Lavender is a popular herb to grow. It’s easy to grow and has many benefits, including a beautiful smell and flowers for your garden.
However, if you want to grow lavender in pots, you need to know how often to water it.
How Often to Water Lavender In Pots
Watering frequency depends on the container, the potting medium, and your climate. In general, lavender in pots needs to be watered every 7-14 days depending on how quickly the soil dries out.
If you live in a hot and dry climate, you will want to water your plants more frequently than someone living in a cooler and damper climate.
Factors Determining How Often to Water Lavender In Pots
There are many factors that go into determining how often to water your lavender plants that are grown in pots.
Container size – A smaller pot will dry out faster than a larger one due to having less volume of soil to hold moisture.
Potting medium – Drier soils will dry out faster than wetter ones because there is less wicking action going on with drier soils.
Climate – Hotter climates require more frequent watering because they warm up quicker in the sun and heat up the potting medium inside of it more quickly as well.
How To Tell When To Water Your Lavender
Lavender is a very hardy plant that can tolerate dry conditions. However, if you want to keep your lavender looking beautiful, you need to learn how to tell when it’s time to water your lavender in pots.
A couple of signs that indicate that your lavender needs watering are:
- The leaves start to wilt and droop down
- The stems of the plant begin to turn brown or grey in color
- The soil level begins to drop down in the pot
If you see any of these signs, then it’s time for you to water your lavender. You should water your plant thoroughly until the excess water drains out of the bottom drainage hole at the bottom of the pot.
How to Water Lavender In Pots
Lavender plants thrive when they are planted in pots that have good drainage. If you have clay pots, line the bottom with rocks or gravel to ensure proper drainage. If you don’t know the type of pottery used, poke holes in the bottom with a nail or screwdriver before planting the lavender plant to create drainage holes.
Tips For Watering Lavender In Pots
Don’t overwater your lavender plants during the growing season from spring through autumn — this could cause root rot and kill your lavender plants. Water them only when they appear dry, which will be approximately once per week during hot summer weather, and less often in cooler temperatures.
Use rainwater or distilled water to water your lavender plants because tap water may contain minerals that will build up over time on the leaves, stems, and roots of your lavender plants, eventually causing them to turn yellowish brown and die off. You can also check the soil with your finger before watering; if it feels dry at least 1 inch below the surface.
Signs of Excessive Of Watering For Lavender in Pots
Lavender is a drought-tolerant plant, but it does need water to grow. If you have lavender growing in pots and are wondering if you are watering too much or too little, here are some signs to look for:
Leaves yellowing or wilting in the center. This can be a sign of over-watering. The plant needs more air around its roots. If the soil is constantly wet, it can’t breathe properly and will eventually drown itself.
Leaves fall off easily when touched or pulled off by hand. This is another sign of over-watering, but it also could be due to root rot if the soil is too wet or has poor drainage.
Root rot should be treated immediately because once it starts, it’s hard to stop and will spread quickly through your garden if left untreated.
Final Thoughts
Lavenders thrive in sandy soil and do not require frequent watering. In fact, overwatering your lavender can cause it to wilt or develop root rot. If you live in a warm climate where temperatures are consistently above 75 degrees Fahrenheit, you should only water lavender once per week during the summer months.
If you live in an area with cooler temperatures or if your lavender is under stress from drought conditions, then you may need to water it twice per week during the summer months.
