Lavender is a nice plant to grow indoors because it thrives in containers and requires little care. It is a native of the Mediterranean region. With their purple blossoms and energizing perfume, lavender plants can also add brightness to your home.
However, if you don’t want your lavender plant to spend the entire year indoors, it’s simple to bring it inside from late fall to early spring and then move it back outside to your herb garden in the summer to get some strong sunlight.
Continue reading for more information on how to take care of your indoor lavender plants.
Where in my home should I place lavender?
Europe is the origin of lavender. These plants are prized for their aromatic gray-green foliage and fragrant lavender blossoms, which are used to make perfume and sachets.
It might be difficult to grow it indoors, so use these suggestions to maximize your success.
Placement
Lavender needs as much light as possible to flourish indoors. It will thrive in a south-facing window or somewhere with at least three to four hours of daily direct sunlight. To ensure regular development and flowering, rotate the pot every week. The lavender plant will grow weakly and spindly, stop flowering, and become more prone to disease if not given enough light. While proper ventilation and air circulation are essential indoors, avoid placing the plant in an area where it will be directly exposed to forced-air heat. 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit at night and 70 degrees Fahrenheit during the daytime are the ideal indoor temperatures from spring through mid-fall. Temperatures should be lower from late fall through winter, averaging 60 to 65 degrees F during the day and 45 to 50 degrees F at night. After all threat of frost has passed, it will be beneficial to transplant the lavender plant into a partially shaded outdoor location. It might be planted outside in a sunny spot in the spring. The plant, when fully grown, can withstand temperatures as low as 10 degrees F.
Watering
When watering, soak the soil completely and let it get just a little dry in between applications. Use your finger to probe the ground to check the moisture level. Rot can develop in the soil if it is overwatered or kept permanently damp. However, do not let the soil entirely dry out; else, the lavender will react by turning its bottom leaves yellow. In the spring, if the lavender is transferred outside, keep in mind that it will dry out more quickly and require more frequent watering.
Pruning
Cutting branches to collect flowers encourages bushiness by causing new growth to develop. If you want your plants to be bushier, occasionally tip prune. Be aware that branch tips are where blooms are created, and frequent pruning of the tips can restrict flowering.
Can a lavender plant be kept indoors?
It’s not ideal to grow lavender indoors, but it is doable if you set up the right conditions, particularly if you’re only attempting to keep plants alive through the winter before moving them back outside when the weather warms in the spring.
Sunlight
The majority of indoor lavender plants don’t exhibit perfect growth, foliage color, or even vibrant blossoms. The issue is light—or the lack thereof. It is difficult to get enough sunshine in indoor surroundings. In the winter, this is particularly true in northern places.
Indoor lavender plants should be placed close to a sunny south-facing window. Use a small table or plant stand to position your plant in the sun since most plants won’t fit on a window ledge. You may also simulate the sun with additional light. There is enough light for development from standard fluorescent tubes positioned 6 to 12 inches over lavender. The T5 kind of high output fluorescent lighting is another option; it produces twice as much light as conventional tubes.
Containers
It’s critical to use the proper size container while growing lavender indoors. The rootball of the plant should only be one to two inches larger than the pot. There is extra dirt in a larger container, but it doesn’t have any roots to assist it absorb moisture. Where the roots of the lavender are located, that soil is prone to becoming waterlogged and becoming overly damp. Many indoor lavender plants perish as a result of root rot, which is the final outcome.
Soil
Since lavender is a Mediterranean plant, it prefers arid conditions. Add a thin layer of soilless mix specifically designed for containers on top of an inch or two of limestone gravel in the bottom of your pot. To give soil a more alkaline edge, mix in one tablespoon of lime. Blend ground, dried eggshells into the top layer of soil once a month to add lime.
Temperature
Although lavender like heat, growing it indoors will be more successful if it is placed away from drafts of hot or cold air, especially in the winter. Consider cultivating lavender indoors throughout the winter in a room that is colder than the rest of the house. Keep roots alive throughout the winter, but avoid forcing vigorous new growth.
Water
After planting, water your lavender, and then reduce the amount. Water only when the soil is dry to the touch and about one inch deep during the milder winter months. When growing lavender indoors, take into account using a terracotta pot. Root rot can be avoided by letting moisture evaporate through the porous clay pot sides.
Plant Type
For indoor use, use miniature lavender cultivars. They fit under a grow light and are better suited to growing in pots. The types of French lavender (Lavandula dentata) thrive well indoors. Although they are less fragrantly powerful than English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), they are more suited to indoor environments. Canary Island lavender (Lavandula canariensis) and fern leaf lavender (Lavandula multifida), which tolerates moist circumstances better than other lavenders, are other good varieties of lavender to grow inside.
Transitioning Outdoors
When there is no longer any risk of frost in the spring, bring lavender outside. Cut back any lanky growth that emerged throughout the winter. To encourage development, cover the soil with a layer of compost and water thoroughly.
Lavender is grown indoors or outdoors.
French lavender (Lavandula dentata) cultivars are another option. which are
tiny plants thrive in indoor planters. Alternatives include using Canary Island lavender (Lavandula canariensis),
How many years can a lavender plant live?
Many gardeners in Sonoma County are delighted by the easy-to-grow lavender’s many wonderful attributes. It takes little water and is exceptionally deer resistant. Snakes avoid it. Butterflies and bees adore it. Flower wands fill any space with a wonderful, pleasant, fresh smell. A lovely seed product made from dried flower heads has been used for ages to freshen clothing and ward off insects. Even delicate meals and drinks can utilize it as a flavour.
Over 40 recognized variants of the three main forms of lavender exist. Lavender blooms may adorn gardens for months if a variety is planted.
The Spanish lavenders, Lavandula stoechas, and its several named cultivars are the first to bloom in the spring; ‘Otto Quast’ is a well-liked and frequently planted variety. These have the smallest, pineapple-shaped tufts, though not the most floriferous, and are crowned with upright, ornamental bracts in shades of purple, periwinkle, or even milky white. Spanish lavenders typically have a second or even third bloom cycle later in the summer when spent blooms are routinely deadheaded. Of all the lavenders, they can withstand droughts the best.
Lavandula angustifolia, commonly known as English lavender, is native to southern European hilly regions rather than England. It is the most resilient, but it only lasts for three to five years before needing to be replaced. Early summer brings forth blooms on thin flower spikes that are significantly more delicate and sweet-smelling than any of the Spanish lavenders. Named cultivars produce mounds between 11/2 and 2 feet tall and broad that are covered in flowers in hues of blue and purple, white, or pink. In order to keep a compact shape and to encourage some varieties to repeat bloom, faded blooms and stems can be sheared off. Popular cultivars with vibrant blue-purple flowers include “Hidcote,” “Munstead,” and “Jean Davis,” which have pinkish-white blossoms.
Lavandula x intermedia, also known as lavandins or English lavender hybrids, bloom for the longest from mid- to late summer. Depending on the cultivar, these grow rather shrub-like after a number of years in the ground, reaching heights and widths of 2-4 feet. The most popular among them are “Provence” and “Grosso,” which are renowned for their potent fragrances and suitability for harvesting, drying, and tying flower wands into bundles. The cosmetic business uses oil from “Grosso,” while many lavender products utilize oil from “Provence.” From a 1-gallon plant, both plants grow fairly quickly, but a 4-inch pot will grow to the same size in roughly a year. Regular pruning is necessary to keep the bottom stems from turning ugly woody on these hybrids.
The two most crucial conditions for planting lavender are choosing a location with at least six hours of direct sunlight each day and offering sufficient drainage. It dislikes wet environments. To promote soil aeration and allow roots to absorb nutrients without drowning, use compost and grittier materials like lava rock or perlite thoroughly mixed with the soil.
To prevent rain from puddling if the soil is dense or compacted, it is advisable to build a little berm or mound for each plant. Lavenders should last for five to seven years if they are properly sited and pruned. Although lavender can tolerate some drought, it needs enough rain to grow all season. After planting, it is very important to watch out that the soil doesn’t dry out around the rootball.
Lavenders can be pruned more severely in the late fall but never to bare wood. On lower stems, look for little green buds and make a cut right above them. In this manner, plants are pruned annually or more frequently to maintain their dense, green branching. As long as there are buds, some can even be clipped almost to the ground.
Does lavender thrive in containers?
Due to the good drainage, all lavender plants thrive in pots and containers. However, some lavender cultivars are better suited to growing in pots than others.
The English lavenders (Lavandula angustifolia) are my preferred variety of lavender and are what I suggest for container gardening:
- ‘Hidcote’
- ‘Munstead’
Since both of these lavenders are English varieties, which are cold hardy to USDA zone 5, they can withstand colder temperatures and the pot can stay outside all year.
In addition to having the best smell of any lavender, Hidcote and Munstead lavender also bloom beautifully in the midst of summer.
The larger varieties of lavender, like “Vera,” which can grow 3 feet across and is therefore better suited to growing in garden boarders, can grow to a size that works great in pots without having to repot them too often because they stay a relatively compact size of around 12 inches (with annual pruning).
The majority of French and Spanish lavender varieties, include well-known types like:
- Borland pink
- ‘Anouk’
The appropriate conditions allow these lavenders to produce flowers for up to three months while maintaining a reasonable size that doesn’t overwhelm a pot. However, compared to English lavender types, the scent is less overt.
They should be brought indoors for Winter protection as they are not as cold-hardy as English lavenders and can perish in a severe frost.
While French lavender frequently dies after 5 years even in ideal conditions, English lavender can thrive for up to 15 years or longer with proper care.
Which variety of lavender is ideal for a bedroom?
French lavender is an excellent bedroom plant because it helps you go asleep by lowering your heart rate, blood pressure, and stress levels, rather than by cleansing the air in your room. You see, lavender stimulates the areas of your brain connected to memory, relaxation, and emotion.
The attractive purple herb is challenging to maintain as a houseplant. Put a thin layer of limestone gravel in the bottom of your pot, fill it with soil, and place your lavender plant there in a bright bedroom window. So that it receives an equal amount of sunlight, rotate the pot every few days. And after allowing the top inch of soil dry up, give it a drink frequently. Allow it to sit outside on the sunniest days to encourage flowering.
Make a lavender sleep sachet to tuck beneath your pillow if at first you don’t succeed, or spritz lavender essential oils around your bedroom instead.
How should I take care of a lavender plant in a pot?
Maintaining the ideal temperature, sunlight exposure, and water level are the three major components of lavender container maintenance. Fortunately, none of these requires much effort.
Place your lavender plants that are growing in containers somewhere that receives full light (at least eight hours per day) and give them minimal water. Between waterings, let the soil dry up, but don’t let it get to the point where the plant starts to wilt.
Many types of lavender won’t survive a cold winter since they prefer heat. Growing lavender in pots has the advantage that it can be transferred to a safer location if necessary. When the weather begins to cool off, bring your lavender plants that were planted in containers indoors and put them in a window that gets direct sunlight so they can survive the winter.
Lavender plants have a scent.
Lavender has a soft, sweet aroma that is simultaneously flowery, herbal, and evergreen. Additionally, it contains subtle, powdery, or smoky undertones. Some lavenders smell more like medicinal camphor and are more reminiscent of rosemary’s balsamic resin.
Crushed lavender blossoms are used to make lavender essential oils, which are used in items like candles and perfumes. Commercial producers are able to extract considerable amounts of oil from the flowers with the aid of high-temperature steam distillation equipment.
What advantages do lavender plants have?
An fantastic option to give your yard or patio a mid-summer flash of color is to use English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia). We love to grow it so we may take advantage of its lovely aroma. English lavender is a superior option for herb gardens and perennial borders since it can withstand the cooler weather typical of the Marquette region better than French lavender. This member of the mint family has fragrant flowers and leaves that are used frequently in cooking, medicine, and DIY crafts. Here are just a few advantages of including lavender in your backyard garden.
It Can Be Used to Create Appetizing Food and Drinks
Using lavender in cooking is highly regarded. Baking cookies, cakes, and other treats is a terrific use for the flavor combination of lemon and lavender. Additionally, simple syrups for cocktails or lemonades can be infused with lavender.
It Has a Wide Range of Health Advantages
The relaxing aroma of lavender is thought to ease anxiety and promote mental calmness. Stress, depression, and migraines are said to be relieved by the calming scent of lavender plants. Additionally, it is thought to be anti-inflammatory and has antiseptic qualities.
It Has Great Bug Repellent Power.
Like other members of the mint family, lavender is effective at warding off insects like ticks, fleas, moths, and mosquitoes.
Loved by pollinators
Lavender not only successfully wards off pesky insects but also draws helpful pollinators to its aromatic blooms. Lavender will draw bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects to your yard.
It resists deer.
Since lavender plants are resistant to deer, many homeowners seeking plants they don’t have to share with the neighborhood wildlife may find them to be a welcome addition.
It Can Be Used to Make Do It Yourself Projects
You may use dried lavender from your plant to make homemade lavender soap, bath salts, potpourri, sachets, and cleaning supplies.
Easy to Develop
In most climates, lavender grows nicely. The plant will grow into a sizable expanse of flowering plants and is drought-resistant. The blue blooms smell amazing in addition to being stunning. Through the summer, you can collect the blossoms, and in the fall, you can prune the plant.