Many people love this pretty evergreen shrub for its scent and pretty flowers. Did you know that it does well in containers? It does as long as the soil mix and other conditions are right for it. Here are some important tips on how to plant lavender in pots so that your plants stay happy and healthy.
Lavender is the classic plant of the Mediterranean. It smells great and is pleasing to the senses, and it can also be used in cooking. Plus, it looks good in the garden, patio, or balcony!.
This post is focused on planting lavender in pots to grow outside. I talk a little about bringing yours inside for the winter near the end of this post if you want to.
So many different species, hybrids, and lavender varieties are offered on the market. They grow in USDA zones 5 – 10. You can find your growing zone here.
You can buy English, Spanish, and French lavender with the usual purple, fragrant flowers or some with white or pink flowers. Most flower from early spring to late summer, depending on your zone. The soil mix, method of planting, and aftercare outlined here apply to all of them.
Before I became a content creator, I used to work as a gardener and planted and took care of a lot of lavender plants in the San Francisco Bay Area. In my own life, my mother lived in Sonoma, which has a great climate for growing lavender. I planted many of them in her garden, both in pots and raised beds. Lavender and I go way back!.
I wanted to try growing a lavender plant now that I live in the Sonoran Desert in Arizona. This perennial herb doesn’t like cool coastal climates or hot inland deserts (lavender does, but the sun and heat in the desert can be too much for it), but I chose to give it a try anyway. If it heads to the great compost pile in the sky, it won’t be from improper planting!.
Do you have questions about growing lavender? Check out our Lavender Q & A. Hopefully, we answer them for you here!.
Lavender is a popular and fragrant herb that can be grown successfully in containers. With its silvery-grey foliage upright flower spikes and compact form lavender makes an excellent addition to any patio, balcony or deck. The key to growing lavender in pots is getting the soil right. Lavender plants need free-draining soil that is slightly alkaline. Heavy clay soil that gets waterlogged will lead to root rot. In this article, I’ll explain exactly what type of soil you need for potted lavender and share my tips for creating the ideal soil mix.
Why Good Soil is Essential for Potted Lavender
Lavender originates from the Mediterranean region and mountainous areas of the Middle East. It thrives in sandy or gravelly soils that drain freely Lavender’s natural growing conditions are hot, sunny and dry. Too much moisture around the roots causes fungal infections that can kill the plant That’s why it’s so important to plant lavender in free-draining soil, especially when grown in containers.
Here are some of the problems that occur when lavender is planted in heavy dense soil that lacks adequate drainage
- Root rot due to excess moisture
- Slow growth
- Smaller flowers and fewer blooms
- Increased susceptibility to pests and diseases
- Winter damage or death of the plant
Planting lavender in the right free-draining soil provides the following benefits:
- Promotes healthy root development
- Allows quick drainage so roots don’t sit in wet soil
- Improves aeration around roots
- Encourages vigorous growth
- Maximizes flowering and fragrance
- Helps the plant thrive for many years
What’s the Best Potting Mix for Lavender?
The ideal potting medium for lavender should be lightweight, porous and fast-draining. It should also have a neutral to slightly alkaline pH between 6.5 and 7.5. Here are some specifics to look for when creating a custom soil mix for potted lavender:
Coarse sand or fine gravel: Sand improves drainage and mimics the sandy soils lavender grows in naturally. Aim for about 30% sand content in the potting mix.
Perlite or pumice: These porus volcanic minerals help aerate the soil and prevent compaction. Include around 20% perlite or pumice.
Compost: Compost contributes organic matter for moisture retention and nutrients. Make sure it is well-aged. Use around 25% compost.
Potting soil: Use a good quality commercial potting mix made for containers and combine it with the other ingredients. Potting soil should make up around 25% of the medium.
Bone meal or rock phosphate: These help balance the pH in the alkaline range lavender prefers.
Peat moss: This retains some moisture but make sure it is a low percentage like 10% so as not to make the mix too dense.
My Favorite Potting Mix Recipe for Lavender
Here is my personal tried-and-true formula for creating the perfect free-draining potting mix for lavender:
- 2 parts potting soil
- 2 parts coarse builder’s sand
- 1 part perlite
- 1 part peat moss or coco coir
- 1 part compost
- 1 tablespoon bone meal per gallon of soil mix
I mix everything together thoroughly in a large bucket before filling my pots and containers. The resulting light and porous soil provides the ideal balance of moisture retention, drainage and aeration that potted lavender plants love.
If you want an even simpler lavender potting mix, try this basic recipe:
- 2 parts potting soil
- 2 parts coarse sand
- 1 part perlite or vermiculite
Should I Add Gravel or Stones at the Bottom for Drainage?
Adding gravel, pebbles or stones in the bottom of pots under the soil has been a common practice to improve drainage. However, research has shown this isn’t actually necessary. The layer of rocks just takes up space in the container that could be used for more soil.
Instead, create a well-draining potting medium using a blend of sandy soil, perlite and other amendments described above. This will allow excess water to drain out of the pot more effectively than an inert layer of rocks.
Choosing the Right Pot for Lavender
Along with an appropriate potting mix, choosing the right container is also important for growing lavender on a patio or balcony. Here are some tips:
- Select a pot that is wider than deep. Lavender has a shallow root system.
- Make sure the pot has adequate drainage holes.
- Use terra cotta, clay, concrete or wood pots which help absorb excess moisture.
- Choose a pot at least 12 inches wide to accommodate the lavender’s root ball.
- For larger varieties, use a 14-16 inch wide container.
How to Plant Lavender in a Pot
When you have the right container and potting mix ready, follow these steps to plant your lavender:
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Fill the pot about 2/3 full with prepared soil mix.
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Carefully remove the lavender plant from its nursery pot, loosen circled roots and place in the pot.
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Backfill remaining space with soil, mounding slightly below the rim.
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Press down gently to remove air pockets.
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Water thoroughly until it drains from the bottom.
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Allow the soil to dry slightly between waterings after that.
Caring for Potted Lavender Plants
Here are some tips to keep your potted lavender thriving in the right soil:
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Place pots in full sun – lavender needs at least 6 hours per day.
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Check soil moisture by finger, water thoroughly, then allow pots to dry out.
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Apply slow-release fertilizer spikes in spring as needed.
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Prune off spent flower stems after blooming to encourage reblooming.
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Re-pot in fresh soil every 2-3 years.
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Overwinter indoors in cold climates.
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Protect pots from excess rain to avoid root rot.
With the right soil, lavender makes a beautiful and fragrant patio plant that will enhance your outdoor living space all season long. Follow these tips for creating an ideal free-draining potting mix and you can enjoy thriving lavender in pots for years to come.
Best Soil For Lavender In Pots
All lavender, big or small, needs a well-drained soil mix with a bit of grit. They do best growing in dry conditions. The soil doesn’t have to be perfect, but it does need to be slightly acidic, not too fertile, and well-aerated.
Lavender is susceptible to root rot, and a drainage mix helps prevent it. Wet soil causes wet roots, which in turn leads to fungal diseases like root rot.
You already know that I love adding compost and worm compost to the top of container plants to feed them and naturally keep the water in. Don’t put too much mulch or compost on top of your lavender plants. This is especially true if you live in a humid area or grow them indoors.
This is the mix I used with approximate measurements:
- 3 parts potting soil (this and some compost make it more rich)
- 1 part clay pebbles (these help the soil drain better and add air to it)
- 1 part pumice (ditto on the above)
- When I planted, I added a handful or two of compost and then sprinkled 1/4′′ of worm compost on top. You can change this blend to fit your climate since I’m in the desert.
Alternate mixes with less components:
- 1 part potting soil / 1 part horticultural sand
- 1 part potting soil / 1 part pumice or perlite
- 1 part potting soil / 1 part fine rock
Plant Choice / Pot Choice
Lavenders range in size from 18″ to 36″. The larger your lavender grows, the larger the pot will need to be. Some lavenders grow to be 3′ x 3′ when they are fully grown, so they need a big base to fit their roots and grow to their full size. This will help them bloom the best.
I chose Lavender ‘Munstead”, one of the compact English varieties. It’s suited for small spaces. It gets 18 x 18″, so the 12″ pot that I planted is fine. A 14 to 16″ pot would have worked too.
The larger lavenders will appreciate pots 20 – 24″ in diameter. This plant doesn’t like to sit in wet soil, so the pot you use needs to have at least one drainage hole so the water can drain out.
As for material, I’ve seen lavender planted in ceramic, metal, plastic, and terracotta pots.
Tip: This is what I did when I was gardening and the perennial or shrub I put in a big pot made it look terrible. I planted annuals in and around because they grow fast and take up quite a bit of space. As the plant grew, I’d scale back or eliminate the annuals.
Do you have questions about growing healthy lavender plants? Check out our Lavender Q & A. Hopefully, we answer them for you here!.
How to Grow Lavender in Containers or the Ground
FAQ
What is the best soil for potted lavender?
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Genus
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Lavandula
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Water Needs
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Low
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Soil Type
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Chalk, Loam, Sand
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Soil pH
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Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
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Soil Drainage
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Well-Drained
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Which potting soil is best for lavender?
Lavender prefers sandy loam soil that is well-aerated, well-drained, and rife with nutrients. There are several potting soil mixes that gardeners use to grow lavender. Yet gardeners consider few of these risk-free and reliable. Well-drained potting soil alone, for instance, doesn’t work for the plant.
How do you grow a lavender plant in a pot?
Choose a pot at least 2 in. larger than the current container and 1/3 the height of the lavender plant when it’s in bloom. Mix together potting soil, sand, and perlite or vemiculite and place several inches in the bottom of the container. Remove the lavender plant from its current pot and gently shake excess soil from the roots.
Can lavender grow in pots?
No matter which type of lavender you want to grow in pots, follow these steps to get your plants off to a strong start. 1. Select a container. Look for a container that is at least 18 inches wide to provide space for the lavender plant to grow plenty of roots. Plastic, fiber, and resin pots are lightweight and easy to move.
Can you grow lavender in containers?
Growing lavender in containers requires special attention to soil. Though it is possible to grow lavender in a quality potting soil, proper drainage is key in making certain the plants will be able to thrive. Experts suggest filling lavender containers with a mixture of compost, sand and/or gravel for the best results.