How Often to Water Lavender? Complete Guide

When you grow lavender, you may feel a little confused about how often to water lavender. Several factors including the type of soil they are planted in, the climate, and the size of the plant, will affect how frequently you should water your lavender plants.

In general, lavender plants need to be watered about once a week.

Well, lavender needs water to complete photosynthesis, just like other plants do. Your lavender will eventually perish without water because it won’t be able to produce sugar for fuel.

Keep reading, we explain below what you need to consider about watering lavender.

How Often to Water Newly Planted Lavender?

Lavender that has just been planted will require the most care and consideration when it comes to watering. The reason you need to water newly planted lavenders more then any other type is simply to mitigate transplant shock.

Whether it is in a pot or is planted in the garden, lavender roots can take some time to reestablish in a new environment. The drought resistance of lavender is prized, but only after it has been established for more than a year.

Freshly planted lavender needs to be watered immediately after planting and then every other day for the first week. After the first week, reduce watering to once every three or four days.

2 weeks after planting you can water the lavender once per week for the first three months.

To avoid overwatering, you should wait a few days before watering if there has been a lot of rain and many cloudy days, and the soil feels moist.

Always water lavenders liberally, but more significant than the precise amount of water used is the soil’s capacity to drain water away quickly rather than absorb and hold into the water as rich soils do.

In order to prevent water from collecting around the roots and leading to root rot, the soil must have a porous structure that allows water to escape. Lavenders are always more under threat from over watering rather then under watering because they are adapted to thrive in dry environments both in terms of weather and soil.

The foliage of stressed lavender droops and turns yellow or brown, which can be deceiving because the plant may initially appear to need water. For more information look at my article: Is Lavender Perennial Or Annual?

How Often to Water Potted Lavender?

Lavender plants in pots require slightly more attention than lavender plants in the ground.

Lavender plants in pots require watering normally once every two weeks. Even if there has been rain in the past two weeks, I advise watering lavender plants in pots because they dry out more quickly because they are above ground.

For the best blooms, oils, and fragrance, lavender needs direct sunlight. In spite of rain, you should water pots more frequently because prolonged exposure to direct sunlight and heat will dry out the soil in the pots.

Only omit watering if the soil feels noticeably moist to a depth of your fingers after rain; otherwise, water the lavender liberally.

Remember too much water is more harmful then not enough as lavenders are adapted to growing in very hot and dry environments so don’t water potted lavender more frequently then once every two weeks as over watering is the most common reason lavenders die.

Potted lavenders do not need to be watered often in the winter as they are in a state of dormancy and will attain enough moisture from the weather.

How Often to Water Lavender in Raised Beds?

During the growing season, if there hasn’t been any significant rain in the previous two weeks, water lavender in raised beds once every two weeks. If the soil is still moist to a depth of two fingers, only skip the watering.

In that the soil will dry out a little bit more quickly in raised beds than it would if lavenders were planted in the ground, raised beds are similar to pots.

Due to its Mediterranean heritage, where it thrives in sandy soils with little rainfall, lavender needs soil that drains quickly and likes to maintain relatively dry roots.

In order to avoid overwatering, a fairly strict schedule of watering once every two weeks should be followed, unless there has been a significant amount of rain and the soil feels moist to the tip of the finger.

If the soil is still wet from rain, wait a few days before watering it again to see if it has dried out a little. I must emphasize that while lavender can withstand short periods of drought, it cannot tolerate soil that is consistently wet.

How Often to Water Lavender in Winter?

Lavender has a challenging season in the winter. The days are shorter, the temperature is lower, and the ground is frequently dry.

It is crucial to monitor your lavender plants carefully and make sure they receive the water they require as a result.

During the winter, you should water your lavender plants every two to three weeks.

You might need to give them a drink more frequently, though, if the air is especially dry or the ground appears to be parched.

Read More: How Often To Water Succulents?

How Often to Water Indoor Lavender?

French lavender (Lavandula stoechas ) cultivars grow well indoors and will need to be watered once every two weeks during the spring and summer months as they obviously do not have the benefit of rainfall.

According to the room’s temperature, you might need to water indoor lavender plants more frequently. Try to keep your lavender out of a strong air current to prevent it from drying out in a warm, heated room or from air conditioning draughts.

It all comes down to balance because lavenders do appreciate the occasional air flow (from, say, an open window) between the foliage.

Checking the soil moisture periodically to a depth of a finger is a good idea if the room temperature has been particularly high. If it’s particularly hot outside, indoor lavender plants may need watering once every 10 days rather than every two weeks.

This is due to the fact that pots are more prone to drying out, and smaller indoor lavender plants in smaller pots will hold less soil and, as a result, less moisture for the roots to draw from.

Related: Can You Grow Lavender Indoors?

What Does An Overwatered Lavender Look Like?

You risk overwatering your plant if you don’t know how frequently to water lavender plants. If you notice yellowing leaves, initially on the lower part of the plant, you have an overwatered lavender.

Aside from that, however, you can tell that your lavender plant has been overwatered by the falling leaves and rotting smell. Analyzing the soil is the simplest way to determine this. Act quickly because your plant is probably experiencing root rot if it appears wet for an extended period of time.

Using lavender seedlings will allow you to grow lavender if the root hasn’t fully spread.

What Does An Underwatered Lavender Plant Look Like?

A few telltale signs to watch out for can help you determine whether or not you’re watering your lavender plant too little.

A lavender plant that has been submerged will have wilted, dry, and crumbly leaves.

Small and faded lavender flowers may be present, and the stems may be flimsy and spindly.

If you notice any of these symptoms, it’s critical to increase the frequency of watering.

Read More: How Long Does Lavender Take to Grow?

FAQs

Final Thoughts on Watering Lavender

One of the most favored herbs to have in any home garden is lavender plants. They are renowned for both their calming scent and their delicate, lovely flowers.

During the growing season (spring and summer), lavenders typically need to be watered once every two weeks.

Lavenders must be planted in soil that is permeable and allows water to drain quickly. This is more crucial to the survival of lavender plants than a precise watering schedule.

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