This article may contain some affiliate links and if you make a purchase after clicking on any of teh links, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Lavenders are one of those very few herbs you will appreciate having in your garden.
They have this intensely floral fragrance with hints of mint and rosemary, a versatile addition to your culinary uses.
However, while nursing, knowing how often to water lavender in pots is the BIG challenge.
They are very delicate herbs, so they require comprehensive care. Even slight overwatering it could affect its growth.
So if you have zero clue about the watering schedule, well on average, it should be once every two weeks. But that depends on many factors, which we will discuss below.
How Often To Water Lavender In Pots
The once-every-two weeks watering of your potted lavender might not fit in all spheres of nursing this herb. The climate condition and the age of the lavender all have a say.
If it is a freshly planted lavender? Feed it sufficient water a couple of times during the first week.
The following week, you should decrease watering to once every two weeks.
This is the best way to nurse a lavender in pots.
Start with once-a-day watering, then every few days, and advance to every two weeks —once three months have passed.
During winter, water ONLY once every 4-6 weeks on average.
Generally, the less water your lavender drinks, the better. This is because they are drought-resistant herbs.
It means they survive with little or no water for an extensive period.
Pro Tips:
It is imperative to water this herb deeply so it reaches the root.
I have seen a lot of gardeners watering from the bottom. And because the water does touch the stems and leaves, it won’t be easily affected by fungal diseases.
However, if you are nervous about how often to water lavender in pots, use a moisture meter.
This helps you check the soil’s moisture level accurately to avoid under or overwatering.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Is My Potted Lavender Dying?
As seen case after case, over and underwatering are two sneaky culprits that can kill your plants.
You may think the soil isn’t that good; that is probably why the lower leaves turn yellow. You noticed a few droppings, soggy soil, and a rotting odor.
These are all clear indicators of an overwatered lavender slowly passing away.
Remember, Lavender thrives in hot weather, so they aren’t friendly with being oversaturated with water or in an overly humid environment.
Although Spanish lavender can put up with humid environments, not the other types of lavender, you will need to keep control of the humidity level.
Knowing what type of lavender you have will also help you better care for it, as each has a set of slightly special considerations.
NOTE that lavender thrives mostly in well-draining soil with a pH scale of six to eight. If you are still determining the soil in the pot, you should conduct a soil test and adjust accordingly.
Aside from that, Fungi like Botrytis and Phytophthora could have a hand in the death of your lavender.
They could cause inflict your herbs with fungal disease, causing its stem to be brown, twisted, and decorated with black dots.
You MUST pull out the infected lavender, for this disease is contagious.
Insects are another concern. They could torment the herb to death by feasting on the plant’s sap. Froghoppers and Spittlebugs are one of those bugs that do the job well.
But you can single them out with their white, frothy blobs present on the leaves and stems.
The four-line plant bug should also be at the top of your list, as they have the expertise for sucking dry on new stems and leaves —especially in late May to early July.
How Can You Revive A Dying Lavender?
You can breathe life back into your dying lavender. Just follow these rules strictly:
- If you suspect any root rot, immediately identify the infected roots and prune them out. Don’t worry; you can still replant the lavender in well-draining soil.
- Your Lavender should receive proximately six to eight hours of sun, potted or not.
- You can water deeply until the soil’s top inch (2.5 cm) is completely dry.
- I use a soaker hose or water to keep the foliage dry at the base of the plant, and I have seen many pro gardeners do the same. This helps minimize fungal disease.
- Keep its growth tamed by pruning the plant by one-third to one-half before new growth starts.
- If your soil pH isn’t within 6 to 8, you can amend it with limestone.
How Long Does Potted Lavender Last?
This is a tough one. Lavender is in 47 different species.
But one of the most potter lavender (English Lavender) can last up to 15 years. Meanwhile, less durable types like French Lavender can thrive for just five years.
Mind you; their lifespan relies significantly on your maintenance routine. And that includes the prune at least once a year.
Sadly, despite your hard work, some species of lavender won’t survive up to 5 years.
Should I Trim Potted Lavender?
If you want your lavenders to enjoy a long, happy life, you must prune them.
Trimming or pruning is vital to caring for your lavender, as it promotes healthy and continuous stalks growth. Once or twice, pruning a year will be good.
WARNING!
DO NOT prune directly on the wooden areas; only trim about ⅔ of the lavender’s height. Some gardeners cut above the bottom two sets of the leave of each stem.
But the ideal time to do all this is after the first flowering and in late August —right after the last flush fades away.
Does Lavender Need Full Sun?
Lavender enjoys the full sun as much. Picture it as Superman exposed to a full-blown yellow sun –it magnified his Kryptonian powers exceedingly.
When exposed to the full sun, potted lavender thrives for at least six to eight hours.
However, if this exposure isn’t possible, maybe due to weather conditions or a change of season, use LED grow lights.
This will compensate as these herbs do not generally do well in high humidity.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the frequency of watering potted lavender should be determined solely by the pot size, type of lavender and soil, temperature and humidity level, and the amount of six exposure it gets.
We all know the rule of thumb: once every two weeks. But lavenders will thank you more during the growing season (from spring to early fall) if you can water once or twice weekly.
However, you will want to dial it down during the winter months. The less frequent the water, the better.
Always have it at the back of your mind that these herbs love the sun and do not tolerate overly moist ground.
Related: