what's going on with my lavender plant?!

[isupposeitsverynice]

it's really droopy and sad looking. Is the lobelia bullying it? it was in the shade so I moved it to the sun but it hasn't perked up. all my lavender plants die, and I love them so much just not very green fingered I suppose! my other bits are doing ok at the moment though, so maybe there's something I don't know about lavender plants.

[MaidOfStars]

Lavender needs very little water, if any. Lobelia needs lots. I wouldn't have put the two in the same pot!

[Marmitelover55]

Oh no!y l planted 4 lavender plants in my front garden in front of the bay. Two had started looking brown and droopy so I have been watering them a lot - is this wrong then? Sorry to hijack.

[isupposeitsverynice]

oh bollocks. it's probably drowning then, poor bugger. dp has been faithfully watering for me. I did Google to see if I could put the two together and didn't find anything! they look so lovely together. thank you maidofstars, I will find a new home for the lobelia.

[isupposeitsverynice]

hijack away marmite!

[FoulsomeAndMaggotwise]

My lavender is doing this too! I also think I must be overwatering.

[DawnMumsnet]

Afternoon all,

We're just moving this thread over to our Gardening topic at the OP's request.

[isupposeitsverynice]

Thanks Dawn!

[MaidOfStars]

The top layer of soil should be pretty dessicated! Have a look a few inches down - if it's damp, it doesn't need watering. I never water unless there has been full sun all day.

(This advice may not fit all types of lavender, but it works for me).

[BitterChocolate]

What type of lavender is it? I've just replaced my old woody lavender with French lavender and I find that it does need quite a bit of water, more than regular lavender. If it goes droopy then I water it and it perks up. Mind you, it's in a bed with a load of hydrangeas, which are really thirsty, so it's probably not possible to over water really.

[isupposeitsverynice]

b&q special, bitterchocolate! I think it's bog standard augustifolia jobby. I'm guessing maidofstars has got it, the soil in that pot is very wet and the lobelia is flourishing despite best efforts of flower cuddling toddler!

[shovetheholly]

Most plants need watering in after they have been planted, even mediterranean ones. If you plant in a hot spell, you may need to water for a bit longer to get them established (this is why most moving/planting of things tends to happen in spring or autumn - it's cooler and easier on the plants). Plants in small containers also tend to dry out more rapidly, and thus to need a bit more water than those in the ground - even herbs like lavender will need water in a heatwave.

It doesn't look too bad in your picture. I would say it's just not old enough to have loads of woody, lignified growth yet. If you look at the soil and it looks really dry, I don't think there's any harm in giving it some water a couple of times a week. Just don't leave it with its feet in water - a bog plant it ain't!

[aircooled]

The problem might be that although the lavender likes gritty well-drained soil it has been grown in a peat-based compost in a nursery - this tends to be either soggy or bone dry and difficult to re-wet, especially in a tub. Try re-potting with some John Innes soil-based compost and when the roots have grown into that the plant might be happier

[isupposeitsverynice]

yeah the soil in that tub is soaked. I would hazard a guess that the toddler has been helping with the watering. I'll move the lobelia out this evening and set the lavender where it can dry out a bit and see if that perks it up.

[isupposeitsverynice]

posted too soon! meant to say thank you all for the advice. I'm not very good at plants but I've got some really lovely ones at the moment that I'd rather not watch shrivel up and die!

[ppeatfruit]

I'm in Fr. with lots of lavender that I don't water specially even in the heat wave because we've had a bit of rain and it's happy!

Yes Isuppose maybe even squeeze as much water out of the pot that you can or replace the potting compost with dry\dryer stuff. Also some grit for drainage.

[AnulTheMagnificent]

My lavenders do well with basic compost (special offer stuff) mixed with some sand, I use builders sand for everything.

If you are not using plastic pots it might be a good idea to line them with plastic around the edges, not the bottom before re-potting as it stops them drying out.

I currently have about 15 lavenders, all in pots except one huge one. The newest one went limp after it was potted up but has perked up now, I just play the hose on them after a hot day and keep them in the sunniest part of the garden except the 'butterfly' one which is partly shaded.

[anon33]

This happened with my french lavender; I was thinking to throw it into the compost heap (as it really looked desperate!) but decided to give it one more chance and cut it back as far as the droopiness went, if that makes sense? Anyway, it came back with a vengeance and is looking better than ever :-)