Growing Lavender in Containers

Native to the Mediterranean, tropical Africa and some parts of the southeastern regions of India, lavender is one of the most popular herbs to be found. It is a genus of 39 species of flowering plants within the mint family Lamiaceae. Lavender is basically a small shrub that only grows up to 60 centimeters. It branches vertically, and very little laterally. The stems are soft woody, with erect green shoots. The leaves are oblong and tapered in shape, and shoot directly from the base. The leaves are gray-green, and the flowers come in a wide range of lavender hues. The flowers appears from midsummer to early autumn on stems, and are harvested before they open. They lose their aroma upon opening. If one is not rowing lavender for profit, then use of containers and pots is advisable for growing this wonderful plant.

How to Grow Lavender

Lavenders grow best in climates that are sunny, hot and dry. They will do very well in pots if basic considerations regarding light, watering, drainage, fertilizing, pruning and the right size of the container are all met. Lavenders can be started from seeds and cuttings.

From Seeds
Starting lavender from seeds is an inexpensive idea, but there are quite a number of road blocks before you get there. Seeds aren't easy to come by, especially of the cultivars. They don't germinate easily, and not all you sow will come true. The seedlings that sprout are very delicate and need good care for at least two months before they can withstand transplantation. But if you must grow them from seeds, well, then you must! Sow your seeds in a well drained sowing medium, moisten the soil and keep it in a warm dark place. They will sprout within 15 days, but can only be moved when they develop strong roots.

From Cuttings
Lavender grown from previous years healthy growth have a better chance of establishing themselves faster. Make cuttings at a 45-degree angle, clean cuts with sharp shears, about 3 to 5 inches long. It would be better to make the cut below the node, as nodes have a better chance of rooting. Soak the bottom in rooting solution and gently stick it in the prepared soil. The soil should be sterilized and weed free. Pat down the soil and lightly water it. Keep the pot of cuttings in a location where it will receive diffused lighting. Wrap a plastic sheet around the pot, this will hasten the rooting process. Once you notice new leaf sprouts, uncover and place it in a more sunnier location.

In Containers
The size of the container and the type of soil will determine the growth of your lavender plant. Once you have a healthy lavender sapling at hand, growing lavender plants will be easy. Choose your container and clean it well. The container should contain enough holes to allow for water drainage. Add sterilized and weed free soil. Lavender grows well in normal garden, loose and well-drained soil. The soil should be alkaline with a pH range of 6.0-7.0. Rich sticky soil is an absolute no-no. The potting medium must be sandy or rocky to allow for good water runoff. Place large pieces of gravel at the bottom of the container, and then fill in the soil.

Lavender Plant Care

Water lavender only when the soil is dry, infrequent watering that will allow the soil to dry out is fine. Lavender does not need much fertilizing, but most plants grown in containers do, since the nutrients get washed out of the pot by water draining. Fertilize bi-annually with a couple of tablespoons of organic compost. Pruning lavender shrubs will encourage better growth. First year, don't touch the lavender, second year pinch back the main growth to lateral branching, third year on shape the plant, remove any dead branches and deadheads, and once the flowering is over, cut the plant back about one third its size. Lavender is mainly affected by two diseases; Alfa Mosaic virus that causes the leaves to go yellow and distorted, and lavender shab disease; black spots on the lavender plant. Both diseases can kill the plant, it is best to uproot and burn it.

Lavender plant mostly lasts 5 to 10 years before it starts to decline in health and fade away. They should be harvested as soon as the flowers change color from a gray to a bright lavender or purple. Cut the flower stems in the morning after the dew has evaporated. One can either use them fresh or dry, enjoy your lavender herb!