Ways to ensure abundant and lasting lavender blooms
Lavender is a beautiful ornamental plant and a valuable ingredient in many cosmetic and medicinal preparations. With a few simple tricks, you can make your plant bloom abundantly and for a long time. Here are proven methods for healthy and flower-filled lavender.
Preparing the soil for growing lavender
Proper soil preparation is the basic step for lavender to bloom abundantly. Lavender grows best in well-drained soil with an alkaline pH. Adding sand or gravel to the soil improves drainage, preventing root rot.
Optimal lighting conditions for lavender
Lavender loves the sun. Plant it in a sunny spot to ensure the best conditions for growth and flowering. At least 6 hours of daily sunlight is essential. In such situations, lavender will reward you with abundant flowering.
Tricks for abundant lavender blooming
Use this natural fertiliser if you want purple flowers to cover your garden or balcony abundantly. To make it, you will need eggshells mixed with the top layer of soil, soaked in water, and left for a few days. You can then water the lavender with the prepared mixture.
Another fertiliser that works great for growing lavender is yeast-based. Dissolve 50 grams of yeast in 5 litres of warm water. You can use the mixture after just one hour. Dilute it at a ratio of 1:10 beforehand.
Did you know bananas can also help you care for lavender and stimulate its blooming? Soak bananas in water and leave them for 24 hours. The ready fertiliser should be diluted at a ratio of 1:10 and then used to water the flowers. Bananas are a rich source of proteins and potassium.
Besides fertilisers, regular pruning is worth remembering. This is one of the most critical maintenance tasks that should be done regularly to maintain plant health and stimulate blooming. The best time to prune lavender is early spring or late summer after flowering. Removing faded blossoms will allow the plant to direct its energy towards developing new buds.
Avoiding excessive fertilisation
Although fertilisation is beneficial for many plants, lavender is an exception. Over-fertilisation, especially with nitrogen fertilisers, can lead to lush leaf growth at the expense of flowers. A small amount of organic fertiliser is sufficient at the beginning of the growing season. For this reason, it is recommended to use organic fertilisation only once a year, preferably in the spring.
How to choose a lavender seedling?
When choosing lavender for a balcony, it is worth paying attention to the seedling you buy. First, the plant should have coloured flower buds and a few already-developed flowers. The soil in the seedling should be moist, and the leaves should not be dry. Also, make sure the seedling does not have grey mould. If such a residue appears, do not buy such a flower. Finally—this is noticeable, but not everyone checks—inspect the leaves and stems for pests.
