For inexperienced gardeners, a common mistake when growing lavender is overwatering.
In most cases, outdoor lavender requires water every 2 weeks. But, indoor lavender plants in pots need water every 10 to 14 days, depending on the conditions.
Newly planted lavender needs more water for the first 3 weeks to avoid transplant shock.
However unlike other plants, lavender is better off with less water rather than more! A few centimeters more water will kill a lavender plant.
Lavender Watering Schedule
| Lavender Stage | Watering Schedule for Lavender |
| Newly Planted Lavender | It requires more water than normal. You should water it as you plant and then twice a week for three weeks. |
| Potted Lavender | Water every two weeks with a generous amount of water. You can reduce the watering if it is raining or humid due to overcast. |
| Lavender in Raised Beds | Water every two weeks. If it has rained, touch the soil to decide. If it is dry, water it but limit it to once in two weeks. |
| Matured Lavender | Water every two weeks with a check on the soil if it has rained. |
| Winter Lavender | In winter, Lavender does not need much water. English lavender is hardy enough to be left outdoors in winter and you do not need to water it. French Lavender should be potted and brought inside for winter and would need watering once every 4 to 6 weeks. |
| Indoor Lavender | Water once in 10 to 14 days |
Newly Planted Lavender Watering
Lavender makes for an appealing sight with its unique flowers that attract butterflies and other beneficial insects.
When it comes to watering a lavender plant that has just undergone transplantation, uttermost care is essential. This is because correct newly planted lavender watering can help prevent transplant shock!
Transplant shock occurs when a plant has not yet established a root system to support itself. As a result, the plant becomes stressed. So, to avoid your lavender dying, you must adapt to a watering schedule that suits your plant.
Water your lavender plant immediately after transplantation. Then water it twice a week for three weeks.
When your plant is 3 weeks old, you can revert to weekly watering. By this point, your lavender must have a complete root system in place.
NOTE: However, if there has been rainfall recently reduce the number of times you water the lavender plants.
Watering Potted Lavender
A potted lavender plant is slightly more water-demanding than lavender plants grown in the ground.
This is because the water passes out easily if you are using the right soil (porous soil).
You should water your potted lavender plant at least once in two weeks if conditions are normal. If it is raining, limit the watering of the potted plant.
Lavender pot plants are conveniently put in direct sunlight for good blooms and fragrance production.
Unfortunately, direct sunlight can also cause more water evaporation from the plant and soil. Meaning that the pots can become quite dry after shorter periods.
You can judge when and how much water your lavender pot plant needs by putting your finger into the soil. If the soil feels rather dry, water the plant generously.
But, be wary of overwatering since this is a leading cause of lavender plant death.
Lavender is a plant that prefers warm and dry conditions.
Watering Lavender in Raised Soil Beds
Lavender grown in raised soil beds are prone to becoming dry due to sun intensity and air currents. You will have to place your whole finger in the soil to gauge the moisture of the soil.
If you grow lavender in raised flower beds, water them every 2 weeks under normal growing season conditions. But, if rain occurs in the two weeks you should feel the soil and make adjustments accordingly.
Lavender also requires sandy/porous soil. Consequently, these allow water to easily seep deeper into the ground.
This helps to avoid waterlogging. Traditionally, lavender prefers Mediterranean weather with warm sunny skies and sandy soils.
Creating an environment with too much water may cause your lavender plant to turn gray or yellow and even die.
So, if the soil is wet, don’t water the plant and check back in a few days. However, if it is dry or relatively dry, you can water the plant.
Indoor Lavender Watering
Having indoor lavender can do wonders for your house or apartment. It creates a scenic sight that comes with a delightful aroma.
Pro Tip – French lavender variants do very well indoors in pots and this should be your first choice.
Watering indoor lavender will depend greatly on the atmosphere in your house. If it is quite warm with direct sunlight, you may have to water them every 10 to 14 days. This is considering that indoor plants don’t benefit from rainfall.
Sometimes a combination of sunlight and air draughts from an open window can dry out plants.
So to compensate for this, watering must be stepped up. Alternatively, you can reposition your lavender plant to suit the ideal growing conditions.
Watering Mature Outdoor Lavender
What does mature lavender look like? It’s usually in a bush and quite tall with prominent flowering tips.
Water mature outdoor lavender every 2 to 3 weeks in the regular growing season. But, when the air is humid, slow down or even stop watering the plants altogether.
Some people think that older, more mature lavender plants require more water. This is not true! If anything, they require less water and are more tolerant to a lack of watering.
With the simple watering schedule, buds should develop soon on these mature lavender plants.
After the flower buds form, change watering to once a week or once every two weeks. It won’t be long until the flower buds open and beautify your garden or home!
Winter Lavender Watering
Lavender is a drought-tolerant plant that is mostly dormant during cold winter months and you shouldn’t expect new growth.
Additionally, surviving the winter will be the sole goal of the lavender plants. Ceasing watering will help.
Outdoor Lavender does not need water as it receives enough water from the atmosphere. But if your lavender is indoors, you should water it once or twice throughout winter. That converts to once every 4 to 6 weeks.
As far as hardness goes, English lavender is the only one that withstands cold and frost, i.e the outdoors.
You will have to bring your French lavender indoors for winter and it will require watering.
One thing to note about your outdoor English lavender is that it is at risk of root rot.
That’s why it is essential to ensure soil proportions are right. Lavender soils should be made predominantly from gravel, loam, and sandy soil.
Factors Deciding When To Water Lavender Plants
Because lavender is so water sensitive, it is worthwhile to understand what affects the lavender watering routine.
A variety of factors will influence whether or not the plant should be watered. It also decides if you should increase the time gap between watering.
1. Soil
Soils that retain water are not appropriate for growing healthy lavender.
They create waterlogging and cause deterioration of the roots and basal stems. As a result, your plant’s leaves will turn yellow and wilt.
Thus, amending the soil so that water passes quickly through it is important.
Soils with high compositions of sand, gravel, or stones are ideal.
Fertilizer and nutrient-rich soils are not the best for lavender as they promote foliage growth. They will make plants leafy without any flowers!
2. Air
Warm air and many currents passing through a plant will tend to dry its leaves out faster. This should be a factor in deciding where to plant and when to water your lavender.
Also, the summer season is the time when plants require good watering habits.
You notice the air is cool and there aren’t many currents, high amounts of moisture are in the air. This would mean less watering to avoid overwatering.
Winter and rainy seasons are times when air is humid and contains enough moisture on its own.
Lavender grows naturally in a dry environment. Watering is mostly not required in the fall and winter seasons.
3. Sunlight Intensity
Lavender requires full sun exposure if you expect flowers to be in full bloom when the season approaches.
Failing to give the plants full sun may lead to weak flowering or even no flowering!
But, to combat extreme sunlight, generous watering is essential!
Also, sunlight for just a few hours a day may not yield the results you want. Lavender is not exactly a shade-loving plant so placement matters.
4. Season
The changing of seasons will and should affect your lavender watering routine. This is because, with each season, the amount of water in the air differs.
Some seasons are dry and the air is still while in others the air is humid with high air movement.
Summer seasons will require regular once every two weeks watering. But in winter and fall extend the period of watering to 4 to 6 weeks.
Some lavender variants like English Lavender that are grown outdoors will not even need watering!
Tips About Watering Lavender Plants
- Lavender plants do not come with a strict watering schedule and most do well in a bi-weekly watering plan. That is in the summer and spring seasons.
- Otherwise, in fall or winter, the lavender plants do not require watering as they are in a dormant stage. Whatever water the plant requires will be available from the air.
- Water newly planted lavender plants immediately to avert transplant shock.
- Rainfall moistens the soil and thus provides enough water for lavender plants. Watering during this period should stop if the soil is adequately wet.
- Indoor lavender pot plants adapt to watering every two weeks. However, since these pots are prone to drying out faster, you may have to change to water every 10 days instead.
- During winter, indoor lavender plants require watering every 4 to 6 weeks to avoid complete drying out.
- Fast-draining soils such as sandy and gravel soils are what lavender plants will prefer. This is because they do not like water accumulation at the roots of the plant. Lavender plants die mostly because of root rot (excessive water in the root area).
Conclusion
If you live in a dry area that rarely sees rain, lavender makes for a perfect garden (or indoor) plant. The lack of requirement for water makes this hardy plant great for people who often forget to water their plants!
Plus, besides the appealing violet flowers, lavender emits a fragrance that cannot be mistaken for anything else.
If you are planting lavender in the ground, watering every 2 weeks should suffice. But lavender in pots demands water every 10 days if conditions are hot indoors. Cease watering efforts in winter and even bring it indoors if you experience frost in your area.
FAQs
How often should you water lavender seeds?
Water lavender seedlings immediately after planting them. After this, switch to an alternate day watering plan. But, take care to not saturate the soil too much with water. It would be easy to overwater the seeds and make them rot!
Feel the soil, if it is relatively wet, don’t water it. But if it feels quite dry go ahead and water the lavender seedlings.
Should you water lavender every day?
Lavender is a drought-resistant plant, meaning that it does well in environments that do not have a lot of water. So watering every day may cause an accumulation of water at the stem or will oversaturate the soil. Ultimately, the lavender plant will suffer from root rot and may even die.
