Not everyone has room for large lavender hedges. Luckily, you can also plant lavender in pots on the patio or balcony. We'll tell you how.
Lavender (Lavandula) grows in its original home on barren, nutrient-poor soil and therefore makes only low demands on cultivation. If you only have little space available, the sun-loving subshrub can therefore also be grown very well in a pot. While common lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is hardy, French lavender (Lavandula stoechas) and spike lavender (Lavandula latifolia) must ) need special protection during the cold months. If you plant frost-sensitive varieties in a pot right away, this makes overwintering much easier.
Planting lavender: pot or bed culture?
You can easily plant hardy varieties in the garden bed. Lavender forms a very large root system that requires a lot of space. Thanks to its large taproot, it can obtain water and nutrients from deeper soil layers very well. However, lavender can also grow very large above ground under optimal growth conditions.
It is better to plant frost-sensitive varieties in a pot from the outset so that you can easily move them indoors in winter. Due to the small pot volume, the lavender in this form of cultivation makes somewhat greater demands on care. In the following we will explain to you what you should already pay attention to when planting.
Planting lavender in a pot
After purchase, the lavender should be used as soon as possible to give the roots more space. It is best to choose a pot or tub that is large enough and leaves room for the roots to grow.
Clay pots are particularly suitable because the water can evaporate better here. A drainage hole on the underside of the pot and a matching saucer also allow excess water to drain away and prevent waterlogging. Because unlike garden lavender mustPotted lavender should be watered regularly. Therefore, ensure optimal pot drainage when planting and place a layer of drainage material - for example pebbles or potsherds - in the lower part of the pot.
This is covered with a substrate suitable for lavender. This should be rather nutrient-poor and calcareous. The permeability of the substrate can be improved by adding sand. A high-quality herbal soil such as our Plantura organic herb and seed soil is ideal. It is perfectly adapted to the requirements of Mediterranean herbs such as lavender. After planting, you should water your lavender well and then remove excess water from the saucer to avoid root rot.
Summary of planting lavender in a pot:
- Choose a sufficiently large pot with a drainage hole
- Insert drainage layer
- Add herbal soil such as Plantura Organic Herb & Seed Soil
- Place the lavender plant in the middle
- Fill with soil and press down gently
- Water well and remove excess water
In our special article on the subject of planting lavender, we explain the site requirements of lavender and what needs to be considered when planting it in the garden bed.
Caring for lavender in pots
So that your potted lavender can grow well and thrive, a few care measures are necessary over the course of the year. Regular pruning, annual repotting and appropriate overwintering are critical to success.
Cutting the lavender in the pot
Pruning should be done twice a year. In spring, cut back about one to two thirds of the lavender just before it sprout. After the flowers have faded in summer, you can cut back halfway. Regular pruning promotes he alth, keeps the lavender bush in shape and counteracts balding. However, you should never cut into the woody part of the plant so that you don't have to use too much force to regrow.
You can also find detailed instructions on how to cut lavender correctly in our special article.
Repot lavender
You should repot particularly vigorous lavender plants if necessary. Choose a pot that is about 10 cm larger than the root ball of the plant. Then bring in thePut another drainage layer in the new pot and replace the old soil with fresh substrate. Before planting, you can carefully loosen the root ball with your hands. If the plant has already become too small in the old pot, the roots can also be cut off a bit. This stimulates root growth and promotes nutrient uptake. Finally, water the lavender well. Later, watering again only needs to be done when the soil feels very dry.
You can find more information about "Watering the lavender" in our special article.
Overwintering lavender in a pot
It is best to bring the potted plants inside before the first frost and place them in a dry, unheated room. A bright place in the basement or in the garage is ideal for the winter. If you don't have space inside, the parking space in the garden should always be frost-free, sheltered from the wind and partially shaded. Terracotta pots are ideal in winter as they absorb excess moisture and protect the roots from freezing. As a protective measure against ground frost, you can place the pot on a base made of polystyrene or wood. If the temperatures drop below zero for a longer period of time, you should bring the bucket inside or at least cover it with straw mats as thermal insulation so that the lavender does not freeze to death.
Check out our special article for more tips and tricks on overwintering lavender successfully.
Suitable cultivars and species of lavender for pot cultivation
Different types of lavender can grow quite differently in height. For reasons of space, low-growing lavender varieties are usually better suited for pot cultivation on the balcony or terrace. Such varieties are also often offered as dwarf lavender in specialist shops. Larger species such as the spike lavender may also feel very comfortable in large pots.
Cream lavender does not grow that big and is extremely sensitive to frost. Therefore, pot cultivation is very good for this species. We would like to introduce you to the following varieties:
- 'Otto Quast': Grows to about 40 - 60 cm high; fragrant French lavender with pink-purple flowers; dense, broad growth; can be cultivated in a container.
- 'Anouk': growth height up to 60 cm; suitable for buckets or troughs; dark purple flowers; long flowering period (May to August); intense, pleasant fragrance.
True lavender, on the other hand, is relatively hardy and can also be overwintered outdoors in a sheltered place. If you don't have your own garden or don't have enough space, it can also be planted very well in a pot. The following varieties are particularly suitable for this:
- 'Blue Cushion': Light blue cushion lavender; Dwarf form with a growth height of up to 30 cm; also very suitable for bed borders.
- 'Peter Pan': Compact, cushion-like growth (up to 45 cm high); bicolored inflorescences with light and dark purple flowers.
- 'Nana Alba': white flowers; bushy, compact growth; growth height 10 - 15 cm; flowers from July to August.
- 'Dwarf Blue': Deep purple flowers from July to August; bushy, compact growth; Growth height 20 - 30 cm.
- 'Blue Scent': Very compact growth; grows up to 30 cm high; purple-blue flowers from June to August; intense scent.
Of course there are many other types of lavender in all imaginable colors and shapes. A comprehensive collection of varieties of real lavender can be found here.