06/17/2023
This explains a lot! We killed our lavender plant by making most of these mistakes. lol
This is a repost from the Texas Lavender Growers page. A member asked why her young lavender plant was dying. The answer from Beth Patterson will be helpful to many of our customers
Beth responds: As a former nursery professional and former President of The Texas Lavender Association I can tell you ... soil. If you use regular potting soil with Lavender you are being way too kind. The best mix I ever made for containers was 1/2 organic potting soil (no added stuff like Miracle-Gro) and 1/2 cactus mix and herbs like Rosemary do well in this mix too. Lean and mean. These plants started out in the Mediterranean clinging to a hillside in crappy soil and PERFECT drainage.
A newly planted Lavender does need water like a growing puppy. It's developing roots. The key is on your hand. Yes, a finger. Put it down as far as you can go. If you pull it up and if it's moist, Wait. If it is wet. Wait. If it is bone dry put it in a saucer of water and let it pull it up from the bottom. Top watering can promote disease.
Mulch! Yes even in a container. Mulch with crushed white stone as it reflects the light to keep leaves dry and fungus free.
Fresh air circulation. Don't put it too close to other pots.
Don't feed it. Like Rosemary, Lavender thrives on a lean soil and doesn't need fertilizer except once a year.
Check your drainage holes. I now use paper coffee filters when doing containers. They devolve as the plant creates its root system and you won't block the flow of water from draining. Put it on pot feet of on bricks.
Full sun is good but when it is 105 in a pot give it afternoon shade for a bit.
Your pot should be only 1 inch bigger than its original pot. You move up a pot size as it grows. 4 inch nursery pot goes in a 5 inch clay pot. The reason being if you put it in a larger container the water never properly reaches the plant...you water a lot of potting soil instead.
Plants to combine with Lavender are thyme, rosemary, roses, sage, parsley and any native Texas plants that are low water.
One time I used white rock I got at a fish supply store for my much. Most of the time i find the finest grade of white rocks at the garden center.
Variety of lavender also matters. Look at your local garden center rather than the big box stores. You're likely to find more hardy varieties like Provence, Sensational and Munstead. There are always ones that come out at the big box stores in the spring that are not suited for our weather.
