Lavender shows when it is uncomfortable with drooping leaves and/or flowers. However, you have to use a detective's instinct to look for the cause, because if the lavender is hanging, there can be many reasons.
Look for healthy plants when buying
Newly purchased lavender plants should be repotted immediately after purchase. The small plant pots are far too narrow for this space-consuming plant and should therefore be exchanged for a larger pot as soon as possible. By the way, you should take a very close look at the lavender plants before you buy them, especially the roots. There should be no yellow or brown spots on the plant, and the roots should appear healthy and strong. Don't be surprised if the newly bought and repotted lavender lets its leaves droop, this is quite normal. The plant has suffered a shock and now has to - literally - gain a foothold again.
Are the location and maintenance correct?
Furthermore, incorrect care measures and an unsuitable location can lead to the lavender hanging. In the worst case - especially if the plants get far too much water - the lavender can even die. For this reason, you should pay attention to the following points with older plants - newly purchased plants first need a period of acclimatization:
- suitable substrate (dry, airy, permeable, low in nutrients)
- good drainage in the soil, so that no waterlogging can form (especially important with potted lavender!)
- Potted lavender does not have "wet feet"; H. he must not stand on wet coasters
- water regularly but not too much
- sunny (no shade or semi-shade!) and wind-protected location
- suitable overwintering (depending on the variety)
Watch out for pests and diseases
Drooping leaves can also be a sign of aphid or fungal infestation. Although aphids are rare on lavender - after all, lavender oil in particular is often used as an effective biological remedy against the beasts - they can still attack plants that are already weak. Therefore, check your lavender for green aphids, especially in the leaf axils and on the underside of the leaves. They can usually be easily removed with a soft soap solution or lavender oil. If, on the other hand, the lavender is infested with a fungus, only a large pruning will help. But be careful: Do not cut too far into the woody parts, as the plant will then no longer sprout.
tips and tricks
However, if the lavender hangs, it is not always due to unfavorable site conditions or incorrect care. Lavandin, a hybrid of spike lavender and common lavender, has a natural tendency to droop its inflorescences. So if you can't find a reason for your hanging lavender, but it continues to grow happily, then it could simply be the Provençal lavender Lavandin.
IJA