Lavender plants brighten both homes and gardens with beautiful flowers, fragrant foliage, and symbolic value. While these plants are relatively easy to care for, they are susceptible to problems. One of the main challenges lavender owners face is watering their plants on a proper schedule. In this guide, we’re going to cover when and how to water lavender plants so you can keep them happy and thriving.
- When and How to Water Lavender Plants – The Essentials
- About Lavender
- The Role of Water in Plant Health and Development
- When to Water Lavender
- How to Water Lavender
- Signs You Might be Overwatering Your Lavender
- Signs You Might be Underwatering Your Lavender
- What to Do In Between Watering Cycles
- Watering Lavender FAQs:
- Wrapping Up
When and How to Water Lavender Plants – The Essentials
Lavender plants require low to moderate amounts of moisture and prefer their soil to dry out in between watering. Water lavender plants when the top two inches of soil is dry. Depending on environmental conditions, you may need to water every one to two weeks.
About Lavender
Lavender plants consist of more than 40 species in the Lavandula genus. These plants are small plants or shrubs that are native to areas throughout Europe, North Africa, and West Asia.
The lavender species that are most commonly grown as ornamental and medicinal plants have purple flowers. These flowers have a strong, distinct fragrance.
Although lavender plants are often grown outdoors in warm environments, they can also be kept as houseplants. No matter where they grow, they require lots of bright light and excellent drainage.
The Role of Water in Plant Health and Development
Water is essential to plants for many reasons. However, we are only going to detail a few of the most important.
First, is photosynthesis. This is the process in which plants use solar energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose, oxygen, and water. Plants use glucose to complete a variety of processes.
Next, is transpiration, or the plant equivalent of sweating. As plants heat up, they release water through leaf pores known as stomata. This process helps cool plants down.
Water also helps move nutrients and sugars throughout the plant. Nutrients move from the roots upward, while sugars move from the leaves to the rest of the plant.
Finally, water is an integral part of maintaining turgor pressure. This pressure allows plants to remain rigid and move in response to light and wind. A lack of turgor pressure results in limp plants.
What Type of Water is Best for Lavender?
Most types of lavender plants generally aren’t too picky about the type of water they receive. That means tap water is often fine to use.
However, if your tap water is hard or filled with lots of minerals, consider using rainwater or filtered water.
When to Water Lavender
Lavender plants like to be watered when their soil is slightly dry. The goal is never to allow the soil to dry out completely but also to prevent the soil from remaining moist.
How Do You Know When a Lavender Plant Needs to Be Watered?
The best way to determine when to water a lavender plant is to check the soil. If your plant is showing signs it’s lacking water, you’ve waited too long to water.
With that said, you should water your lavender plant when the top two inches of soil are dry.
How to Check When to Water Lavender
An easy way to check soil moisture levels is with your fingertips. If the top two inches feel dry, it’s time to water. If they feel moist, hold off on watering.
How Often Do Lavender Plants Typically Need to Be Watered?
In general, lavender plants need to be watered once every one to two weeks. However, the exact frequency in which you’ll need to water will depend on numerous environmental factors.
Environmental Considerations That May Impact Watering Cycles
When you’re determining how often to water your lavender plant, keep the following factors in mind.
- Temperature: A higher temperature means increased rates of transpiration. Therefore, you will need to water more frequently at higher temperatures.
- Humidity: Low humidity will also lead to high transpiration rates. Therefore, you can expect to water more often when the air is dry.
- Sunlight: More sun equals more transpiration, which means you will need to water more often.
- Airflow: Increased airflow from drafts or vents means you will need to water your plant more often.
Seasonal Considerations That May Affect Watering Cycles
When the shorter days of winter arrive, many plants slow their growth. This is true for lavender plants. As such, plants transpire less and require less water.
However, the humidity is often lower during the winter, which may mean you need to water your plant more frequently.
How to Water Lavender
Lavender prefers deep wet and dry cycles. This means you should thoroughly water your lavender plant’s soil and then allow it to dry before watering again.
Top and bottom watering are both appropriate for lavender.
To top water, slowly water the soil while aiming not to wet the plant’s foliage. Remove any water that has been collected in the pot’s catch dish.
Bottom watering involves sitting your lavender pot in a dish with an inch or two of water. The water will dry up through the soil over a few hours. When the top of the soil is moist, remove the pot from the water dish.
Signs You Might be Overwatering Your Lavender
If you’re overwatering your lavender plant, you may notice one or more of the following.
Drooping Leaves
If the soil is constantly moist, roots may develop rot. This prevents the plant from taking up water, which may result in drooping or wilting leaves.
Root Rot
If you remove your lavender plant from its pot and notice soft or mushy roots, it’s like your plant has a fungal infection known as root rot. Since this condition occurs most often in wet soil, it can be a sign of overwatering.
Discolored Leaves
Yellowing or browning leaves may also indicate you are watering your lavender plant too much.
Signs You Might be Underwatering Your Lavender
Wilting Leaves
Wilting and drooping leaves can also indicate that you’re not providing your plant with enough water.
Dry Soil
If the soil is extremely dry, you are likely underwatering.
What to Do In Between Watering Cycles
Should You Mist Lavender In-Between Watering Cycles?
No, you should not mist your lavender plants. These plants like low to moderate humidity.
Will Lavender Benefit from Sitting on a Humidity Tray?
No, a lavender plant does not need a humidity tray.
Main Things to Watch For
The main thing to keep an eye on is soil moisture level. You should water when the top few inches of soil are dry, but not before then.
Additionally, if the soil is still wet a few weeks after you have watered, you may need to switch to a better draining soil mix.
Watering Lavender FAQs:
If the top two inches of soil is dry, you should water your lavender plant.
What Is the Best Way to Water Lavender?
Lavender can be watered via top watering or bottom watering. It is vital to ensure the water becomes thoroughly moist and dries out before you water it again.
How Much Water Do Lavender Plants Need?
Lavender plants need a low to moderate amount of water. Expect to provide four to eight inches of water each month, depending on environmental conditions and the plant size.
What Do I Do If I Overwater My Lavender Plant?
Allow the soil to dry out before watering again. If the roots are rotten, trim infected sections and then repot.
Can I Water My Lavender Plant with Tap Water?
Most tap water is acceptable to use to water lavender plants. However, hard or mineral-rich water can lead to issues.
Wrapping Up
Remember to only water your lavender plant when the top few inches of soil is dry. If you’re unsure if you should water, edge on the side of keeping the soil dry rather than moist.
For more, see our in-depth guide on how to harvest, dry, and preserve lavender at home and our essential guide to propagating lavender if you’re looking to expand your collection.
Briana holds a B.S. in Plant Sciences from Penn State University. She manages a small market garden where she grows vegetables and herbs. She also enjoys growing flowers and houseplants at home.
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