How to Grow Lavender? The Latest Cultivation Techniques and Methods Tutorial
Lavender is also known as the perfume plant. Its appearance is elegant and dreamy, and its floral fragrance is rich and aromatic. Lavender is also a symbol of romantic and beautiful love, and is deeply loved by people. In recent years, it has become widely cultivated by many flower enthusiasts, so how should we cultivate it? Let's take a look at the cultivation techniques for lavender below.
Growth Habits
It likes a sunny environment and has a long demand for light, requiring annual sunlight duration of more than 2000 hours. If planted in a dark and damp environment, the plant will grow poorly and age quickly; it likes dryness and does not need much water; it has strong adaptability to the environment, is tolerant of high temperatures and cold, can withstand around 40 degrees Celsius in autumn, adult plants can overwinter outdoors at minus 21 degrees Celsius in winter, and young plants can withstand minus 10 degrees Celsius; it is suitable for deep, fertile, loose, well-drained neutral soil. Acidic, alkaline, heavy clay, and poorly drained low-lying soil are not suitable for cultivation.
Propagation Methods
Seed propagation: Seed propagation is fast, the seedlings are also relatively robust, and the root system is more developed, but there is greater variation and the seeds are expensive. Select seeds of uniform size, full grains, and glossy surface. After sun-drying the seeds, soak them in warm water for one day, then soak them in sulfuric acid for 5 minutes, rinse with water, and sow. Generally sow in the ground in April in spring, maintain the temperature at 20-25 degrees, and they will germinate in about a week. After one month, they can be planted out.
Cuttage propagation: Cuttage propagation has strong adaptability to the environment and can also inherit the excellent qualities of the mother plant. It can be carried out in both spring and autumn. Cut off the terminal buds or non-lignified branches of vigorous, healthy, disease-free plants, soak them in rooting agent, and insert them directly into the soil. They will take root and sprout in about 15-20 days. During the cuttage process, the soil must be kept moist, and the branches should not wrinkle or wither, so that the survival rate is high.
Cultivation Techniques
1. Pruning: After planting out, lavender grows slowly. As the temperature gradually rises and warms, it begins to enter the spring revival period. At this time, we need to carry out artificial pruning and cut off the top branches, which can speed up root growth and promote branching.
2. Flowering period management: Lavender begins to bud in May and blooms in June. In the first year after planting out, in order to reduce nutrient supply and promote branch growth and development, we can remove all the flower buds in early June.
3. Watering: Although lavender likes a dry environment and does not need much water, newly planted plants need sufficient water in the first three years to promote rapid plant growth. The key watering times are during the budding period and the flowering period. Watering should be even and thorough.
4. Overwintering: Lavender is extremely cold-tolerant. However, just after planting out, it still needs artificial help. Before overwintering, it is necessary to manually mound soil and cut off the top of the branches. Mound soil about 15 cm to ensure the base is not frozen. In the following spring, remove the covering soil in time to avoid rot of branches and leaves.
The above introduction to lavender cultivation techniques is hoped to be helpful to you. The editor reminds everyone that in home cultivation, the survival rate of seed propagation is relatively low and is not recommended.