What size pot does lavender grow in?
Lavender plants can grow to the size of a small shrub, so a large pot for starting will allow for this growth. 12-16 inch containers are the sizes you should look for. Do not look a pot with an attached saucer as this will limit efficient drainage. Remember that lavender plant roots are susceptible to rot if the soil retains water too long. [3]
How do you plant lavender in pots?
Add your Lavender plant and fill the pot with soil within a couple of inches of the top. Firm the soil to remove air pockets. Your Lavender's crown should stick up about 1 in. (2 cm) above the soil. Add a 2 in. layer of mulch (5 cm) to help retain moisture.
What is the best potting mix for lavender?
The best potting mix for lavender is light, slightly alkaline and enhanced with slow-release nutrients. Finding a good commercial soil may be difficult, but making one isn't. Mix equal parts of sterilized garden soil, moistened sphagnum peat moss and perlite in a large container. A 12-inch pot holds about 12 quarts of potting mix.
How often do you water lavender plants in pots?
Start watering when the soil is dry to touch and drench so that water flows freely out the bottom of pots. As a guideline, carry out deep watering every 7–10 days for the first two years and as your lavender continues to develop, watering will be required if there is a drought.
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Why Container Size Matters for Lavender Plants
Most gardeners will not grow lavender from seed. Why? This can be tricky since the seed is slow to germinate and germination can be patchy.
When To Pot Lavender to a Larger Container
As mentioned above, lavender does best when it is given a little but not too much space to grow. Over time, smaller plants’ root systems will grow to fill the pots. Since lavender likes dry conditions, and won’t mind lower fertility, being a little squeezed within a container can be good for it.
Can a Container Be Too Big For Lavender?
Planters can be too large for a lavender plant. This is because larger volumes of soil can hold way more water than the plant can absorb, causing water logging even if the soil is just slightly moist at the touch.
Plastic or Terracotta Planter For Lavender?
As well as thinking about the best pot size, it is also a good idea to think about the best pot material. Plastic is lightweight but can retain more moisture. Metal pots are great for heat retention – but can overheat easily.
Takeaways
Here the four takeaways on choosing the best planter for your lavender
Select the Right Lavender
Since not all lavenders are hardy, containers provide the opportunity to grow lavender that would otherwise not be suited to your garden.
Planting Lavender in a Pot
Select a container that provides your Lavender enough room to grow. A 12-16 in. pot (30-40 cm) will be perfect. Make sure it has at least a 1/2-in. hole in the bottom. Add small stones for swift drainage.
Caring for Potted Lavender
Once established, lavender is fairly drought-tolerant. However, it grows bigger and is more floriferous with regular watering, specifically when planted in containers. Water when the soil is dry and then drench so that water flows freely out the bottom of pots.
Pruning Potted Lavender
Pruning your Lavender will prevent your shrub from turning to wood. This is important because the parts of the plant that turn to wood will not produce new lavender stalks. Pruning once a year is great. Pruning twice a year is better.
Lavender Care
As with most plants, your success in growing lavender will depend both on what kind of growing conditions you provide and which varieties you select to grow. Lavender plants will tolerate many growing conditions, but they thrive best in warm, well-draining soil and full sun.
Types of Lavender
There are many varieties of lavender, each boasting benefits and perks. Some of the most popular include:
Pruning Lavender
Although lavender plants get regularly pruned simply by harvesting the flowers, a bit of spring pruning is recommended to keep your plant well-shaped and to encourage new growth.
Harvesting Lavender
A major reason lavender is so prized is that its flowers keep their fragrance once dried. For best drying results, harvest the flowers as the buds first begin to open. Hang them in small bunches upside-down in a warm spot with good air circulation until dried. Besides being beautiful and aromatic, lavender flowers are also edible.
Propagating Lavender
Lavender plants are best propagated by either softwood cuttings (the soft, flexible tips of shoots) or hardwood cuttings (segments of shoots with woody stems). Softwood cuttings are available in the spring; hardwood cuttings in the fall. Both processes can be done relatively the same—here's how:
Potting and Repotting Lavender
Where outdoor planting is not practical, you can always grow your lavender in pots and move it around to follow the sun, or even bring it indoors for the winter. Although lavender has a large, spreading root system, it does prefer to grow in a tight space.
How to Get Lavender to Bloom
When you're growing a plant as prized for its blooms as lavender, try to do all you can to get it to flower profusely. If you're having a difficult time getting your lavender plants to bloom, there are a few issues that could be to blame.
How to select the best lavender variety for growing in pots
Finding the right lavender plant for your pots is not an easy task but can be made so with the necessary knowledge.
The Best Soil for Lavender in Pots
Lavender performs well in alkaline, little organic matter, and well-drained soil.
Growing lavender in pots step by step
Step #1: Select the appropriate type and size of growing pot. Be sure to determine the mature diameter of the lavender and choose an appropriate container. Lavender is shallow rooted, so the pot does not need to be a tall one. A lavender pot size of 12 to 16 inches is ideal since the plant can grow quite huge and bushy.
How to Care for Lavender Plants in Pots
As a rule of thumb, water your lavender plant when the soil feels dry rather than following a watering schedule.
Conclusion
You’ve just read how to grow your lavender in pots. Therefore, if you have to forget everything in this article, please keep in mind the following takeaway points;
Choosing a Lavender Pot
Lavender appreciates a tight fit. When you grow lavender in a pot, choose a pot with a diameter no more than 1 to 2 inches larger than the plant's root ball. Most lavenders need a pot at least 12 inches in diameter to accommodate their shrubby habits.
Preparing Potting Mix
The best potting mix for lavender is light, slightly alkaline and enhanced with slow-release nutrients. Finding a good commercial soil may be difficult, but making one isn't. Mix equal parts of sterilized garden soil, moistened sphagnum peat moss and perlite in a large container. A 12-inch pot holds about 12 quarts of potting mix.
Sun Requirements for Lavender
Set the pot where it gets at least eight hours of daily sun. In a cool-summer climate, potted lavender benefits from being on or next to a heat-reflecting concrete surface, such as an entryway, walkway or patio.
Ongoing Care to Grow Lavender
Check the soil to determine when your lavender plant needs to be watered. Stick your finger into the soil to determine when the top inch of the soil is dry as an indicator. Water the lavender plant until liquid runs from the drainage holes. Too much water can cause your lavender to develop powdery mildew or root rot.
