Should I persevere with lavender?

[FridayBaby]

Beginner gardener. I have a south facing sun trap of a balcony and have tried potted lavender plants (bought from B&Q) for 3 years now (as I know they love sun) but each time they have died. I have used terracotta pots with pebbles and saucers for drainage and have watered plenty as advised on MN, whilst trying not to over water as I know lavender don't like. However I think there is always a problem with the roots as the water often just sleeps straight through the soil into the saucer. Not sure if this is normal or if there's a problem with the potting.

Anyway the 3rd lot have finally died and I think I sadly need to move on from trying lavender, unless anyone has any advice on where I've gone wrong?

If I do give up on lavender can anyone recommend an alternative colourful, fragrant potted plant which would suit a south facing balcony? I already have geraniums which have been great as long as they are frequently dead-headed and watered.

Thank you x

Ordinary potting compost can dry out completely in pots and shrink away from the sides. When it has done that and you water, the water runs straight down the outside of the rootball and out of the holes at the bottom. The compost itself becomes almost hydrophobic and stays bone dry on the inside. So I reckon it is a compost problem. Use a mix of John Innes No3, horticultural grit and sharp sand in the proportions 3/1/1. That mix won't shrink, but it is also free-draining so lavender will like it.

1. Big pot.
2. Mix compost with vermiculite.
3. Plant and water once or twice.
4. Forget about it and see it thrive.

Lavendars do not like to be looked after nor do they like rich soil either. Well that's my experience. But pot growing them is hit and miss in fairness.

In case anyone's still reading this thread, I have now got rid of the lavender and here are some photos of the soil. I've decided to try one more time and have got John Innes no 2, permilite and vermiculite as recommended ready for some new plants. I know it's a bit late in the year but I will give it one more shot! Fingers crossed! Xx

I would try Belgium lavender...it's got a beautiful fragrance and is very easy to look after.

That soil looks very dry- was it new when you planted them? Glad you've decided to keep trying though! My pots get watered every day- they could probably do with twice a day this week!

@NotMaryWhitehouse this was after it had clearly died so to be fair I hadn't watered them for over a week at that stage. I do get really confused with conflicting advice over watering lavender- some say do it less than others...

@FridayBaby fair enough! I find gardening to be more art than science!