Grow a pot of lavender at home: simple, beautiful, and saves you money on perfume
To grow lavender, use sandy soil with good drainage, water thoroughly, and it is best to water in the morning when there is no sunlight. It likes full sunlight, ideally all-day light. When fertilizing, dilute with water to avoid burning the roots due to overly concentrated fertilizer. It can be propagated by cuttings and sowing, and you should also prevent red spider mites and root rot.
I. Growing Environment
1. Soil: Lavender likes sandy soil with good drainage, and it is best to choose slightly alkaline or neutral soil.
2. Watering: Wait until the soil becomes dry before watering, and be sure to water thoroughly. It is best to water in the morning when there is no sunlight, otherwise water splashing on the leaves will cause rot and breed pests.
3. Light: It likes full sunlight, ideally all-day light. In summer, take shading measures, appropriately increase ventilation, or spray water around it to lower the air temperature.
4. Fertilizing: When fertilizing, dilute with water to avoid burning the roots due to overly concentrated fertilizer. Do not apply too much fertilizer; if the amount is too much, it will mask its own fragrance. Bone meal can be used as a base fertilizer.
II. Propagation Methods
1. Cutting propagation: Choose healthy, pest-free branches for cuttings, remove the leaves at the bottom of the branches, soak them in rooting agent, and insert them into prepared soil; they will root in about half a month.
2. Seed propagation: Choose seeds that are uniform in size and plump, soak them in warm water for about one day, then soak them in concentrated sulfuric acid for about 5 minutes, afterward rinse them clean with water and dry them before sowing. The suitable temperature for seed germination is 20-25°C.
III. Common Pests and Diseases
1. Red spider mite: The appearance of red spider mites will make the leaves dry, yellow, and withered. After discovering them, strengthen water and fertilizer management. In the early stage, you can spray with 0.26% matrine 1000-fold solution; in severe cases, you can spray with 20% dicofol emulsifiable concentrate 1000-2000-fold solution.
2. Root rot: To prevent it, choose soil with good drainage, and pay attention to pruning diseased branches and old branches. You can spray the leaves with 70% thiophanate-methyl wettable powder 400-fold solution or 50% carbendazim wettable powder 500-fold solution.