Growing Lavender is very popular among gardeners since it can produce beautiful purple flowers. Although full of wonderful qualities, Lavender sometimes suffers due to a lack of nutrition.
Unfortunately, it is a very delicate plant, which can lead to it wilting very easily. Lavender wilting may be caused by a number of reasons, but there are also a number of solutions available.
In addition to these, you can use some tricks to prevent your Lavender from wilting. A few of the most common causes and solutions for wilting Lavender are described below.
How Does Lavender Wilt?
Any number of environmental factors can cause Lavender to wilt. Most commonly, damage or stress to the plant attracts insects that lay eggs on the foliage, causing the flowers and branches to droop under their weight.
Other possible causes of wilt include too much water, too little light, not enough nutrients, and diseases.
The Top Reasons Why is My Lavender is Wilting
There are several reasons why your Lavender may be wilting or has become sickly looking. The following are some of the most common causes and their solutions.
Overwatering: Leading Cause of Wilting Lavender Plants
The most common cause of wilting lavender plants is over-watering. If your lavender plant is located in an area where it gets a lot of water, this may be the cause of your Lavender’s wilt. When you overwater a plant, it suffocates the roots, preventing them from breathing properly. This lack of oxygen can also cause root rot or botrytis blight, which are other common causes of wilting Lavender plants.
The Under-Watering
Under-watering is another common cause of lavender wilt. Lavenders grow best in well-drained soil and should be watered thoroughly and infrequently, so they can dry out between watering.
This may not seem like it makes sense, but lavenders naturally live in arid climates with little rainfall.
If you live in a very dry area and your Lavender is wilting, it may be because the plant is not receiving enough water. Sometimes this occurs when a plant dries out or becomes stressed due to lack of water for an extended period or in extreme temperatures.
Improper Drainage
Improper drainage of your lavender bed is a very common cause of wilting. Lavenders require well-drained soil to thrive, so having a raised bed is an excellent idea if you want healthy lavender plants. If the irrigation system in your yard floods or over-waters your lavenders on a regular basis, this can also cause the plants to become stressed and wilt.
Lack of Light or Shade
If your Lavender is in a shady area, the lack of light can cause it to wilt. To prevent this, you can try moving your plant to a sunnier location or transplanting the plant into a larger container that gets enough direct sunlight for optimal growth. If you are growing your Lavender in a container, make sure the pot is large enough for the plant to grow without being too cramped.
Heavy Mulch
Mulch placed too heavily around your lavender plant can cause the plant to wilt. If you have been using heavy mulch to protect your plants from extreme temperature fluctuations or other environmental factors, remove it and replace it with a lighter layer of mulch.
Top-Heavy Plants
If your stem-tip pruned lavender plant has become top-heavy, the weight of the flowers and foliage on the crown of the plant may cause it to fall over. If you are growing your Lavender in a container, make sure not to prune too much off the mother plant or root system. Root systems provide structural support for the plant, and the stem-tip pruning can make it more top-heavy.
You can also add stakes or other support structures to help keep your lavender plants upright.
Damage from Pests
Another reason behind your lavender wilting may be due to pest damage. Aphids, for example, can cause a plant to become stressed or sickly looking and eventually wilt. If you have seen pests on your plants, try using an organic pesticide to kill off the bugs and give them a better chance of recovering from the damage.
Disease Problems Such as Root Rot and Leaf Spots
Root rot and leaf spots can also cause wilting in lavenders. If you suspect that your Lavender is suffering from disease problems, immediately seek professional help to diagnose the problem and find a solution before it spreads or causes more damage. Your local nursery or gardening center should be able to provide expert advice on how to treat plant diseases such as root rot and leaf spots.
Extreme Heat or Cold Temperatures
Extreme temperatures can cause lavender wilt, just like other plants. If you have been seeing a lot of wilting in your lavenders even though the weather has been pretty mild, it may be due to a particularly hot or cold patch. To protect your plant from extreme temperatures, try mulching around the base of the plant and keeping the plant well-watered.
Stress after Transplantation
Sometimes Lavender can wilt after transplanting because the plant is still adjusting to its new home. Keep an eye open for wilting in your lavenders after you have moved them to a different spot or even when you give it away to someone, and make adjustments as necessary. Maintain good water habits by keeping the soil moist but not waterlogged.
Type of Soil
If your soil is too alkaline or has high salt content, this can cause lavender wilt. Slightly acidic soil with low fertilizer levels is ideal for growing lavenders. If you suspect that your soil might be the problem, try planting them in raised beds so you can amend the soil without disturbing their roots.
What are The Symptoms of Wilting?
You may notice that your Lavender has small insects on it or is stretching out towards the sun. If this is not the case, then leaf tips might be turning brown, and there could be a rapid loss of foliage color.
Lavenders may also be drooping in a sickly manner or maybe leaning towards a light source. You may also notice a sweet smell on the leaves, which means that some type of fungi is growing on them.
The Lavender itself might have a grayish hue to it, and your soil might feel dry, even though you water regularly. Perhaps there’s a tell-tale rotting odor in some cases or a yellowing of the foliage on the lower parts of the plant near the soil line.
How can You Prevent Your Lavender from Withering?
Once you have identified the cause of your Lavender’s wilt, it should be easy to find ways to prevent further wilting in the future. Make sure your lavenders receive enough water while still allowing time for them to dry out before watering again.
Keep an eye open for pests and diseases that could damage or kill your plants. Mulch around your lavender to protect it from extreme temperatures and wilting.
If your soil is alkaline or contains high levels of salt, consider planting your lavender plants in raised beds so they can easily adjust to their new environment without stress.
If you suspect that your soil may be the cause behind wilting, try giving it a pH test first before adjusting it too much since this will affect nutrient uptake by plants making them more prone.
Tips on Maintaining Lavender’s Freshness
The following tips will help you keep your lavender fresh at home:
- Store lavender bunches in a vase or container with water like you would flowers
- Change the water every other day and trim the stems every few days
- Put a few drops of lavender oil in the water to help keep the flowers fresh
- If you live in a humid climate, mist them every couple of days
- If you live in a dry climate, mist your lavender plants once a week with a spray bottle
- When it starts to look wilted, snip off the flowers with sharp scissors
- If you live in a very dry climate, put it in the bathtub and run the shower around it
- Lavender is very drought tolerant once established, so if you forget to water it, don’t panic
FAQs about Wilting Lavender Plants
1. When Should I Water My Lavender Plant?
Watering once a week is generally fine, but if the soil becomes dry to the touch an inch below the surface, it’s time to water again.
Lavender Requires Maintenance?
You need to prune your Lavender back after flowering each year. This will help it maintain its shape and encourage new growth.
2. Where should I grow Lavender?
A: Lavender thrives in sunny, dry areas like rock gardens or meadows. Plant it at least four feet apart. When planting, make sure to leave room for maintenance and pruning.
What Happens If You Don’t Prune Lavender?
If Lavender isn’t pruned, it will grow too tall and spindly.
3. How Long Does Lavender Last?
Once it starts to grow, Lavender will last for years. Also, after you cut it back in the fall, new flowers will emerge in the spring.
4. Is It Possible to Revive Wilted Lavender?
If your Lavender has been outside in the hot sun, move it to a shaded area. If it wilts indoors, put it under running water or in the tub for a few hours. Then cut off the wilted flowers.
Conclusion
Lavender is a beautiful and versatile plant that can be used in many different ways. It’s easy to care for, drought-tolerant, and thrives in sunny areas.
By following the tips we’ve provided, you can keep your lavender plants healthy and looking fresh all year long. Wilting Lavender can often be revived by giving it a little TLC, so don’t worry if you forget to water it sometimes. Thanks for reading!
