How to grow lavender outdoors at home?

It's no secret that the world around is constantly changing, only flowers, especially indoor ones, remain unchanged. Many were captivated by their tenderness of blooming lavender in a pot, caring for which at home requires a lot of effort. After all, the homeland of this cute plant is the warm Mediterranean coast, where there are no severe frosts. And snow falls only on mountain peaks.

Today, there are up to 30 types of lavender. The most popular are:

Interestingly, the ancestor of potted lavender was a broadleaf variety that requires special care at home. In addition, the flower is appreciated not only for its lovely appearance, but also for its beneficial properties. It is widely used for the manufacture of aromatic oils, in cooking, and also for medicinal purposes. As a result, the flower fell in love with enterprising fans of indoor plants.

Secrets of growing lavender on the window

For a long time it was believed that it is simply impossible to grow lavender in a pot at home. Unlike other indoor plants, as was previously thought, it is not adapted to such an existence. In fact, the flower takes root indoors if the temperature is carefully controlled and properly cared for.

To grow lavender in a pot, the following conditions must be met:

The planting capacity should be about 2 liters.
The diameter of the pot is at least 30 centimeters.
Drainage from fine gravel or nutshells is laid at the bottom.
The soil must be alkaline.

Even when these requirements are met, indoor lavender pleases its fans with flowers for a short time.

As soon as the root system of the plant senses the bottom of the pot, it must be transplanted. Otherwise, the lavender will stop growing, start to hurt, and eventually die.

In order for the roots of the flower to gain access to air, it is advisable to leave the hole in the bottom of the pot free. It is better to arrange the drainage carefully and accurately, and not in bulk. In addition, the plant needs feeding, which is carried out from time to time with special fertilizers. As a result, a potted lavender will appear at home, to the delight of indoor plant lovers.

Basic rules for caring for a southern beauty

When lavender grows at their summer cottage, this is a familiar sight. Delicate and cute flowers of blue or purple have won the hearts of many gardeners. But they do not want to part with them for a long time, therefore they are grown in houses on windowsills. The flower amazes not only with its splendor, but also with a pleasant smell emanating from the buds. So proper home care for a lavender in a pot benefits not only the plant, but also many pleasant moments for its fans.

Growing a flower indoors is fundamentally different from caring for it in a flower garden. On the street, lavender successfully takes root under the shade of shrubs or trees. Even if it is watered only occasionally, it pleases gardeners for a long time with its flowering. Keeping a potted lavender requires a lot more effort and attention.

Many call the blue mountain flowers a charming guest from the south. Therefore, for the successful growth of a plant, it is important to comply with the following conditions:

a lot of sunlight;
loose sandy soil;
infrequent watering.

If there is not enough sunlight in the house, the flower will starve and eventually die. On average, lavender needs bright light for 6 hours. You should not risk the life of an exotic flower for the sake of experiment.

When transplanting a plant into a larger pot, a suitable substrate is prepared, consisting of one part of humus, sand or gravel and two parts of sod land. First, the container with the plant is abundantly moistened so as not to damage the roots of the flower during transplantation. Together with the earthy clod, lavender is transferred to another container, where it continues to develop successfully.

To get loose soil, regular soil is thoroughly mixed with sand and the drainage located at the bottom of the pot is covered.

With proper care for lavender, the main thing is not to overdo it with watering. A heat-loving plant does not need constant soil moisture. Otherwise, it will stretch upward, the leaves will first brighten, then wither, and "goodbye lovely lavender." In view of this, it is advisable to water the plant no more often than once every 7 days. In a period of high humidity, the gap between waterings can be increased up to 10 days. The best option is to water when the top layer of the earth is completely dry.

In winter, the bush is pruned and sent to a cool room. Slices are made several catch higher than the place where the leaves begin to grow. Watering is carried out once every 14 days.

In order for lavender to thrive on the windowsill for a long time, it needs to be fed regularly at least every 2 weeks. Any fertilizer for indoor plants will do.

Indoor plant lovers have noticed that lavender grows best in light-colored pots.

Dark-colored containers attract the heat of the sun, so they quickly heat up, which adversely affects the roots of the plant. Such, it would seem, is a trifle, and the life of a gentle southern flower depends on it.

Video about growing lavender in a pot

Lavender is a perennial essential oil crop, a semi-shrub. It is famous not only for its subtle Relaxing aroma, which is not tolerated by moths and mosquitoes, but also for its medicinal properties. Her homeland is located on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, therefore the plant is quite thermophilic.

Although this useful and beautiful flower is finicky and problematic to grow, it is possible at home in a pot. For good growth of room lavender, it is enough to take into account some subtleties and apply little effort. And these delicate flowers will adorn any balcony or loggia windowsill. Indoor specimens are much smaller than street varieties, but no less decorative.

How to grow lavender at home

For regions where the winter temperature drops below -15 ° C, it is necessary to take care of the safety of the roots, because there are no frosts in the homeland of a flower. The right solution would be to grow the bushes in ceramic pots or other suitable containers so that you can quickly hide them from frost. In winter, lavender shoots will do well at home in a pot on sunny windowsills.

Before growing lavender at home, you need to decide on the variety. When choosing one of the many types, it is necessary to take into account the climatic conditions of the area. French varieties are very thermophilic, while England and Portugal offer more resistant varieties.

The most important attribute when planting is the capacity in which the bush will grow. It should be deep and wide, at least 2 liters in volume and approximately 30 cm in diameter. After all, the root system of lavender has a large mass.

For the exuberant flowering of home lavender bushes, compliance with the basic rules of cultivation is required:

Loosening the soil once a week to ensure the flow of oxygen to the rhizome.
To maintain the moisture content of the substrate at the proper level, laying a layer of mulch on top will help. For this, needles, sawdust or a store decorative substrate are suitable. The lower parts of the stems must be left open, otherwise mold or mildew may attack them due to the high humidity.
To form a lush and beautiful bush, pruning excess, dry and weakened stems will help. Lavender can also be decorated in the bonsai style, because it is obedient and the shoots grow well in any direction.
With the onset of winter, pruning of dried stems is carried out. In severe frosts, the plants are covered or brought from the balcony (veranda) into the room.
To feed and fertilize the bushes, it is suitable to use, according to the instructions, any complex mineral preparation for ornamental plants (with the exception of violets). But at the same time, fertilizers should not contain organic matter and nitrogen. To accelerate the growth and build-up of green mass, the introduction of potassium-containing dressings will help. Top dressing is applied to the root areas during the flowering period.
In the second half of July, feeding should be stopped, so the flowers can rest and successfully prepare for winter.

Reproduction methods

Lavender propagates by cuttings, cuttings, dividing the bush or seeds. Its layers are able to quickly take root and in the same year they will delight with delicate fragrant flowers. Growing from seeds is more time consuming, but it makes it possible to choose any of the varieties that are commercially available.

Propagation using seeds

After sowing, the first shoots appear in 50-55 days. With a great desire to grow one of the exotic whimsical varieties, strict adherence to all important stages of preparation and sowing is necessary:

The seeds need to be stratified, for this they are kept in a cold place for at least 45 days. You can fill in the seed material with clean river sand, wrap it in a strong bag and store it on the lower shelf of the refrigerator. Cold hardening provides friendly seedlings, because it creates a feeling of natural conditions for the development of plants.
Light and soft sandy soils with good fertilization are suitable for sowing. In this case, the seeds are buried no more than 3 cm. Clay soil is categorically unsuitable. The most optimal soil mixture is as follows: 3 parts of deciduous soil, part of sand and two parts of humus. The addition of lime helps to create ideal growing conditions.
The appearance of the first shoots should be expected no earlier than 30 days. Normal growth should take place at a temperature of about + 15- + 20 ° C and sufficient lighting with the presence of sunlight. It is better to place containers with seedlings on the windowsill of a well-lit south or east window. Penumbra causes the shoots to reach for the light, resulting in weak, tall stems.
Lavender does not tolerate severe waterlogging and. Good drainage is essential for stable growth in a container. For this purpose, pebbles, expanded clay, nutshells are used, and the bottom is strewn with shards or fine gravel. In this case, you need to ensure that the drainage does not block the drain holes in the bottom of the container.
To bring the emergence of seedlings closer, the pots are placed under glass or foil. At the same time, it is important to ventilate twice a day.
When the shoots grow 5 cm and form a strong, healthy horse system, it is time to transplant them into permanent growing containers. Seedlings are planted at a distance of 10 cm from each other, this is a suitable option for home growing.
Now it is better to be patient, because in the first year of life the plants are busy forming the root system and are gaining strength. Lavender flowers will delight you with the appearance after a year, or maybe a year and a half.

Now all you need to do is simple maintenance, which consists in maintaining the moisture of the substrate at a suitable level and regular loosening.

Dividing the bush

For successful reproduction by dividing the bush, some preparation is required. In the autumn, the plant is pruned at a height of 8-10 cm and sprinkled with soil. With the arrival of spring, lavender is sprinkled again. These actions lead to the formation of numerous shoots. With the arrival of a new autumn, the bushes will be completely ready for separation.

When multiplying by division, flowering comes earlier than when using other methods. Adult bushes are carefully dug up and divided into separate parts. Before planting new plants in the ground, the root lobes are cut off so that they receive more moisture from the soil. At home, this breeding method is the most convenient.

When the bushes gain strength and give the first inflorescences, you can try to propagate by layering.

Reproduction using layering

This is a very convenient and time-consuming method. Next to the bushes, grooves are made into which some of the lower stems are bent, fixed in this position and sprinkled with a substrate. Plants will take root in these places. In the next spring, the cuttings are suitable for independent growth. They are cut off from the bush, dug up and transplanted.

Potted lavender looks very beautiful and unusual. Although it is not much more difficult to grow bushes at home and take care of it than in the open field. The main condition is the purchase of quality seeds or seedlings. Poor quality seed may simply not sprout. And for good growth, it is important to observe the temperature regime and carefully look after. If it is important to get a plant of a certain variety, then for complete confidence it is better to purchase already flowering bushes. And if you apply diligence and patience, the house will always be filled with the alluring aroma of excellent flowering bushes.

Lavender is familiar to many as an essential oil crop that has soothing properties and helps relieve headaches. An evergreen plant that requires an abundance of warmth and light, it grows naturally in the Canary Islands, India and the Mediterranean. This plant, which is successfully used in medicine, cosmetology, interior decoration, is especially popular in domestic open spaces.

The endurance of lavender, the ability to withstand heat and frost make it possible to grow such a crop on an industrial scale.

Lavender: description

Lavender at home is an effective insecticide: planted in orchards and vegetable gardens, it repels pests. In particular, the plant is not tolerated by moths and Colorado beetles.

In gardens and flower beds, lavender creates a chic backdrop, highlighting the individuality of the rest of the plants. Its harmony with roses is gorgeous, as well as the combination of aromas of these two beautiful plants.

Outwardly, lavender, the cultivation of which is not particularly difficult, is a bush with an approximate diameter of 0.5 to 2 meters, with narrow, silvery leaves; flowers (from blue to dark purple) are collected in spike-shaped inflorescences. Dried twigs have a delicate, somewhat bitter aroma. Used at home as an effective anti-moth remedy. They look harmoniously in "folk" interiors: chalets, provence, country.

In ancient Greece, lavender was used for washing and washing, which is the reason for its today's name: "lava" from Latin means "wash".

Varieties of lavender

In nature, there are about 25 species of this plant.

Lavender is English or narrow-leaved. Has a strong fresh smell. The bush is about 1 meter in height and in diameter. Leaves are gray-green, narrow, small. The flowering period is in the middle of summer. Inflorescences are large, placed on long stems. The variety is quite easy to care for, adapted to low temperatures.

Lavender is French or broadleaf. It is considered the ancestor of decorative varieties. Has a wide range of colors. Flowering begins in May.The aroma is very strong, not always pleasant.

Hybrid Dutch lavender. Popular in Southern and Central Europe. Narrow-leaved tall (up to 2 meters) variety, characterized by large inflorescences located on long stems. Blooms in July. It is widely used in industry.

Lavender toothed. The variety is thermophilic; in the conditions of the domestic climate, it is suitable only for indoor cultivation. It has silvery, soft leaves. The inflorescences are composed of large blue flowers.

Features of lavender care

Lavender at home takes time and some patience. The plant prefers sandy soil, direct sunlight, does not need frequent watering. In the shade, the plant will take root, but it will not please with abundant flowering. Planting lavender near bodies of water is not recommended. Being a long-term plant, lavender needs pruning, the purpose of which is to form a beautiful lush crown of the plant. It is required to produce it in the fall (after wilting of the spikelets-inflorescences), shortening the bush to a height of 3-5 cm above the soil surface. Pruning should be done carefully, until woody shoots.

Lavender, which is not difficult to care for, needs constant loosening. This will provide good air circulation and get rid of nearby weeds. Also, the earth can be mulched, rotted foliage, needles or wood chips can be used as mulch. The soil should remain open near the base of the trunk, which will protect it from rotting.

The plant is transplanted in spring or autumn, during the dormant period, before the onset of cold weather. For the winter, it is recommended to cover lavender with spruce branches or needles. If the plant is still frozen, the dead parts should be cut off. The bush will recover quickly enough.

Lavender breeding methods

Lavender is cultivated in several ways: by seeds, layering, cuttings, dividing the bush. The seed growing method is little used due to its duration. Lavender seeds must be sown in a prepared container with sandy soil, moistened and left for 30-40 days; the recommended temperature for this is + 5оС. After this time period, it is recommended to transfer the box with seeds to a warm, bright place, where to wait for the first shoots to appear. Disembarkation is carried out in May.

Seed lavender will grow better if the seed is stratified. To do this, the seeds should be mixed with a certain amount of sand, placed in a container, which must be wrapped in polyethylene and placed in the refrigerator for a month and a half. This will ensure faster germination of the plant. At the end of this procedure, lavender seeds can be sown. That's the whole procedure.

Lavender at home, planted with seeds, will not bloom soon: at first, the seedlings will develop, grow the root system. The plant will be able to appear in all its beauty only after a year, or even two.

The method of propagation by layering is convenient and not laborious. It is required to prepare a groove near the bush, into which to bend several lower branches. The latter must be attached and covered with soil. By next spring, the layering is ready for independent existence, it only needs to be carefully trimmed on both sides, dug up and transplanted.

When grafting, it is recommended to use woody annual shoots. They need to be cut into pieces of 7-10 cm and immersed in a loose earthy mixture, covered with a film and constantly moisten the soil. Rooted branches must be carefully dug out, leaving an earthen lump on the roots, and transplanted to a permanent place of growth.

Reproduction by dividing the bush

The way lavender propagates by dividing the bush requires some preparation. In autumn, the plant must be cut off by 8-10 cm, and then sprinkled with earth. Sprinkle again in the spring: this will lead to the formation of numerous shoots.In the fall, the lavender bush will be completely ready for dividing.

New lavender bushes are planted depending on the size of the latter; the approximate distance is 0.5-1.5 meters between each other.

Lavender in a pot is beautiful, it is fragrant, it is unusual! Growing such a culture indoors is somewhat more difficult than in the open field. In this case, compliance with the temperature regime and careful care will be important components of its high-quality growth. Indoor specimen of lavender is an order of magnitude smaller than its street compatriot, which does not detract from its decorative effect.

Lavender: home cultivation

So, to grow lavender at home, you will need a deep and wide container due to the massiveness of the plant's root system. The bottom of the pot should be covered with a layer of drainage; the soil for planting is recommended to be soft and well fertilized. Moreover, lavender does not like organic and nitrogen fertilizers; good growth will be provided by potassium-containing dressings. Mineral preparations are recommended to be applied to the root area during flowering. The most optimal soil composition is as follows: 3 parts of leafy land, part of sand and two parts of humus. Sandy soil with added lime will create ideal conditions for lavender to grow.

Potted lavender prefers cool, sunny locations. It will feel most comfortable on a terrace, a cool balcony, from the outside of the window.

Watering the plant

It is enough to water the plant once a week (in the morning or in the evening), in the cool season - twice a month, using additional air humidification. To form a lush crown, it is recommended to water it mostly on the green part of the plant. Water stagnation should not be allowed, otherwise the lavender at home will simply die.

Seeing once a blooming lavender in a pot and breathing in its delicate delicate scent, you will definitely want to plant this mountain flower from the southern shores of the Black Sea in order to enjoy the fresh healing scent without leaving your home. What you need to know about growing a plant at home will be discussed below.

Description and characteristics of lavender

The heat-loving lavender comes from the mild warm climate of the Mediterranean and loves space, an abundance of sunlight. It is a low-growing shrub up to 1 m high with narrow silvery-green leaves and lilac flowers.

Flowering lavender in a pot

There are two varieties of colors: English and French.

The English species have narrow leaves, and purple inflorescences are elongated. English lavender is unpretentious and winter-hardy, suitable for growing outdoors and even in central Russia does not require digging in the fall for wintering in pots.

French, unlike English, has wider leaves, lavender inflorescences and is shorter in size. In cultivation, this species is more capricious, when the air temperature drops to -15 ° C, the plant dies, therefore this species is grown mainly in pots.

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantage of room lavender is its aromatic scent., exuded during flowering, has a calming effect and relieves headaches.

Lavender is an essential oil plant and has many beneficial properties.

An essential oil is made from flowers, which is used in medicine, aromatherapy, cosmetology and perfumery.

Lavender oil is used to treat burns, joint pain, and as a massage oil to help relax and relieve muscle tension. It has a strong antimicrobial effect.

Lavender basket

When growing a flower at home, you can use them by cutting and drying flowering shoots:

for making sachets - aromatic pillows for adding a delicate aroma to linen and repelling moths;
add to the formulations of herbal pillows that help with spasmodic headaches and the fight against insomnia;
use as a freshener for shoes (put into shoes at night, they remove an unpleasant odor);
as an addition to green and flower tea;
in cooking, add to baked goods, salads, vegetable and fish dishes.

The plant has no drawbacks, except that the individual intolerance of the rich bitter aroma.

Planting and leaving

There are several ways to grow lavender at home:

Dawn on a lavender field

By cuttings. Cuttings 10 cm long are cut from an annual shoot, leaves are removed from the lower end. The cuttings are placed in a light moist soil, covered with a film to maintain moisture and wait for the roots to appear. Cuttings take root easily.
Seeds. Before planting, seeds must go through a stratification process, i.e. processing them with cold to increase germination. The seeds are placed in a moist substrate, covered with a plastic bag and placed on the lower shelf of the refrigerator for 1.5-2 months. After the stratification period has elapsed, the seed containers are placed in a bright and warm place until shoots appear. The grown seedlings are dived into cups, and then transplanted into pots as they grow. Seedlings will bloom in 1-2 years.
By dividing the bush. You can separate the part of the shrub growing in the garden and place it in a pot to grow in the house.

Growing lavender in a pot culture requires certain rules to be followed:

the brightest place is chosen, preferably southern windows, but in the summer, during the hottest midday hours, a little shading is required;
the soil should be light, nutritious and consist of 3 parts of leafy earth, 2 parts of humus and 1 part of sand, it is imperative to add 1 tbsp. wood ash or lime;
when planting a flower in a pot, there must be a good drainage layer, excluding stagnant water.

Lavender loves calcareous soils, so it is advisable to add crushed eggshells to flower pots.

Plant care consists of:

in watering as the soil dries up, the flower does not like waterlogging;
dressing: after planting and pruning, nitrogen fertilizers are applied for good growth of green mass, complex mineral fertilizers are applied before and during flowering;
in spring before flowering and in summer after, lavender is pruned to shape the bush and stimulate flowering.

Fragrant lavender fields

Problems of growing in a pot at home

There are no particular difficulties in growing a plant at home., but some of the nuances of planting and care are still worth considering.

Since the plant loves space, and this applies not only to the surrounding space, but also to the volume of the pot. Lavender has a long root, if in the process of growth it rests against something, then it stops growing, which means it stops growing entirely. Given this feature of the plant, pots for growing need to be taken wide and deeper.
When growing, the plant needs direct sunlight for at least 8 hours a day.
In summer, lavender needs to be taken out into the garden or on the balcony, it needs fresh air.
In winter, the plant needs the lightest windowsill, the temperature is not higher than 15 ° C and moderate watering.
From spring to autumn, flowers must be fed regularly, otherwise the plant may stop developing normally, which will certainly affect flowering.
It is necessary to replant lavender annually, changing not only the soil, but also the size of the pot to a larger one.

In no case should the soil in the pot be allowed to dry out. Drying out of the earthen coma of a plant even once leads to its death. No growth stimulants will help to restore the root system.

Protection against diseases and pests

Lavender is rarely affected by pests and diseases at home.... Infection of the plant with gray rot.

With waterlogged soil, the plant may become infected with gray rot. In this case, the affected stems are removed.

Having learned about the intricacies of growing lavender at home and making sure that there is nothing too complicated in this process, you can safely take on flower experiments. Having grown a beautiful and fragrant bush on your windowsill, you will not only fill your house with the smells of summer and the Crimean coast, but also provide yourself with useful flowers and leaves without leaving your home.

Date of publication:Growing at home