please help my ailing lavender!!

[bunny's mama]

hi all you green thumb mamas....i 'm having probs with my lavender. i originally had two big pots of it in front of the house. i recently noticed they were both turning a little yellow so i replanted them in the ground (i thought they were dying because the pots were too small and they needed more room to grow). they still look not so healthy though.

questions: how much water do lavender plants need? do they need some kind of fertilizer? is direct sunlight okay?

they were so pretty when i forst got them and i love the smell. help me!

thanks!

[3boysmom]

Lavender is very drought tolerant and can be overwatered. Yellow leaves don't always mean the plant is thirsty. Also, any plant, esp. those in pots, do need occassional doses of a good, all-round fertilizer. Lavender also likes a lot of sun. Mine is in the ground, gets pretty much full sun, is only watered during severe droughts, and is thriving and huge. Good luck!

[PuppyFluffer]

Lavender....is there a nicer fragrance! It is truly my favorite herb. It is rather drought tolerant and requires well drained soil. It's not the best in a pot. When you replanted it to the ground, were the roots white or brown? Healthy roots should be whitish. Often if they are brown, it could indicate root rot which happens when overwatering. Good luck with it!

[bamboogrrrl]

Lavender likes poor sandy soil, loads of sun and little water. Think of the desert-y conditions in Provence.

[bunny's mama]

the roots were definitely white.

and the soil i planted it in is definitely "poor"

i've stopped watering it entirely, and it looks even worse. SIGH. what to do.

[PuppyFluffer]

Do you know what variety of lavender you have? Not that it will matter or change anything, just curious. do you know how to make lavender wands? They are wonderful. If not, I'll try to explain.

[chrissy]

I'd like to know how to make lavendar wands. I have tons of wild, beautiful, relaxing smelling lavendar in my front yard and would love some ideas on bringing some of it inside.

[Chanley]

I will post more on the lavender wands in the next herb sticky.


All transplants need a little water daily to help restore damaged roots and get them established.

Lavender does not require much water and likes full sun in a slightly akaline soil. Think Provence France, think about where your lavender comes from and try to envision the climate and dirt. You are in California (lucky dog!! for gardening at least). They should do well in your climate.

I would not fertilize them very often. maybe once a year put a little compost in the soil around it. NOT MUCH. Most herbs prefer crappy soil.

After transplanting, did you prune them a bit? When you damage roots, it helps to take a little plant matter off of the top. Remember, those roots have to support the tops and if the roots have too much on top to support WHILE restoring themselves, you will get some die off. Thus asking for rot and fungus.

DOnt get too down, plants are all about learning and there is always next season!