Lavender is a whole genus of plants that includes about 60 species and belongs to the family Lamiaceae. It is a perennial shrub and an aromatic plant very popular both for its pleasant smell, used in all kinds of products and perfumes, and for its characteristic violet or lilac color. If you also like this plant and you want to have it at home, it will be good for you to learn how to grow lavender in a pot and how to care for it.
Table of Contents
When to Plant Lavender?
The ideal season to plant lavender depends on the local weather.
If you live in a warm or mild weather area, the best time to plant or plant lavender is in the fall.
If you live in cooler weather, it is best to plant or sow in early spring, after the frost has passed.
How to Grow Lavender in a Pot
Lavender can be planted outdoors as well as in an indoor pot, as it is a very low-demanding plant that can adapt to almost all kinds of conditions.
Get a pot or container about 12″ (30 cm) deep.
Prepare the soil and, to do so, keep in mind that lavender is not excessively demanding in terms of soil nutrients, but it is very important that it has good drainage. You can make a mixture with worm humus, peat, and coconut fiber in equal parts, to which you can add some perlite. This mixture of the substrate is rich in nutrients that although the lavender does not need it will appreciate and, in addition, it provides loose, aerated, and well-drained soil.
The night before sowing the seeds, water the substrate to moisten it.
Plant the lavender seeds in the morning. Bury them approximately 0.4″ (1 cm) deep and, if you put several of them in the same pot, respect about 1.2″ (3 cm) of separation between them.
Keep the container in a warm location, with a stable temperature of around 68°F (20°C), and water them every morning.
When the seeds germinate, between 15 and 40 days later, move the container to someplace where the seedlings receive direct sunlight, although of moderate intensity. Later, once the plants have grown, you can leave them in their container or transplant them to different containers or even outdoors.
How to Grow Lavender in a Pot: Care – Basic Guide
– Light: Lavender is quite demanding in this respect, and requires a great deal of sunshine to develop properly. Place it where it will receive at least six hours of direct light daily, although if you are in a very hot climate or with very intense sun, protect it from it during the worst hours.
– Climate: this plant has the ability to withstand frosts and cold winters, even though it originates from mild warm climates.
– Watering: This is a very rustic plant that has the ability to withstand long droughts. However, in the warm months, when the plant is in the growing season, it will be necessary to water it moderately. In the warm months, water approximately once a week.
– Fertilization: Over-fertilizing lavender can cause the flowers to lose their pleasant smell. It is sufficient to apply some organic fertilizer in the growing months.
– Pruning: Before or after the flowering season, it is advisable to perform an annual pruning of the lavender. This should not be too aggressive, without reducing the plant to less than half its size.
