Last updated on October 23rd, 2023 at 08:58 pm
Lavender indicates quite quickly with drooping leaves and / or flowers when he feels unwell. However, you need to use detective instinct to find the cause, because if the lavender hangs, it can have many reasons.
Already at the time of purchase pay attention to healthy plants
Newly purchased lavender plants should be repotted immediately after purchase. The small plant pots are much too cramped for this space-consuming plant, so they should be replaced with a larger pot as soon as possible. By the way, you should look very carefully at the lavender plants before buying them, especially the roots. There should be no yellow or brown spots on the plant, and the roots should also appear healthy and strong. Don’t be surprised if the newly purchased and freshly repotted lavender droops its leaves at first, this is quite normal. The plant has suffered a shock and must now once again – literally – find its footing.
Are the location and care right?
Furthermore, incorrect care measures, as well as an unsuitable location can cause the lavender to hang. In the worst case – especially if the plants get far too much water – the lavender may even die. For this reason, you should pay attention to the following points for older plants – newly purchased plants initially still need a period of acclimatization:
- suitable substrate (dry, airy, permeable, low in nutrients)
- good drainage in the soil, so that no waterlogging can form (especially important with potted lavender!)
- potted lavender does not have “wet feet”, i.e. it must not stand on wet saucers
- water regularly, but not too much
- sunny (no shade or partial shade!) and wind-protected location
- suitable overwintering (varies depending on the variety)
Watch out for pests and diseases
Drooping leaves can also be a sign of infestation by aphids or a harmful fungus. While aphids are rare on lavender – after all, lavender oil in particular is popularly used as an effective biological remedy against the beasts – they can still infest already weakened plants. Therefore, examine your lavender for green aphids, especially in the leaf axils and on the undersides of the leaves. They can usually be easily eliminated with a soft soap solution or lavender oil. If, on the other hand, the lavender is infected with a fungus, the only thing that can help is extensive pruning. But be careful not to cut too far into the woody parts, as the plant will then no longer sprout.
Tips & Tricks
If the lavender hangs, however, it is not always due to unfavorable site conditions or incorrect care. Lavandin, a cross between spike and true lavender, has a natural tendency to let its inflorescences droop. So, if you can’t find a cause for your drooping lavender, but it still continues to grow merrily, it could simply be the Provençal lavender Lavandin