How to grow lavender? Cultivation methods and daily care tips

Lavender has always been a popular flowering plant, with the whole plant carrying a fragrant scent, elegant and graceful leaf shapes and flower colors, and long, beautiful blue-purple flower spikes. It is suitable for mass planting or row planting along garden paths, and can also be grown in pots for ornamental viewing, and it also has a good mosquito-repelling effect. Many households growing lavender choose the seed-sowing method, but growing plants from seed is not easy, especially since lavender seeds have a relatively low survival rate. So how do you plant lavender seeds? What are the methods and tips for growing lavender from seed? Let's take a look:

How to grow lavender flowers

Temperature:

It prefers a warm winter and cool summer environment. The most suitable temperature for growth is 15-301C, so spring and autumn are the periods when the plant grows best. It is relatively cold-tolerant, especially at the seedling stage where cold tolerance is even stronger. When it has 4-5 pairs of leaves, it can endure low temperatures of -5 to -8X:. When the winter temperature drops below 01C, the plant enters dormancy, but when planted in the ground it can endure low temperatures of -2(TC; when grown in pots, it should be moved indoors for warmth in early winter. It dislikes high temperatures and extreme summer heat; in summer high temperatures it enters a semi-dormant state, and stuffy, hot weather is most likely to cause plant death. However, as long as ventilation is good, although the plant grows slowly, it will not die from high temperatures. When the temperature exceeds 3(TC, in addition to strengthening ventilation, measures such as shading and spraying the environment with water should also be taken to create a cool environment.

Light:

It likes light. Usually it is best to place potted plants in a spot where they can see the sun all day and where ventilation is good. Insufficient light will affect flowering and the production of essential oil. However, when the summer temperature is above 30X:, strong sunlight should be avoided, and shading measures should be taken to block about 50% of the sunlight.

Watering:

It likes a relatively dry soil environment and dislikes waterlogging. Water must not be excessive, otherwise the root system is prone to suffocation and root rot, which is the most common problem when growing lavender. During the growing period, watering should follow the principle of "do not water if dry, water thoroughly when watering"; at the same time, watering should avoid getting water on the leaves, because the leaves have fine hairs, and if water remains on them, the leaves are prone to rot. If the leaves accidentally get wet, the plant should be moved to a ventilated place in time so it can dry as quickly as possible. During the plum rain season, the plant should be placed in a rain-sheltered spot, otherwise it will not only reduce oil production but also cause root rot and plant death. It dislikes humid and stuffy weather. During summer high temperatures, watering should be controlled and ventilation strengthened. High temperature and high humidity can very easily lead to plant death. In winter, watering needs to be moderated to keep the potting soil relatively dry.

Pruning:

Lavender flowers have the richest essential oil content. When using them, the flowers or flower spikes are mainly used. To make harvesting easier, some small flower spikes in the early cultivation stage may as well be trimmed flat entirely with large scissors. The newly grown flower spikes will be uniform in height, which helps with harvesting all at once. Some varieties can reach 90 cm in height. This method is also used to keep the plant shorter, encourage more branching and flowering, and increase the harvest. After flowering is finished, pruning must be carried out. The plant can be pruned to 2/3 of its original size; the plant shape will be more compact, which is beneficial for growth. Pruning should be done in cool seasons such as spring and autumn. Generally, pruning is done in spring; pruning in autumn will affect cold tolerance. When pruning, be careful not to cut into the lignified parts, so as to avoid weakening or killing the plant.

Planting and repotting:

When growing lavender in the Yangtze River basin, heat-tolerant types should be chosen, such as French lavender, Spanish lavender, and sweet lavender (a hybrid of English lavender and French lavender). After the seedlings grow 4-6 true leaves, they need to be potted. It likes sandy loam with good drainage that is neutral or slightly alkaline. The growing medium can be prepared from materials such as leaf mold, vermiculite, perlite, and coconut coir. If the soil is acidic, some lime or coal cake ash should be mixed in to adjust the soil pH to neutral or weakly alkaline. Repotting should be done once every spring.

Pest and disease control:

Because it has a unique fragrance and oils, pests and diseases rarely occur. During high temperatures, wilt disease may occur.

Lavender seed prices:

Before planting lavender seeds, we naturally have to buy seeds first. What everyone wants to know more about is the price of lavender seeds. The price of lavender seeds differs greatly depending on the lavender variety, among other things. Lavender seeds bought online now are generally counted by the seed; 20 to 30 seeds cost about 5 yuan. Prices also vary somewhat from region to region.