Glimpse of Lavender Plants: A Fragrant, Purple Delight
Aloe, your Lavender shrub appears to be withering away.
Lavender plants charm our senses with their heavenly fragrance and captivating appearance, owing to their lovely flowers. Moreover, these plants are highly sought-after for making essential oils like lavender oil. Lavender plants naturally flourish in arid and extremelty hot weather conditions.
What Causes My Lavender to Perish?
Dying lavender plants can be attributed to several factors such as over or underwatering, excessive fertilization, overly acidic soil with low PH levels, diseases like alfalfa mosaic virus and fungal infections (avoid commercial pesticides), harmful pests that do not include beneficial insects, and inadequate sunlight.
Excess water can result in soggy roots and root rot, while insufficient water can cause yellowing leaves and sometimes brown leaves. Infected plants can contaminate the soil and hinder growth in neighboring plants by forming clusters in the soil after planting.
Common Factors Leading to a Deteriorating Lavender Plant
Our exploration of online sources led us to pinpoint various issues that contribute to lavender plants dying:
1. Overindulgence in Watering Lavender
It is easy to overwater lavender plants as they require dry-like conditions to grow. Most lavender plants require watering only every two weeks. Too much water can cause root rot, as the excessive moisture in the soil can damage the plant's foundation, leading to a weaker, drooping plant.
2. Slow Draining Soil
Lavender plants in pots or containers require the removal of excess water to thrive, or else they may suffer from mold infection. Excess water in the soil can result in higher water levels, which can kill the plant cells and give the potted lavender a droopy appearance with browning or yellowing foliage. To ensure proper soil drainage, use well-draining soil to avoid soggy and wet conditions.
3. Inadequate Sunlight
All types of lavender need sunlight throughout the year, even during the winter season. Insufficient exposure to full sunlight can lead to higher moisture content, which can eventually kill the plant. It's essential to expose the lavender plant to at least six to eight hours of sunlight daily to ensure that the soil remains in optimal conditions for growth, as poor soil conditions can cause the leaves to wilt, leading to the plant's death.
4. Incorrect Soil Acidity
Loose, well-packed soil is ideal for lavender plants as it facilitates water drainage. To grow the best possible lavender plants, maintain soil pH levels between 6-8, as excessive acidity risks the death of the entire plant. When fertilizing the soil, use a fertilizer with an alkaline balance.
5. Mismatch Between Lavender and Climate
Four main lavender species exist: English, French, Spanish, and Hybrid plants. English and Hybrid plants have the ability to endure through the winter season, enabling them to live longer. Spanish and French lavender cannot survive the winter seasons. In humid areas, too much clay can form as a result of high humidity, which can kill your lavender plant. Lavenders suffer from root rot in humid areas where excessive watering can result in hydrophilic plant cells, leading to the death of the plant.
6. Overzealous Pruning
Pruning is essential for the best lavender plant health, but pruning too much at the top and bottom may lead to the plant losing its vitality. It is best to prune a few weeks before the spring and summer seasons to prevent unhealthy growth. Over-pruning limits the plant's ability to regrow, so begin the pruning process early in the spring to avoid developing a woody or leggy plant.
8. Yellow Leaves
Yellow leaves on a plant can indicate too much nitrogen or inadequate sunlight. To alleviate this problem, use a low-nitrogen fertilizer or adjust the plant's lighting conditions, respectively.
Reanimating a Feeble Lavender Plant
Help for a dying lavender plant depends on the plant's condition, so it is crucial to first identify the issue and determine the causes.
Rotting Roots
Root rot is primarily caused by excessive water in the soil, mulch or leaves, and close potting plants. To identify root rot, look for a drooping appearance or browning/yellowing of the foliage.
Solution
- Minimize watering as lavender plants are drought-resistant plants that thrive under dry conditions.
- If there are mulch or leaves around, remove them as they retain moisture, promoting root rot, and reducing the plant's growth potential.
- Carefully remove the plant from the pot and inspect the roots. Prune away the diminished roots to revive the plant.
- Transplant the lavender plant in fresh soil with proper sunlight exposure for at least six to eight hours daily, to encourage plant growth.
Leggy Lavender Plant
A leggy lavender growth indicates excessive fertility in the soil. Remove the top, leggy sections with yellow leaves to promote new growth.
Solution
- Cut back on fertilizing the soil to reduce its pH level and avoid further nutrient over-enrichment.
- Plant the lavender in a pot with 30% sand and 70% compost for the best chances of revival.
- Prune the leggy parts of the plants to stimulate new growth, but avoid pruning too much in the growing season as it can limit the plant's ability to produce flowers.
Woody Plant
Woody lavender plants appear rough and untidy with fewer flowers in new plants due to limited pruning and poor plant management.
Solution
- Prune the woody parts of the plant in early spring to maintain the plant's health and promote new growth.
- Limit pruning during the growing season as flowers only bloom when the plant is growing.
- Cut only one-third of the top, avoiding pruning the foundation as it can weaken the plant and reduce its ability to grow properly.
Inadequate Sunlight
Lavender plants require sunlight daily for optimal health. Yellowing or browning leaves may indicate poor exposure to sunlight.
Solution
- Move the lavender plant to a location with sufficient sunlight exposure to encourage optimal growth and prevent the plant from dying prematurely.
Pot or Container Issues
Plants may die because they grow in pots or containers with poor drainage that retain excess moisture.
Solution
- If using a pot, use one with at least a 16-inch depth to provide enough space for the extensive root growth network while simultaneously promoting proper soil drainage.
- Get rid of water bodies around the plant as they can exacerbate the problem (e.g., use drain pots to collect water from the plant, as this can affect the soil's moisture levels and impact the plant's growth).
Can Lavender Revive from the Dead?
Yes, with appropriate care and attention, English or Hybrid lavender plants can regrow, even during the winter season. French and Spanish lavender plants have lower survival rates in colder climates.
Conclusion
To maximize the potential for a healthy and thriving lavender plant, minimize overwatering, ensure proper soil drainage, prune regularly, and address fungal infections and diseases promptly. By following this guidance, struggling lavender plants can be brought back to life.
- Excessive watering, poor soil drainage, and a high soil acidity level can potentially damage the roots of lavender plants and lead to a weaker, drooping appearance with browning or yellowing foliage.
- A lavender plant's positioning is crucial, as it needs to be exposed to at least six to eight hours of sunlight daily to ensure that the soil remains perfect in conditions for growth, as poor soil conditions can cause the leaves to wilt, leading to the plant's death.
