Lavender Plant Indoor Benefits
Lavender plant indoor benefits are easy to grow inside the house, low maintained plants, can enhance the interior with blue blossoms. Benefits of lavender also used in various fragrances, relief from the stress related problems, cure from bites. These plants are attractive enough to grab eyes of people that is why they are popular in all over the world. Now lets know more benefits of lavender plant:
1 . Lavender Plant is used in Aromatherapy
It’s a Natural healing Treatment where Plant Extracts are used to provide health benefits to our body & mind. One Such Example is Oil Therapy. This Aromatherapy boost a person’s emotional and physical body health [1].
2 . Used as a Supplement
For people Who suffer from Depression , Anxiety , Stomach digestive issues and other stomach related problems. Even its essential oil was Approved by EMA that shows it can smoothen the stress and anxiety and used as herbal medicine. A Study on Animal Shows that it has positive results on these claims [2].
3 . Fragrance ingredient
As you know this plant has beautiful flowers which have some very good smell so this fragrance ingredient is extracted & used in Soaps and cosmetic products to increase or add beautiful odor. Many Products in the market are sold because of their smell and look rather than their ingredients[3].
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4 . Lavender Essential oil
Lavender Essential oil is used to repel the insects such as anopheles species which causes malaria in humans, & the best thing is – it is safe and even inexpensive [4]. There is evidence that shows the lavender oil can treat many neurological disorders. Some of these disorder are headaches , migraines, strokes, dementia, seizures etc. [7].
Lavender oil indicated that it can be useful in hair growth, and also in treating hair loss issues [8].
A study shows that its lavender Essential oil can work as a agent in decreasing the antioxidant(it protects the cell from becoming cancer cells) activity in the body and also reduces blood glucose(sugar)[9].
Another study shows that its Lavender EO has antimicrobial properties that can fight against various infections in the body [10].
It is also used in Drinks and Foods to Add Flavor & also fragrance also[5].
5 . Relief from bites
Lavender is also useful to relieving and curing some problems like insect bites, burns, spasm, parasitic infections[6].
Lavender are deer resistant because of its green grey foliage & the plant have aromatic scent which deer dislike. There are one big reason why these were sold costly till today as even if they dried it still have that same smell when it was growing as a plant.
You can even wrap it in a polythene/ plastic bag & store it inside your clothing almera , it will still give that great scent. These can be harvested as the method is simple so no need for anyone to explain much in detail because it’s easy to propagate.
I have seen people grow them just like tomato means upside down, with a reason when you live in a warm area. Its flower are edible and can be eaten as raw in salads. There are many other variety which shows different colors like pale pink, rose, yellow , white.
About Lavender Plant:
Lavender plant is a flowering aromatic plant , it is a genus of 47 other species. It is a member of the Lamiaceae family & these plants are discovered in Many parts of the world including canary islands, Cape Verde , East African and also India. Scientific name of Lavender plant is Lavandula.
Few Questions:
lavender seed not germinating?
If your soil is too wet and becomes soggy then seeds won’t survive as there may not be enough air for plants & roots won’t get air & can’t breath. This also grows fungus if water stays long & that will infect the seeds. If you did everything right then don’t worry and wait for like 2-4 weeks as this is how much time it takes to actually germinate seeds & show some progress so the question on the early stage is baseless.
can I plant lavender seeds directly in the ground?
Yes , You can Put the Lavender seeds directly into the soil. Outdoor ground can be great if it gets a good amount of sunlight. If growing indoors you might get difficulty because that needs more time and effort to check its progress and issues related to watering and light.
what to do with lavender seeds?
Simply Sow the lavender seeds into the soil and it will take 2-4 weeks so be patient with the growth of its seeds and make sure these seeds are moist and not soggy.
what to do with lavender flowers?
You can take lavender flowers and put them into your closet with the dress and pants. After some days you may find the clothes have fragrance and are smelling good. Before that Make sure Wrap the flowers in a Plastic sheet so it doesn’t spoil your dress. This can be done with dried lavender flowers.
do you put dried lavender in water?
No its no use if its dried lavender , If you have fresh lavender stems then you can put them in water for 2-3 days it will be fresh for about 8-10 days after that it will fade. So make sure to change vase water every 3 days to avoid bacterial infection.
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Benefits of lavender plants outside
Benefits of lavender plants outside is in fighting the microbial infections and core healing properties. Outside lavender plants can attract the bees and some more insect pollinators, these insects do the pollination process in plants. These are generally planted in garden to lure pollinators and also it does have beautiful aroma.
lavender plants for sale :
Buy Now – Lavender Plant .
Buy Now – Lavender Plant from Etsy.
Growing Lavender from Seed :
- To grow lavender from seeds you need good potting soil , gravel for better drainage and use mulch to keep them dry. now let me give you step by step instruction on growing lavender from seeds:
- Prepare soil using the above soil ingredients I have told you and you need some gravel at the bottom 3-5 inches. Use mulch on the soil surface (optional) so that it doesn’t dry the water quickly.
- Sow the seeds using your hand and cover them with it. Make sure not to sow them deep. it should be 0.5 to 1 inch deep only.
- Water it to keep the seeds moist.
- Lavender seeds need lots of direct sunlight to grow and it will quickly dry out. That’s why we are using mulch on the top layer of soil.
- If water becomes heavy on soil we have used gravel that can dry out water quickly.
- Lavender seeds will sprout in 2-4 weeks time and the best time to grow them is in mid of fall so that they can enjoy the humid winter.
- Make sure when to shift them in full sun it should not dry out. Keep them watered regularly.
- Enjoy and read the caring guide above to know every aspect of care.
Few FAQ’s
Is lavender plant easy to maintain?
Lavender plant care is easy because it can tolerate many different hot and dry conditions, even it is grown in many gardens, lawns, and landscapes and also deserted areas where the climate is mostly dry. These are easy to maintain and once it was established it can grow for many years.
Are you supposed to cut back lavender?
Lavender needs to be cut down to 2/3 because of one reason they can be healthy and regrow back easily, Even sometimes you will see some faded flowers, or maybe it looks woody. The best time to prune is either in spring or early fall and avoid winters as they might freeze in that cold weather.
Where does lavender grow best?
Lavender plants can grow best in zones 5 to 9, You can grow them as annual in containers or in the garden as perennial plants. These Plants Highly Dislike Heavy Humid temperature. Gardens , Lawn, Landscapes, House borders anywhere you want , they look best everywhere.
How long do lavender plants last?
Lavenders , specifically some tender varieties, have a lifespan of 5 years or even more. As you know these plants are termed as perennial Shrub and If caring & pruning is done correctly , it can live for 15 to 20 years long. Check the Care Guide above.
Is Lavender hard to keep alive?
Lavender requires the right amount of care , & if you did things right then it will keep you alive for many years. It’s not hard to increase its lifespan , with proper care you can do that. Pruning can Play a Big role in Keeping them alive for longer.
How often should you water lavender?
With Lavender plants it totally depends on how often it needs water. The followed time is once or twice a week , But that time check if this plant gets direct sun then you may reduce the time of water to 2 days. Make sure check the soil before watering to avoid making soggy soil.
What happens if you don’t prune lavender?
Lavender needs to be pruned once a year. This increases the life of lavender plants , Otherwise you may find woody base , large spike stems , even can find faded foliage that looks ugly so do prune it and avoid making its life short.
lavender plant care
Lavender Plant Care
Lavender is a plant which grows very easily and it’s easy to grow them. I Have Listed every tip you need to successfully grow this beautiful plant :
Water
Lavender plants need water when they are young and those days you should give them water on a daily basis until its first growing season. After that once they establish the root system now they can give them water according to whenever they feel dry because they are drought tolerant , it was easy for them to live without water for some days. But Don’t do that as it may affect your plant for the long term.
Soil
The second most useful thing is selecting the perfect soil for your lavender plant. Lavender plants are just like any other plant which requires well drained soil and to tell you more accurately according to UVM, they best grow in neutral pH soil meaning it should have pH 7 and if you find your soil pH is below 6.5 then use lime to make it neutral. Also Remember When I say perfect soil then it should not over fertilize as lavender mostly grows in lean soils.
Soil Mix for Lavender Plant:
- Compost (any) – 1/4
- Sand – 1/4
- Perlite – 1/4
- Soil – 1/4
- Egg Shells are crushed and used in soil to make it alkaline as these may decompose and become one with soil over time. (OPTIONAL)
Spacing
Most lavender plants need 1 to 3 feet space to grow as they become big and it takes a good amount of space depending on the variety.
Repotting
You can repot your lavender plant when it becomes too large and the container can’t handle the weight or you may see the large bushy flower covering full pot and no space left to grow more foliage. There are 2 ways either change the pot to a large size or prune the existing lavender , 3rd option would be – plant it in your beautiful garden. These plants are generally repotted yearly and planted in the garden area.
Fertilizer
Lavender plants require compost once every year and that is sufficient for the next 12 months period. You should also note don’t over fertilize them as they don’t like heavy compost on soil. The Best time to fertilize is in the summer when they are growing. These are special plants so I am using Fish & Seaweed Fertilizer , That was suggested in University of Vermont Extension And my lavender plant is growing much healthier.
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Light Requirements
Lavender plants love full sunlight and can thrive better in direct sun. In Areas where climate is hot they can grow much easier. You can place these plants in South facing window so they get sufficient light daily indoors. These plants needs hot , bright light so they can bloom and show healthy foliage. If you don’t have enough light indoors you can use those grow light available online, here is the link, that gives light requirements to all indoor plants.
When to Plant Lavender
The Best to plant lavender is in either the start of summers or in spring season for those who live areas where temperature is colder than Zone 6. If you live in a warmer area than zone 6 then advise you to plant them in fall
season as the cold and moist weather will help roots develop properly.
Temperature
These plants can grow as long as the climate is sunny and is getting bright light. Problems happen only when winter comes and temperature is too cold , this may affect the plant & sometimes it won’t survive. So How Hardy is this lavender plant?
There are many varieties of this plant and one of its varieties called English lavender can tolerate -20 degree Fahrenheit & same as this one fresh variety can tolerate 10 F and more & what we know these cold hardiness is Basically depends on the variety
& what plants used to make it hybrid.
Lavender growing zones
These plants are best known for annual but as there are many varieties which grow year by year and they are termed as perennial. Lavender dislikes and doesn’t grow in high humidity climates. Most of the lavender including English has USDA zone 5 to 9.
& the French lavender USDA zone is 7 to 9.
Pests , Diseases & Lavender plant Problems
Lavender plants can tolerate many pests but as every plant has something that gives them issues. In this case there are some bugs which affect this plant are aphids, spittlebugs, and some whiteflies.
Spittlebug uses a foamy substance & drop it on lavender plants , it doesn’t do much on plant health but it makes the plant look ugly and unattractive , in some cases foam can cause the stem to die.
Whiteflies attracted to lavender eats the plant sap means your plant may lose its natural color and become yellow.It may also lead to unattractive fluid type thing on foliage that is ugly looking.
Aphids can cause a virus named alfalfa mosaic virus which can make the leaves with yellow patches , this will not harm the plant but it will harm its attractiveness and foliage color, even the new bloom may not come if this is not solved.
For the first 2 problems you can use pesticide and insecticide and for aphids you can use horticultural oils. I am using Bonide all season Spray Oil which has all 3 insecticide, pesticide and horticultural oil so it solves all 3 problems.
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Lavender plant propagation
Propagation is very easy in a lavender plant and this can be done by anyone even beginner. I will be showing you step by step instruction on how to propagate lavender plant:
1 . Use Sterilized shears or cutting tools to cut the plant.
You can use a pruning shears or cutting tool and make sure it was first cleaned with rubbing alcohol.
2 . First find a healthy stem.
Now in the first step you need to find a healthy stem ,avoid any stem which has disease or pests. Now you find the stem , So To Propagate lavender plant you should cut the stem just below where you see the brown part, that is below the yellowish stem. ( I will attach video below to make you understand what I want to say)
3 . Remove All the base Leaves.
Now remove leaves from the cutting’s base. As that is the part which develops some roots or provides bottom root some support.
4 . Remove all the flowers.
Cut down the flower as it will take all the energy of the actual plant , that way the growing time period might increase.
4 . Prepare soil for a new pot.
Please check the above Care guide where i Listed all the items for soil mix needed.
5 . Water it and moist it.
Place the cutting in the new potting mix and water it. Keep it moist for some days until you see new leaves coming.
Once the leaves come it is the indication plant has made roots and now its ready for full sun exposure.
6 . Enjoy.
You have successfully propagated a lavender plant.
How to Prune Lavender
In Every plant pruning is an important step so plants can survive and grow for years. Lavender plant prunes are done every year when they look big and woody. With time if these bushy stems are not trimmed it will look ugly and also plants life can be reduced if it gets any disease. Pruning is done so it looks healthy, looks good and smells good.
Pruning can be done in the mid of summer so it could be ready for spring where it can grow much smoothly.
With Lavender pruning, plants can again make new roots and new stems also. This is a good thing for plants overall growth; it should keep growing and don’t get any pests.
As you know there are many varieties of lavender plants so I will be telling you about pruning for the most popular ones.
If You Need a pair of sharp pruning shears , Here is what I am using.
How to prune English Lavender
This classic English lavender has a very nice fragrance. You may love this type of flower smell , also it has silver color leaves and stems , they do have color to the border also. In Summers these lavender plants are strong and blooms very beautifully.
- Pruning can be done after they have shown flowering and it can be repeated in spring to trim the faded leaves & dried stem.
- First Sterilize your Cutting tool and make sure it is free from outside bacterial infection.
- Now It depends on how much you want the plant to be cut down. This can be done either 3/5 part could be trimmed or you can also choose those stem that is pale and faded that can be removed.
- Don’t Cut the Plant Too much as they need some of the flowers and leaves to make food.
- This can be done every 2 years to make your plant healthy.
(Fresh, Wooly Also ) How to prune Spanish Lavender
- These Lavender plants can be affected by cold climate as they are least hardy.
- These plants need more care as winter can be a problem for them.
- Do not cut them more and medium cutting should be done.
- You can use deadheading so that plant every faded , diseased , pale leaves can be removed.
- Pruning is similar and you just need to cut down the 2/3 part of the lavender. For beginners you can start cutting the top first 1/3 part and check whether it is good or not. If it’s still large stems then trim more to make it perfect size.
FAQ’s
Also See:
Jade Plant Care, Propagation, Pruning , Symbolizes, Indoors, Outdoors
Spanish Lavender Plants for Sale – Buy Now [ Tips and Care Guide]