you can use it as flavorings in desserts and sauces. Aside from flavoring, it is also used as an herb in cooking and for essential oil. Dried lavender flowers are common in arrangements for displays.
It's very easy to maintain your lavender plant. Here are the necessary things to consider while growing these beautiful flowers:
Sunlight
Lavender needs a lot of bright light to grow and live longer. This plant requires a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight every day. If you place lavender indoors, the appropriate spot is near the window, facing south or west. You can also grow lavender underneath a grow light.
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Decrease the light your lavender receives if you notice green leaves dropping. Dropping leaves could be an indication of overexposure to sunlight.
Since lavender is from Mediterranean regions, the suitable average temperature this plant is 20 to 30 degrees Celcius during spring to early summer.
However, according to one forum discussion, the Lavandula augustifolia thrives in Zone 8 to 11 under heat from 45 degrees Celsius up to 50 degrees Celsius in Zone 11.
Lavender can not tolerate heavy, damp soil and prefers light, gritty, and free-draining conditions. Do research on plant varieties you wish to grow to provide them the proper care and maintenance they require.
Soil
Lavender does not like a lot of water, loves warmth, and hates dense soils. This plant requires a well-drained, well-aerated, and mildly rich in nutrients sandy loam soil with more clay in it.
Lavender likes soil with 6.5 to 8 pH acid levels and does not do well in humus soil, coniferous, or heather soil.
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Fertilizer
Lavender does not require fertilizer. Overfertilizing may cause fewer flowers and excessive leaf growth or kill the plant. However, it doesn't mean you don't need to feed the plant.
The best time to fertilize lavender is at the start of the growing season in the springtime. A well-aged compost on the soil surface will suffice. Lavender prefers nutrient-poor soil.
You may also feed slow-release fertilizer and leave it alone all year round. Avoid fertilizing during the fall season because the new growth will die in winter.
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Water
Newly planted lavender requires water every other day on the first week of planting to lessen the transplant shock. Water the plant once every three days during the first three months if you planted it in spring and summertime.
Lavender needs a generous amount of water every two weeks for potted lavender.
Established lavender needs 1 liter (35 ounces) of water once every two weeks during its growing season and if there's no rainfall. Do not overwater or dry out to avoid killing the plant, same scenario with lavender raised in beds.
There is no need to water lavender in winter if planted outdoors. Lavender indoors only needs watering once every 4 to 6 weeks.
Is Lavender Winter Hardy?
English lavender species are hardy among all lavender species and can endure frost, wind, snow, and animals such as deer and rabbits. These plant varieties are also robust to zone 5.
How Tall Does Lavender Grow?
Lavender can grow from one foot to three feet tall, depending on the plant variety you plan to raise. These plants produce green-grey leaves and blue-violet flowers.
What Are The Common Pests For Lavender?
Lavender is susceptible to many pests that could cause harm to your plant.
Listed below are some pests your lavender is prone to:
Aphids
Aphids are tiny insects that suck the sap of your plants and cause them to wilt. A colony of sap-sucking aphids can damage your plant and even quickly kill it.
Spider Mites
Spider mites are tiny, red insects with eight legs that crawl on your plant's underside of leaves and stems, producing white silk webs. These insects lay transparent eggs and can colonize your plant in three to four weeks.
Whiteflies
Whiteflies hide at the bottom of the lavender's foliage and suck the sap from the plant tissues, causing your plant to lose vitality. The dangerous part of a whitefly infestation is the mucus they leave on the leaves that can cause mold, and leaving the plant susceptible to plant diseases caused by bacteria and fungi.
Leafhoppers
Leafhoppers are tiny insects that have pierce-sucking art on their mouths. These insects feed off leaves while releasing toxins.
Leafhoppers can weaken your plant, and a colony can cause signifigant damage.
How To Control Pests?
There are several ways to get rid of aphids, spider mites, and other pests:
Rinse
Wash the plant under the sink and remove all possible spider mites, aphids, leafhoppers, and whiteflies. Washing using a sprayer, hose, or any force from water can remove an early infestation.
You can do this step before cutting the remaining infested part. After rinsing the plant, you can cut the infested part. Properly destroy the deadhead parts.
Insecticidal Soap
Mix one tablespoon of dish soap and vegetable oil with one liter of water to create an effective homemade insecticide. Spray the mixture directly on the pests hiding in the undersides of the leaves and on the stems.
Spray the solution in the morning or evening and avoid spraying in direct sunlight because it can cause the burning of leaves. You may also purchase ready-made insecticidal soap.
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Neem Oil
Neem oil is an effective natural insecticide that can kill pests, including spider mites, aphids, leafhoppers, and whiteflies.
You can use neem oil with or without infestation as a preventive measure against pests and insects. Follow the instructions on the label before applying neem oil to your plant.
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Alcohol
70% rubbing alcohol can eliminate spider mites. Test one part of the plant for two days and see if it will not burn the plant before using alcohol on other parts of the plant.
If the tested part did not burn, use cotton buds and dip in the alcohol. Gently wipe it on the spider mites directly to remove them from the plant.
Peppermint Oil
Peppermint oil is all-natural and effective for long-lasting protection of your plants against insect attacks and can control an infestation.
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Can You Grow Lavender In Water?
It is possible to propagate lavender in water. Take the stem cuttings and place them in water. The roots will start to grow in time. Once the plant roots have grown, you can take the cuttings and plant them into the potting soil.
Summary
We discussed the basic needs of lavender, such as water, sunlight, soil, and fertilizer. We also tackled the insects that can attack your plants and how to get rid of them.
Learning these vital things can help your plant thrive and live longer. We hope we helped you in the preparation of growing lavender in your garden.
If you need more helpful tips for growing lavender, you may continue reading the following posts:
Can You Grow Lavender From Dried Buds?
Why deer Don't Eat Lavender [And How To Protect Your Other Plants]