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Lavender is one of the most popular herbs for its beautiful purple flowers and soothing fragrance. Many people want to grow lavender indoors in order to enjoy its beauty and aroma year-round. Back to the Roots makes it easy with their Organic Lavender Windowsill Planter kits.
In this article I’ll provide a complete guide to successfully growing lavender with Back to the Roots’ lavender planter kits. We’ll cover everything from setup and planting to troubleshooting common issues. My goal is to make lavender growing as simple as possible for you!
An Overview of the Back to the Roots Lavender Windowsill Planters
Back to the Roots’ lavender planters come with everything you need to grow organic lavender at home:
- A large 64oz mason jar with lid
- Custom organic potting soil
- Organic lavender seeds
- 2 organic fertilizer spikes
- 100% guaranteed to grow promise
The mason jar lets you watch the roots develop, while the custom soil provides nutrients tailored for lavender. The seeds are non-GMO and certified organic.
The fertilizer spikes give an extra boost at key growth stages And if for any reason your lavender doesn’t grow, Back to the Roots will replace your kit for free
Step-By-Step Lavender Growing Instructions
Below I’ll walk through how to use the Back to the Roots lavender kit from start to finish:
1. Prepare the Soil
First, remove the plastic lid from the mason jar. Fill the jar 3/4 full with the included potting soil.
Next, dampen the soil with 1/2 cup of water. This will moisten it prior to planting.
2. Plant the Seeds
Plant 6-8 lavender seeds evenly spaced around the top of the soil. Gently push the seeds about 1/4 inch into the soil.
Covering them lightly helps the seeds maintain consistent moisture and warmth to sprout.
3. Caring for Seedlings
In 2-4 weeks, you should see seedlings begin to emerge from the soil.
Once they reach about 3 inches tall, thin down to 3 seedlings by snipping excess stems at soil level.
When they are 5 inches tall, thin again so only the strongest plant remains. This reduces competition and lets the remaining plant thrive.
4. Ongoing Care
Lavender thrives in drier soil. Only water when the top 1-2 inches becomes dry. Add about 1/2 cup of water at a time.
Place the planter in a south facing window or area with at least 8 hours of direct sun daily. Normal room temperature between 70-75°F is ideal.
5. Fertilizing
Insert one of the included fertilizer spikes into the soil when plants are 8 weeks old.
Push the second spike in when you see the first flower buds emerge, usually around 12-16 weeks.
6. Harvesting and Enjoying!
You can start harvesting lavender leaves and stems for use once the plant is established with multiple sets of leaves.
Snip stems just above leaf junctions. Use fresh or dried in teas, baking, crafts, aromatherapy and more!
Soon you’ll have gorgeous lavender blooms filling your home with fragrance and beauty. The Back to the Roots kits make growing this lovely herb easy and fun!
Troubleshooting Common Lavender Growing Problems
Even with the best kits, issues can pop up when growing plants indoors. Here are some common lavender problems and how to resolve them:
Problem: Seeds failing to sprout
Solution: Lavender needs consistent warmth and moisture to germinate. Ensure the soil stays moist and the planter sits in a 70-75°F spot. Covering with plastic wrap can hold warmth and moisture.
Problem: Leggy, weak seedlings
Solution: Increase sunlight if possible. Supplement with a grow light placed 2-4 inches above plants. Turn off at night to maintain warmth.
Problem: Leaf yellowing
Solution: Adjust watering to keep soil moist but not saturated. Yellow leaves can mean both under and overwatering. Observe soil moisture closely.
Problem: Woody stems
Solution: This can happen from insufficient sunlight. Rotate the planter frequently so all sides get direct light. Supplement with a grow light if light levels are low.
Problem: Flower buds falling off
Solution: Improve pollination by gently shaking entire plant daily once buds appear. Maintain optimal temperature and increase sunlight.
Get Growing with Back to the Roots!
With the right setup, care and troubleshooting, you’ll soon be enjoying gorgeous, fragrant lavender grown by your own hands!
Lavender is such a versatile and lovely herb. Having an abundance of homegrown lavender encourages us to incorporate it into more aspects of daily life – from homemade lavender sugar to relaxing lavender baths.
Sunlight + Planter Placement
- A spot in your home that gets 8 hours of direct sunlight every day is best for your sunflower. This should be in a south-facing window most of the time, but why is that? What’s the next best thing if that’s not possible? How can I tell if the sunlight is direct? All of these are very good questions; read about how to find the best light for your planter!
- If you keep your sunflower at room temperature (70 to 75 °F), it will grow well. It is best for seeds to germinate when the temperature is a little higher, around 80 °F.
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- How often you water your planter will depend on how warm your home is and how much direct light it gets. Check the color of the soil through the mason jar. As it dries out, it will turn a lighter brown. That means you need to add more water! Also, you will need to water your sunflower seedlings less often when they are small than when the plant is bigger, so be careful and check on your plant often!
- If you tilt the jar on its side and see a lot of water slosh around the bottom, that’s the best sign that you’ve added too much water. To reach the bottom of the jar, use a thin tool, like a chopstick, to make a hole in the soil.
- You can carefully turn the jar upside down to help the soil drain. Don’t water again until the soil looks completely dry. From now on, add less water each time to keep the mixture from getting too wet.
- The green stuff is algae, which grows best where it’s wet and gets a lot of direct sunlight. It doesn’t hurt plant growth, but if you want to stop algae from growing, don’t add water until the soil is completely dry.
- Soil gnats and fruit flies often come inside when there is wetness, like when a cup of water is left out in the open, or in your case, when the soil is wet. We suggest that you water less often so that the soil doesn’t get too wet. You can also make a weak soapy solution that you can spray on the roots of your plants. Dont worry – this wont harm your plant. Heres a link to our favorite homemade recipe.
- You may have more than one sunflower seedling in your planter after they sprout. You’ll have to cut off any extra stems because your pot is only big enough for one full-size stem.
- After two weeks, take out all but the three strongest seedlings. Once these have more than one set of leaves, take off all but one.
- To thin it out right, you should first soften the soil with a little water. Next, carefully pull out stems by the part that is closest to the ground, being careful not to hurt any other plants.
- That way, the roots will have room to grow, and your sunflower will become a healthy, fully bloomed plant!
- You can still get rid of extra plants by trimming them the way we talked about above.
- The conditions in which your sunflower grows will determine how big it gets. Sunlight—at least 8 hours a day—will help your sunflower grow as big as it can.
- In general, your sunflower will grow to be between 8 and 24 inches tall. It will bloom big no matter how tall it gets!
- When the seeds are 8 to 10 weeks old, a flower bud will usually appear at the top of the plant stem. The flower will slowly open over the next two to three weeks. If you keep adding water, it will stay in bloom for weeks!
- Sunflowers will grow to full size with just the nutrients we’ve put into our custom soil blend. You don’t need to add any extra fertilizer or soil amendments.
If your sunflower seems to be stuck as a small plant, a few things can help:
- Cut back to one seedling. This will give one stem the most nutrients it needs to grow tall and strong.
- Check the soil. If you water your plant too much, the roots may not grow as fast. Let the soil in your planter dry out before you add more water.
- Make sure it gets 8 hours of sunlight every day, or use a grow light to help.
LAVENDER’S TOP ISSUE – GERMINATION
Lavender is beautiful and smells great, but it can be hard to grow from seeds. It needs extra care for the first three to four weeks! We’ve put together this detailed list of rules and tips that, if you follow them exactly, will have you growing like a pro! As always, we’re here for you! If you have additional questions, reach out at contact@backtotheroots. com and our growing experts will be happy to assist!.
Products: What does my Windowsill Planter come with? Where should I put my lavender to grow the best? How do I plant my Planter?
Back to the Roots Organic Lavender Grow Kit — How to Use
FAQ
How do you care for a potted lavender tree?
How do you plant lavender roots?
Does lavender transplant well in pots?
How often should I water lavender?
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