Growing Lavender

In Humid Climates | Black Mold | Sprawling Plants | In Containers | Transplanting

Growing Lavender in Containers

Growing Lavender in containers can be done, though it is a little tricky. First get a really, really big pot; a lavender's root system is a lot bigger than the plant is. Lavenders need about eight hours of sun, so make sure you have that. Now consider drainage, water, pruning and feeding; the Four Horsemen of Container Gardening.

Drainage: Make sure the pot you're using has really good drainage holes. I'd put about a 1/2 inch - 1 inch of loose gravel at the bottom of the pot to ensure the water won't sog up the container. It's best if you can find a good soilless mix for potting material. A mixture of peat, vermiculite and perlite is one of the best, but well aerated, "fluffy" soil is fine, too.

Water: During the summer, lavender in a container is going to need more water than lavender in the ground. If you let a lavender get dehydrated you may find it difficult to bring it back to its former glory. So: not too wet and not too dry. Try to water the lavender at the base of the plant, rather than getting the foliage wet.

Pruning: Following the same methods we described in our growing lavender section. You and your lavender will be pleased with the results.

Feeding: There are a couple schools of thought on this. Probably the easiest is to mix in some time-release fertilizer in the spring. It's a good idea to repot then, so it's a good time to fertilize, too. If you have a Spanish Lavender (L. stoechas), the kind with the "rabbit ears" or Candicans (L. dentata var. candicans), then regular fertilizing is recommended. During the growth season give these guys a liquid fertilizer shot of a 20-10-20 mix once a month.