Lavender is a very popular flower with beautiful purple flowers and a captivating scent that can be used to make products such as aromatherapy, tea, or to decorate a garden or home. Lavender is not only beautiful, but also has many benefits, such as insect repellent, anti-inflammatory, sedative, antibacterial, etc. Lavender cultivation is not difficult, as long as you master some basic methods, you can grow the most beautiful lavender at home. This article will introduce you to the cultivation method of lavender, so that you can become a professional lavender grower.
There are many varieties of lavender, and different varieties have different characteristics and needs. In general, there are four common ones:
Lavender: This variety is the most common, native to the Mediterranean coast and cultivated all over Europe. Its adult plants can tolerate temperatures of 40 and temperatures of -21, and do not require much water during growth, but they cannot do without adequate light. Generally, it should be planted in a sunny place with a deep soil layer, and appropriate topdressing during the growth period.
Broad-leaved lavender: This variety is native to the southern part of Europe and is also cultivated in our country, but it is very rare. It is generally planted in loose and fertile neutral soil, but it can also be planted in alkaline soil, which does not need much watering and does not require much fertilizer. After it blooms, it needs to be pruned from the first section under the flower, and the plant is pruned into a hemispherical shape.
Lavender feather: The leaves of this variety are bipinnate and deeply lobed, usually opposite, with a certain fragrance. Its flowers are dark purple and unscented, but they bloom all year round and only dormant in the summer when it gets too hot. It is native to the Canary Islands and usually needs plenty of light, with only proper shade in summer.
Lavender angustifolia: This variety is an ornamental plant, generally raised in the garden, with average cold tolerance and good heat tolerance. Its flowers are light purple and have an aromatic smell. In addition, it can also be packed in a sachet to repel mosquitoes, and the extracted essential oil soothes the nerves.
When choosing a variety, decide according to your climatic conditions and preferences.
Lavender prefers to grow in loose, fertile, well-drained soil and does not like soil that is too moist or sticky. You can improve the quality of the soil by mixing garden soil, peat soil and river sand in a 5:3:2 ratio, or by adding some lime, bone meal and organic fertilizer.
You can choose a pot or other container that is large enough to grow lavender with drainage holes at the bottom of the container to prevent moisture from accumulating. The size of the container should be able to accommodate the root system of lavender, and in general, each lavender plant needs to be at least 15 cm in diameter and depth.
You can choose to start growing lavender from seeds or plants. If you choose seeds, you need to germinate them before sowing them, soak them in clean water for 1-2 days, then put them on a wet paper towel, cover them with plastic wrap and wait for them to take root.
Fill the pot with soil, sprinkle the seeds evenly on the surface, cover with a layer of fine soil, water thoroughly and keep it moist. Place the pot in semi-shade, out of direct sunlight, and wait for germination. It takes about a month for germination to occur, and after germination, you can gradually increase the light, and when the true leaves have grown, you can transplant or colonize.
If you choose a plant, you can buy healthy lavender seedlings in the spring or fall, or take cuttings from existing lavender plants. Remove the plant from its original container, gently knock off excess soil, place the roots in a new pot, fill the void with soil, water thoroughly and keep it moist. Place the pot in a sunny place and wait for it to grow.
Lavender is a drought-tolerant plant that does not require too much water and should be watered in moderation to avoid being too wet or drought. In general, watering once a week is sufficient, watering thoroughly so that water flows out of the drain holes and does not accumulate in the dish. In summer or in a dry environment, you can increase the frequency of watering appropriately, but do not let the soil moist all the time. In winter or in a humid environment, you can reduce the number of times you water it, but don't let the soil dry out completely.
Lavender also does not require too much fertilizer, an organic fertilizer once a year is sufficient, preferably in spring or autumn to promote the growth and flowering of the plant. You can choose some low-nitrogen and high-phosphorus fertilizers, such as bone meal, chicken manure, etc., and apply them according to the dosage in the instructions to avoid excessive or uneven amounts.
Lavender needs to be pruned regularly to keep the plant in shape and healthy. In general, pruning once a year is fine, preferably in spring or autumn and avoiding pruning during the flowering period or winter. You can use scissors or pruning shears to cut off about a third of the plant, leaving some new shoots and leaves, and don't cut into old trees or bare stems. After pruning, the plants can be given some fertilizer to promote new growth.
Lavender generally blooms in the summer, you can harvest the flowers when they are just open, cut the flower stems, tie them into a bunch with string, and hang them upside down in a ventilated and dry place to wait for them to dry. You can use dried lavender flowers to make scent bags, dried flowers, tea, food, and more, and enjoy the wonderful aroma and taste of lavender.
That's all about how to grow lavender, I hope you like it.
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