Growing Lavender in Pots Outdoors: A Comprehensive Guide

Hey there my Floral Fiends! Today's post is our first plant-specific guide! Lavender is a versatile and aromatic herb that can add beauty and fragrance to any garden. Growing lavender in pots outdoors is a fantastic option for those with limited space or who want to bring a touch of Provence to their patios and balconies. Here's everything you need to know to cultivate healthy, vibrant lavender in pots.

Lavender Buds

Lavender is one of my absolute favorites and is one that I have had a lot of success with in the ground, but have struggled over the years to figure out how to grow in containers. My years of failures have helped me figure out some of the best tips for growing this beautiful herb in containers.

Why Grow Lavender in Pots?

Growing lavender in pots offers several benefits:

• Mobility: Easily move your lavender to catch the best sunlight or to protect it from harsh weather.

• Control: Better control over soil quality and drainage, which are crucial for lavender.
  

• Space-Saving: Ideal for small spaces, patios, or balconies.

Choosing the Right Pot for Lavender

Selecting the right pot is essential for the health of your lavender plants. Lavender can be a fickle friend, so make sure you give it the right home to thrive!

Size

• Small Plants: You'll want to start with a pot that is at least 12 inches in diameter.
  

• Mature Plants: Upgrade to pots that are 16-18 inches in diameter as the plant grows.

Materials

• Terracotta: My personal favorite, Terracotta is Ideal for lavender as it allows for good air circulation and prevents overwatering.
  

• Plastic or Ceramic: Also suitable, but ensure they have plenty of drainage holes! Lavender despises wet feet. Ensuring your pots have multiple drainage holes helps to prevent waterlogging.

For more tips on the best containers for your plants, check out this blog post on "Choosing the Right Container for Your Outdoor Flowers".

Best Soil for Lavender in Pots

Lavender thrives in well-drained, sandy soil with a slightly alkaline pH.

Soil Mix

• DIY Mix: Combine equal parts of potting soil, sand, and perlite or pumice.
  

• Store-Bought: Use a cactus or succulent mix, which provides excellent drainage.

• Soil pH: Check the pH on the soil packaging, but you can also add just a touch of dolomite lime to your soil mix to increase the alkalinity of the soil! Lavender loves a pH floating around 6.7-7.3.

If you're local to Omaha head on over to see my friends at Nodest Home Plants! They are a wonderful local business with several different soil mixes available, their "Desert Daddy" mix would be perfect for lavender!

Step-by-Step Guide to Planting Lavender in Pots

Materials Needed:

• Lavender plant

• Pot with drainage holes

• Gravel or small stones

• Well-draining soil mix (potting soil, sand, and perlite or pumice)

• Watering can

Step 1: Prepare the Pot

• Soak the Pot (Terracotta or Ceramic): Submerge your pot in water and let it soak for 5-10 minutes before potting a new plant. This ensures your pot doesn't wick all the moisture out of your soil right away.
  

• Layer Gravel or Stones: Some folks will recommend adding gravel or broken pottery to the bottom of your container to improve drainage. I do not recommend this as this creates something called a "perched water table," meaning all you're doing is lifting the wettest soil up closer to the plant's roots. This can lead to root rot and is very much not desirable.

Step 2: Add Soil

• Fill with Soil Mix: Fill the pot with your well-draining soil mix, leaving about an inch from the top. This space will allow you to water without spilling over.

Step 3: Prepare the Lavender Plant

• Remove from Nursery Pot: Gently remove the lavender plant from its nursery pot. If the roots are tightly bound, carefully tease them apart to encourage growth.

Step 4: Planting

• Create a Hole: make a hole in the center of the soil that is large enough to accommodate the root ball of the lavender plant.

• Position the Plant: Place the lavender plant in the hole, ensuring that the top of the root ball is level with or slightly below the rim of the pot.

• Fill Around the Plant: Gently fill in around the plant with more soil, pressing down lightly to remove air pockets and secure the plant.

Step 5: Watering

• Initial Watering: After planting, water the lavender thoroughly to help settle the soil and establish the roots.

• Drainage Check: Ensure that the water is draining well through the bottom of the pot. If water is sitting in the pot, you may need to add pot feet below to ensure the water is able to drain or even add additional drainage holes.

Caring for Lavender in Pots

Watering

• Frequency: Water once the top couple inches of soil is dry, stick your finger into the soil up to the second knuckle to test the moisture. You could also use one of these nifty moisture meters!
  

• Method: Water deeply and allow excess water to drain out.

🚨Lavender hates wet feet, be conscious of overwatering! Lavender is a desert plant so it tends to thrive on relative neglect in the watering department!🚨

Sunlight

Again, lavender is a desert plant and as such, it loves the sun. Place your pot in a location that receives at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily.

Fertilizing

• Type: Use a balanced, slow-release fertilizer.
  

• Frequency: Feed your lavender once in spring and once in mid-summer.

Pruning

Prune your lavender in late summer or early fall to maintain its shape and encourage new growth in the spring. You want to remove less than 1/3 of the green growth, and make sure not to cut all the way down to the woody base!

Lavender Pruning Infographic

Winter Care

• Protection: Move pots to a sheltered location to protect them from frost.
  

• Watering: Reduce watering during the winter months to prevent root rot.

Common Issues and Solutions

Overwatering

Lavender is susceptible to root rot. Ensure your pot has good drainage and avoid overwatering.

Pests

Watch out for aphids and spider mites. Use a gentle insecticidal soap or neem oil to treat infestations. I am a personal advocate for Neem Oil, here is the brand I use at home.

Leggy Growth

Leggy lavender can result from insufficient sunlight. Ensure your plant gets enough light and prune regularly.

Enjoy Your Potted Lavender!

Growing lavender in pots outdoors is a rewarding experience. With the right pot, soil, and care, you can enjoy the beauty and fragrance of lavender year-round.

For more gardening tips, check out our post "Flower Gardening in Containers: A Beginner's Guide"

Remember, every gardener faces challenges, and mistakes are okay. If you're new to gardening, don't miss our blog post on why it's OK if some of your plants die. Happy gardening!