Growing lavender in pots.

[cheops]

Hi Everyone,
I'm about to order four different lavender plants mainly because I know they are great for our bees.
My questions are - how well do they do in pots? Does anyone here grow lavender in pots? I believe they like their roots to be in cramped conditions. Should then I grow them in smallish pots. I intend to place the pots on decking. What is the best compost to use for them? If anyone can answer any of these questions I'd be very grateful. And of course as usual I'd be very grateful if anyone has any other advice related to growing lavender in pots. Thanks.

[Jay22]

Something I have never had any luck with! Each one I have purchased and pot grown has died on me unfortunately...maybe someone out there has the secret?

[Nannysally99]

I have got a lavender plant in a tall 'chimney' style pot. On its 3rd year now and greening up nicely

[craftymarie]

I grow lavender in pots, have done for a number of years and not killed them off yet!

Not sure on the theory of smaller pots. Mine are in large, ceramic pots but pots which look suitable for the size of the lavender.

The roots of lavender despise being water logged which is why I originally put mine in pots because we have heavy clay soil which is wet for most of the year apart from the very hot summer months. In pots, I've been able to move them under shelter during particularly prolonged wet and cold weather. Good drainage is key whether planted in a pot or in the ground.

I don't normally bother watering them except maybe once a week during hot, dry weather. They don't mind being on the dry side.

As for compost, I've only ever used bog standard compost on these and they've been fine. Think we normally get it from homebase. I feed them during the summer with liquid seaweed when I water.

Prune the tops down a little later summer after flowering is over - you need to be careful not to prune too far down into the old growth, leave new growth on or you can basically kill it off.

[MarkPelican]

Same as craftymarie, I've grown in relatively large (12-15 inch) pots. I also grew some from seed (Munstead Dwarf). Seedlings in 7cm pots year before last and then potted up into 11cm terracotta pots as table centres for my daughters wedding last year. They're still fine this year but I think they need more care than the bigger pots.

[cheops]

Well thanks everyone especially craftymarie. I'm happy now to go ahead and buy the four lavenders. Ordinary compost _ great. Seaweed feed in summer - even better. As I type I have a container outside with seaweed and filled with water. I'll have a free liquid feed very soon now. Hope the bees appreciate the lavenders. Thanks again everyone.

[bramble]

Try to grow them in well drained soil as Marie said, they hate being wet. I have some coarse gravel mixed through the compost. I also have gravel covering the top of the pot so the stems are not sitting in wet soil.

[cheops]

Advice noted and will be executed. Thx Bramble.