How Often Should I Water My Lavender Plant?
Proper lavender care is often about knowing when not to water. Learn to assess your plant's specific needs to prevent common mistakes and ensure it thrives.
Lavender is a Mediterranean herb known for its resilience in sunny, dry conditions. This background means it has specific moisture preferences that are often misunderstood. More lavender plants suffer from excessive watering than from being too dry. Understanding the plant’s natural inclinations is the first step to ensuring it thrives in a garden or container.
Lavender Watering Frequency
Newly Planted Lavender
A new lavender plant requires consistent moisture to establish a strong root system. For the first few weeks after planting, water it thoroughly once or twice a week, especially if the weather is hot and dry. After this establishment phase, which lasts for the first growing season, you can reduce the watering frequency significantly.
Established In-Ground Lavender
Once a lavender plant has made it through its first season, it becomes remarkably drought-tolerant. Its well-developed root system is efficient at finding moisture deep within the soil. An established lavender plant in a garden bed will rarely need supplemental watering. Consider watering only during prolonged periods of drought if there has been no significant rainfall for several weeks.
Potted Lavender
Growing lavender in a container presents different watering requirements. The limited soil in a pot dries out much more quickly than garden soil, so potted lavender needs more regular watering. Water deeply every one to two weeks during the summer, allowing the soil to dry out between sessions. The pot’s material also plays a role, as porous terracotta pots dry out faster than plastic ones.
How to Check if Lavender Needs Water
Relying on a strict schedule can be misleading, as conditions change. The most reliable way to know if your lavender needs water is to check the soil moisture directly using the “finger test.” Insert your index finger one to two inches into the soil near the plant’s base. If the soil feels dry at that depth, it is time to water.
If the soil still feels moist, wait longer before watering again. This method applies to both in-ground and potted plants and helps prevent overwatering. For container-grown lavender, you can also gauge the moisture by the pot’s weight. A pot with dry soil will feel noticeably lighter than one that is well-hydrated.
Symptoms of Incorrect Watering
Signs of Overwatering
Overwatering is the most common reason lavender plants fail, leading to root rot. One of the first signs is yellowing leaves, starting at the bottom of the plant and moving upward. The base of the stems may feel soft or mushy, and the plant might droop despite the soil being wet. A rotten odor from the soil indicates advanced root decay.
Signs of Underwatering
While lavender is drought-tolerant, it is not immune to a lack of water. The signs can mimic an overwatered plant, such as wilting foliage, but the key difference is in the texture. The foliage of an underwatered lavender plant will become dry and brittle, and the leaves may start to turn brown. The soil will also be completely dried out and may feel hard.