Lavender planters or lavenders in a pot are super popular these days due to the welcoming aesthetics thag they deliver. You can have them by your front door, on the porch, and pretty much anywhere which is really nice. So if you want to grow lavenders in pots, this short article is to going to be useful for you.
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Growing Lavenders In Pots Guide
To successfully grow lavenders in pots, there are some easy steps that you can follow. Once you learn all these, you will have pots and pots of beautiful lavender planters at your home. So feel free to check out the steps below:
Step #1: Choose The Lavender Type
When it comes to choosing the lavender type for lavender planters, the options are actually easy to decide. There are a few types that are just perfect for growing in the pots for your gardens and homes. And each type has numerous varieties that you can choose from which are:
Common Lavender (Lavandula Augustifolia)
The name says it all, it is a common type of lavender that you can easily find and grow in pots. Common lavenders, aka true lavenders, are very pretty because of their compact cultivar and beautiful colors when they bloom. The flowering of the common lavenders usually occurs from late spring to midsummer, and these flowers are gorgeous. At the same time, the compact cultivar makes it super easy and neat for you to grow them in pots. The thing to remember is that you will either have to transfer them to a larger container or garden after a few years.
French Lavender (Lavandula Stoechas)
The beauty is on another level when it comes to French lavenders or butterfly lavenders, and you probably love them. This type of lavender has magnificent conspicuous sterile bracts on its short dense inflorescence. The adorable parts of these blooms are definitely the “ears” that sprout from each flower head. French lavenders are easy to grow in hot weather, and flowering occurs from mid-spring to late summer. There is a number of colors and varieties that you can select, and they are all super attractive.
Step #2: Choose The Containers & Pots
With the right type of container, your lavenders will be able to have enough room to grow and flourish. This is an important factor to have in mind, and there are a few crucial features that you should look for. Once you have the ideal containers or pots, growing your lavenders will be super easy.
Drainage
I mention this every time I talk about pots because people often overlook the drainage part. Obviously, it is great to go for good-looking containers or pots for your flowers and plants for decoration purposes. However, they will not grow healthily and well if the containers or pots that you choose have poor drainage. This is why you should always look for drainage holes in the bottom part of the pots that you like. Proper drainage means no damp or soggy soil, which means no root rots.
You can also add gravel at the base before putting the soil in to ensure the best drainage possible. Besides this, you can also place the container or pot on a stand so that the excess water can escape. And if your pot has a tray underneath, make sure to dump the water that flows from the pot regularly. This is to prevent root rot because the saucer does not have a drainage hole, and the water is there. That can cause soggy soil, hence root rot problems with your lavender planters.
Size
For starters, the container or pot size that you should begin with is between 12 to 16 inches. This simply provides enough for the lavenders to grow for a few years before you have to repot them. In case you want to plant a big bunch, you may go for a larger size of up to 18 inches. This also depends on the type of lavender that you choose to grow as well. Some lavender varieties have large cultivars, so you need to choose a large pot for them to grow in.
Type
The appearance of the containers that you choose reflects the style and theme of your home. Some people love metal pots because they give this authentic garden looks that blend nicely with other plants. There are also people who like the ones with a stylish and traditional look like ceramic or terracotta pots.
What you should know about metal containers is that they absorb heat, so they are not ideal for hot conditions. If you place them outdoors, the thin metal pots will dry the soil fast on sunny days. I only recommend this type of container if your areas are not too hot or sunny. Another thing is that some metal pots may not come with drainage holes. So you may need to drill a few for drainage if you prefer this type of container.
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As for ceramic or terracotta pots, they are more flexible, which means the lavenders are comfortable growing in them. They do not only look nice but also give an ideal growing environment for your lavenders. This type of pot is also very easy to find, and they look great pretty much anywhere you place them.
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Step #3: Start Planting
When you know what type of pots and varieties that you want for your lavender planters, it is time to plant them. First of all, select a good sandy potting mix that offers proper draining for your flowers. Fill your pot with three-quarters of the soil, then add the lavender plant in. After that, add some more soil to completely fill the pot and firm it to remove air pockets.
Make sure that the lavender sticks up about 1 inch above the soil after you finish filling the soil. Once you complete everything, water the soil thoroughly so that the roots can absorb the water. You may add around 2 inches of mulch to ensure additional moisture retention for your lavender planters. Don’t forget to feed them with liquid fertilizer weekly to encourage beautiful color and flowering.
Note that lavender needs water once every two weeks for the healthy growth of its roots. Also, the bigger they grow means, the more water they need. So make sure to let your lavenders drink regularly and avoid leaving them in dry soil for too long. At the same time, these beautiful flowers require at least 6 hours of sunshine per day. Keeping them shade results in fragrance loss and slow growth, so make sure to find a sunny spot for them.
Final Note
Lavender planters at home or in the garden are absolutely gorgeous, and their fragrance is also incredible. With the guide and tips above, you can grow your own mini lavender garden in no time. The good thing is that lavenders are hardy plants, so you won’t have to worry about them dying easily at all. Since I have already included all the important things, you can start planting your own lavenders now.