How To Maintain An Indoor Lavender Plant?

Lavender, a beautiful addition to any outdoor garden, can also thrive indoors if provided with the right conditions. This guide will show you how to choose the right lavender variety, whether full-size or dwarf, and provide essential tips on lighting, watering, and food.

Lavender plants require well-draining soil, high light, medium to low water, and slow release or liquid plant food. They thrive in low-humidity climates, as most homes maintain a humidity level of 40 percent or less. To ensure optimal growth, place lavender in a brightly lit window, and ensure it gets plenty of sunlight.

Lavender plants get zero shade in the wild and grow best in lower humidity, warm climates. Water lavender after planting and pull back on the water during cooler winter months. Choose the right container, give it as much light as possible, and follow a careful watering regime.

In warmer months, water only when soil is dry to the touch about 1 inch deep. A south-facing window is a prime option for growing lavender indoors. Pot lavender in quick-draining soil and ensure it receives at least six hours of direct sunlight per day.

In summary, lavender can thrive indoors if provided with the right conditions, including full sun, well-draining soil, and efficient lighting. By choosing the right lavender variety, following a careful watering regime, and providing ample sunlight, lavender can freshen up your home and add aroma and beauty to your garden.

What does overwatered lavender look like?

Overwatering can cause yellowing leaves, drooping, rotting odor, and sodden soil in both potted and earthed lavender. Underwatered lavender droops and the soil feels dry. To water potted lavender correctly, soak the soil well and allow the top inch to dry before watering again. Root rot is a common issue caused by overwatering, resulting in lavender plant dying. To save the plant, remove it from the soil, prune off affected roots, and replant it in well-draining soil.

How to keep fresh lavender alive?

Lavender, picked fresh from the field, can be enjoyed in a vase with half an inch of water, replacing the water daily. After a few days, it’s best to dry the bouquet to ensure its longevity. Another option is to hang the bouquet in your shower, releasing the lavender scent for a relaxing shower experience. To dry the bouquet, cut off the stems, wrap the rubber band around them, unfold the paper clip into an “s” shape, and hang upside down in a dark room. This helps retain the color and takes at least a few days to dry completely.

Why is my lavender plant dying indoors?

Lavender (Lavandula spp.) struggles often due to issues with soil quality and drainage. Excess soil moisture can cause fungal rot, which can lead to rotting plants. The frequent rains in the Pacific Northwest make it crucial to provide well-drained soil for lavender growth. Lavenders naturally grow in sunny uplands with well-drained soil, requiring full sun. If the soil is too moist and doesn’t drain fast enough, rot will take hold. To address this issue, read the article “Soil Matters to Lavender” for proper soil amendment.

To grow lavender in large containers, cut their mix with part Black Gold All Purpose Mix and part Black Gold Cactus Mix, and top the pots off with decorative pebbles. This will help ensure the lavender plant receives the necessary nutrients and nutrients for healthy growth.

Does lavender need a lot of room to grow?

Lavender is a fragrant herb that can be grown in raised beds, in-ground gardens, or containers. It thrives in dry conditions, so only water when the top 2 inches of soil are dry. To give young plants an excellent start, mix compost or other organic matter into the soil. Regularly feed lavender with water-soluble plant food to promote vibrant blooms. Harvest stems when they’re large enough for use, but avoid harvesting more than one-third of the plant at a time.

Lavender plants have a neat, shrub-like form and grow well alongside orange poppies in a rock garden. To ensure successful planting, set lavender plants 12 to 18 inches apart in an open area with full sun and good air circulation. Choose strong, vigorous young lavender plants from Bonnie Plants®, a trusted source for home gardeners.

What is the lifespan of a lavender plant?

Lavender plants can survive for 10-15 years with proper care, and pruning is recommended every year after flowering. Shear back the plants to half their size to stimulate new growth and a bushier, vibrant plant. Lavender has various uses, including potpourri, aromatics for shaving creams, colognes, perfumes, vinegars, sedatives, and is good for oily skin. Most lavender is started from cuttings from the mother plant, but direct seeding is not recommended due to low germination rates and a time from seeding to transplanting.

Is lavender hard to keep alive inside?

While it is not optimal to cultivate lavender indoors, it is possible to do so with the appropriate conditions, particularly if the objective is to sustain the plant through the winter months before returning it to an outdoor setting in the spring.

How do you keep lavender plants indoors?

Lavender plants thrive indoors in a south-facing window or with a minimum of three to four hours of direct sunlight. They should be rotated weekly for uniform growth and flowering, as without enough light, the plant will produce weak, spindly growth, cease to produce flowers, and be more susceptible to disease. Good ventilation and air circulation are essential, but not in areas exposed to forced-air heat. Ideal indoor temperatures are 50 to 55 degrees F at night and 70 degrees F during the day.

During late fall through winter, temperatures should be cooler at 45 to 50 degrees F at night and 60 to 65 degrees F during the day. Lavender plants can be moved into semi-shaded areas outdoors after frost has passed, and in the spring, they can be planted outside in a sunny area.

Watering the plant is essential, but not over-watering or allowing the soil to become completely dry. If the plant is moved outside in the spring, it will dry out more quickly and need more watering. Pruning the plant occasionally for more bushiness is recommended, but be aware that constant tip pruning will reduce flowering.

What is the lifespan of lavender?

Lavender plants can survive for 10-15 years with proper care, and pruning is recommended every year after flowering. Shear back the plants to half their size to stimulate new growth and a bushier, vibrant plant. Lavender has various uses, including potpourri, aromatics for shaving creams, colognes, perfumes, vinegars, sedatives, and is good for oily skin. Most lavender is started from cuttings from the mother plant, but direct seeding is not recommended due to low germination rates and a time from seeding to transplanting.

Why is lavender so hard to keep alive?

Lavender planting requires full sun, as lavender thrives in heat, light, and semi-dry conditions. Planting in shade results in lop-sided growth with blooms favoring the bright side. Too little sun can lead to too much water, which can cause Phytophthora, a serious disease that affects most lavenders. Some lavenders, like Grosso and Provence lavendins, are semi-resistant to Phytophthora, but water still kills by destroying roots.

The planting site should be sandy with little to no clay, creating an impermeable barrier that holds water like a bowl under the plant. If clay is present, dig a hole at least two feet deep and wide and amend the soil with sandy loam.

Is it OK to sleep with lavender?

Lavender is known for its ability to calm the nervous system, reduce restlessness, and improve overall wellbeing. Studies have shown that inhaling lavender before bed can lead to more deep sleep, increased refreshedness, decreased blood pressure, heart rate, and mood lift. When combined with good sleep hygiene, such as regular nightly routines and a relaxing bedtime environment, lavender oil is a winner for sleep. However, not all essential oils are created equal, and the best way to use lavender essential oil for sleep is to choose the right variety.

The most commonly used lavender species, Lavandula angustifolia, is believed to have the best therapeutic properties and is commonly used for medicinal purposes. This type of lavender is available at In Essence.