grow bigger that is!! I had sown some lavender seeds in a container last year and got some little plants from them surprisingly. They survived the winter and are about 4-5" height but very very thin. They look spindly. How can I make them grow thicker and make them grow fatter? Thanks in advance.
First off I can't grow lavender no matter how hard I've tried, to hot here. But like with any plant I would think to make it bushier you will need to prune it down some, probably not much no bigger than they are so it will be forced to branch. That energy has to go somewhere an will likely go into branching. Ordinarily I would recommend fertilizing, but herbs don't require it as far as I know. Lavender may be different though. Are they getting enough sun? Hopefully someone that knows more about it than I do will chime in soon.
I don't know about pruning them down. If I were doing it I would repot them into a slightly bigger pot and plant them about halfway up the stalk. It would grow a larger root system. dooley
Well, of course the only way to force them to be bushier is to prune them. I have never pruned any plantlets this small. I always wait until after they have bloomed, taking care not to prune-back into the woody stems. Now, having said that, if you have plants-a-plenty, then why not snip off the very tip of some, and see if they will perhaps fork and grow new little branches at this early stage. With many plantlets I use the rule of thumb: snip (pinch-out) the top, after the first two to three leaf sets.
I have quite a lot of lavender in my garden and I trim it back once or twice a year. If you take away the growing tips from the top of the clump then, as Trudy says, it will feel compelled to put out more new shoots on the sides of the cut branches. If it is kept in a pot then giving it a bigger area for the roots to stretch into by re-potting would also help.
Lavender gets woody if you don't prune it, but don't prune down too far. I've never fertilized mine and rarely water them (though mine are well established). They grow like weeds and propagate easily with cuttings.
What variety of lavender seeds did you use? There are some small varieties out there. If you are certain it is not a dwarf variety, pinch it back a bit to stimulate growth. Are you feeding it? I run a commercial herb growing operation and we always trim back our plugs to stimulate growth before potting them up.
I put my Lavender in the ground here in NC and it grew! No fertilizing or pruning, just sun and time! Gardengater
That essence of lavender is great in aromatherapy and in organic soaps and shampoo,even in chocolate. I would like to grow lavender for its oil but it most likely would take a abundance of plants for extraction.
Cat I would give my eye teeth to be able to make my own lavender essential oil. I use enough of that stuff making bath and body products over the past few years that I should own stock in it! I am like you though I am sure it takes a whole lot to make the oils! Oh I can dream though!
lavender extract Lavender makes a great, soothing tea, as well. When our younger daughter's horse coliced a few years ago, we spread fresh lavender in her stall to calm her down. While it isn't straight essential oil, you can make an extract of lavender fairly easily. Put 1/2 cup of dried or one cup of fresh lavender into a bottle, add about two cups of vodka and wait six weeks. You can make it stronger by changing the herbs daily (Strain and press the plants to get all the oil out.)
Tina Great job getting those seeds going. I have one new variety that is much the same as the one you describe. I wouldn't worry too much until the second year. As long as your pot is well drained and doesn't dry out it should get big this next year (if it isn't to cool a summer). Some varieties of lavender develop slower here with our cool nights. I have had pretty good luck with the four varieties I have in my yard. I saved some flowers and dried them in bath salts. Layered a goodly amount of lavender flowers and then salt up a pretty pint canning jar. I poked holes in one of the lids and use that lid when I drop the jar in the bath water. The essence is like summer.
