Lavender is more than just a beautiful plant—it’s a sensory experience that can transform your home into a fragrant oasis. Known for its calming aroma and striking purple blooms, lavender has long been cherished for its therapeutic qualities.
But did you know that with the right care, you can grow this Mediterranean herb indoors or on your patio, even in small spaces?
Whether you’re a gardening novice or an experienced green thumb, growing lavender in pots can be easy if you follow these ten essential tips.
1. Choose the Right Pot
The first step to successful lavender growing is selecting the right pot. Lavender thrives in containers that provide excellent drainage, so avoid plastic or glazed pots that trap moisture.
Terracotta or clay pots are ideal because they allow excess water to evaporate, preventing root rot. Ensure your pot has multiple drainage holes at the bottom to let water escape freely.
Lavender roots need space to grow, so choose a pot 10-12 inches in diameter. A larger pot also helps stabilize the plant, especially when it becomes top-heavy with blooms.
2. Use Well-Draining Soil
Lavender is native to the Mediterranean and thrives in dry, rocky soils. You’ll need a well-draining soil mix to mimic these conditions in a pot.
Combine potting soil with sand or perlite to improve drainage. Avoid heavy soils like peat moss that retain too much moisture.
A good rule of thumb is to use a mixture of three parts potting soil, one part coarse sand, and one part perlite.
3. Give It Plenty of Sunlight
Lavender loves sunlight—lots of it! To thrive indoors or on a balcony, your potted lavender needs at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily.
Place your pot near a south-facing window if growing indoors. Outdoors, position it in the sunniest spot available—lavender will reward you with more blooms if it gets enough light.
Consider using grow lights to supplement sunlight during darker months if natural light is limited indoors. Without enough light, lavender plants can become leggy and weak.
4. Water Sparingly but Deeply
One of the biggest mistakes people make with lavender is overwatering. Lavender prefers dry soil and does not tolerate soggy conditions.
Water deeply but infrequently—let the top inch of soil dry out between waterings. When watering, ensure water runs out of the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot.
Overwatering can lead to root rot and other fungal issues. Reduce watering even further during winter or cooler seasons when growth slows down.
5. Prune Regularly for Healthy Growth
Pruning is essential for keeping your potted lavender healthy and encouraging new growth. Regular pruning not only maintains its shape but also promotes more blooms.
Trim back about one-third of the plant after flowering to encourage bushier growth. Remove any dead or woody stems in early spring before new growth starts.
Keeping your plant trimmed and tidy will help it focus energy on producing fragrant flowers instead of getting leggy or woody over time.
6. Fertilize Sparingly
Lavender doesn’t need much fertilizer—too much can harm it by encouraging excessive leaf growth at the expense of flowers.
Fertilize once during the growing season with a low-nitrogen fertilizer or compost. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers as they lead to fewer blooms and more foliage growth.
Light feeding in spring will help boost flower production without overwhelming the plant with nutrients it doesn’t need.
7. Control Humidity Levels Indoors
Lavender thrives in dry conditions and doesn’t do well in high-humidity environments. If you’re growing lavender indoors, where humidity tends to be higher, take steps to regulate moisture levels around your plant.
Place a tray filled with pebbles and water beneath your pot. The evaporating water will increase humidity without soaking the roots.
Keep your plant away from humid areas like kitchens or bathrooms.
8. Repot When Necessary
As your lavender grows, its roots will eventually outgrow its container. Repotting every couple of years ensures your plant has enough room for healthy root development.
Choose a new pot that is at least 2 inches larger than the current one. Refresh the soil mix with fresh, well-draining soil when repotting to boost your plant’s nutrient boost.
Repotting also helps prevent root-bound plants from becoming stressed and underperforming.
9. Protect Lavender from Cold Weather
If you grow lavender outdoors in pots, it is important to protect it from harsh winter conditions. While some varieties are hardy, others may not survive freezing temperatures without help.
Move potted lavender indoors during cold spells or provide insulation by wrapping pots in bubble wrap or burlap.
Alternatively, pots can be placed in an unheated garage or shed where temperatures stay above freezing but remain cool enough for dormancy.
10. Select the Right Lavender Variety
Not all lavender varieties are equally suited for container growing. Compact varieties like ‘Hidcote’ or ‘Munstead’ are perfect for pots due to their smaller size and hardiness.
Choose dwarf varieties that won’t outgrow their containers quickly. Look for varieties known for their fragrance and ability to thrive in pots.
Selecting the right variety will make all the difference in maintaining healthy potted lavender over time. Growing lavender in pots is an enjoyable way to bring beauty and fragrance into your home or outdoor space.
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Nancy has been a plant person from an early age. That interest blossomed into a bachelor’s in biology from Elmira College and a master’s degree in horticulture and communications from the University of Kentucky. Nancy worked in plant taxonomy at the University of Florida and the L. H. Bailey Hortorium at Cornell University, and wrote and edited gardening books at Rodale Press in Emmaus, PA. Her interests are plant identification, gardening, hiking, and reading.