Is Your Lavender Wilting? Easy Tips To Revive a Drooping Plant

If you see your lavender wilting, it can most likely be a sign of stress on the plant. Despite needing low maintenance, sometimes these plants will wilt and droop due to less-than-ideal circumstances.

Our experts list the most common causes for this phenomenon, so continue reading to understand them and learn how you can revive your wilted lavender.

Why Is My Lavender Wilting?

Lavender plants wilt due to various reasons such as overwatered soil, high acidic levels and too much heat, among others. From stress to inappropriate growth conditions, these plants can and will droop when they are unhealthy. Read on to find out the actual reasons behind these symptoms.

– Lavender Wilting After Transplant

Lavenders can wilt soon after you have planted or transplanted them. This is a normal reaction of the plant. With a change in soil conditions, the plant will take time to adjust, so during the plant’s adjustment phase, it will show signs of wilting. 

With a change in humidity, soil type, moisture, temperature and water, the roots will also struggle to adapt. During this time, lavender plants will also experience wilting. 

There’s no need to worry as this is a temporary situation. Lavenders are tough plants and will soon learn to adapt to their new environment.

– High Acidic Level in the Soil

If your soil has incorrect pH, your lavender is bound to wilt. Lavenders need alkaline soil with a pH of six to eight. Acidic soil can be a threat to lavender plants.

– Over-watered Soil

A common reason for wilting lavender is the over-watering of the plant. Lavender plants do not need much water, and you should never keep the soil soggy. It not only causes the lavender to droop but also leads to root rot and fungal diseases. 

Let the plant dry out before you water it to help the roots establish themselves in the soil.

– Soil With Poor Drainage

If your soil is damp due to poor drainage, your lavender can also experience wilting. Ensure that your pot drains the water out well and avoid clay-like soil that retains more moisture within it.

– Wilting Due to Heat

Lavenders can wilt easily in hot weather. Under the blazing sun, lavender plants react by drooping. This wilting is inevitable, especially after a previous spell of pleasant weather. 

The wilting due to heat is a temporary response of the plant. The sudden rise in temperature creates a stress condition within them, thereby making them wilt. 

Do not water the plant during this time. Wait till the evening cooler temperature when the lavender will look normal again. 

– What Is the Right Soil?

Lavenders grow best in sandy soil. This type of soil does not retain water, in fact, it lets water drain out faster. Clay-like or loamy soils retain water, thus making your lavenders droop or wilt.

– Planting in a Small Pot

Using a pot of incorrect size can be yet another common reason for your lavender to wilt. The ideal size for a lavender pot is 16 inches. Any pot smaller than this is going to make the plant droop.

Giving enough space also ensures the roots can grow and establish themselves well. A small pot will dry out soon in the hot months, and the plant will not be able to draw up more water to thrive. 

If you find your indoor lavender plant wilting, your first step should be to move it to a larger pot. A larger pot will also carry enough soil that will act as an insulation to the roots in winter. 

– Over-nourishment of the Soil

If you are using an excess amount of fertilizer for your soil, it is time to cut back. Do note that a soil that is overly rich in nutrients can cause the lavender to wilt. 

A lavender plant does not need nutrient-rich soil. An overly fertilized soil can hamper growth as well as make your plant wilt. Keep the soil nourished at low to moderate levels.

 

How Do You Revive a Wilted Lavender Plant?

You can revive a wilted lavender plant using various techniques. First, you have to identify the cause of wilting and then work your way through the issue. 

– Water Immediately After Transplanting

Lavenders generally do not need much water and are low-maintenance, but after you have transplanted your plant, make sure you water it well. 

Transplantation causes stress conditions to the plant. The plant, therefore, requires a bit more water to help it tackle the stress. Doing this will help you handle the wilting that may follow.

Do take care not to overwater as this can also result in wilting.

– Choose the Right Season to Transplant

The best time of the year to transplant your lavender plant is during either spring or fall. With temperatures being much cooler, it reduces the stress on the plant. 

Summer is the wrong time to do any transplantation because, with soaring temperatures, it becomes difficult for the plant to cope. This will make it wilt easily and reviving the plant will become harder as well.

In cooler temperatures, the roots adapt better to the new soil that you have transplanted it in. Moisture gets retained in the soil, and this helps it to strengthen the plant’s roots and produce flowers for the summer. After transplantation, water the plant but ensure you don’t overwater it. 

– Provide the Right Amount of Water

Lavenders are low-maintenance plants, and all they require is an optimal amount of water. Where watering them prevents wilting, over-watering can also kill them. The trick is in striking the right balance. 

You need to water just enough to keep the soil moist, not damp and soggy. Remember to only water when the soil has dried out, which varies from season to season. In the blazing summer heat, the soil will dry out faster so you will have to water the plant more often. It would be enough to water the plant once every two weeks during other seasons.

Stay away from overwatering as it not only causes the lavender to wilt but also results in root rot. Ensure that your soil is well-draining.

– Move the Plant to a Bigger Pot

If you have your lavender plants in a pot, make sure they are wide and large enough for them to be comfortable in. The ideal size pot for a lavender plant is 16 inches. 

Lavender plants tend to dry out quicker in smaller pots. The roots will not able to spread out as well. Transplant the plant to give enough space to the roots to establish themselves. 

In addition, choose pots that are made of plastic or metal. These pots conduct heat better in comparison to clay or ceramic ones. 

– Do Not Over Fertilize Your Soil

Go low on your fertilizer use. Lavender plants do not need much of it, and they will thrive well in low to medium nutrient soil.

Avoid all fertilizers and manure that is high in nitrogen. If you spot your lavender wilting, check your soil composition. If it is nutrient-dense, then transplant the plant to soil with lower amounts of these substances.

– Make the Soil Porous With Sand and Grit

As mentioned earlier in the article, the soil for lavender plants needs to be well-drained. To make the soil this way, it is better to use sand and grit.

Sand and grit prove useful in increasing the drainage of the soil. It makes it porous, allowing water to drain out without difficulty. A well-drained soil prevents lavender plants from wilting. 

Avoid soil or compost sand that is high in clay as it retains moisture.

– Keep Them in the Sun

Lavender plants thrive under full sunlight. Move the plants to a spot where they get their sunshine completely. You need to provide the plants with six to eight hours of sunlight every day, so if you have them in pots indoors, move them to a place where the sunlight is best. 

For young lavender plants in their nascent stage, move them into partial sunlight. The stalks are tender and seldom do well under the harsh sun. If possible, plant new lavender plants in spring before the summer heat arrives.

In the winter months, cover the plants with a sheet to avoid frost. Lavender plants become dormant in winters, but when spring comes, the plant will recover and show signs of growth again.

– Alter the pH Level of Your Soil

Lavender plants thrive best in alkaline soil. Work on keeping the pH of your soil high by using garden limestone and spreading it onto the soil of your plants. Limestone is an amazing way to add a bit more alkalinity to your soil.

– Choose the Right Pot Material

Indoor lavender plants often wilt because their pots aren’t ideal for them. The right pot material will be metallic and plastic as these dry out the soil better compared to other materials.

Ceramic or terracotta pots slow down the process of water evaporation from the soil, so choose the right pot for your plant to prevent it from wilting.

– Plant Into a Raised Bed 

If you chose to directly plant your lavender plants in the ground, ensure that you do so in a raised bed. Low lying areas tend to pool water at the roots, which isn’t good for the plants. Soggy soil leads to root rot and wilts the plant’s leaves. 

Move lavender plants in low-lying areas to a raised location. Transplant them in late winter or early spring to help them catch up before their blooming time in summer. Use soil mixed with sand or grit to make it porous and well-drained. 

– Maintaining the Right Soil

As much as lavenders are low-maintenance plants, the soil needs to be conducive for them to thrive well. Apart from making sure that they are alkaline, sandy and porous, you will also need to keep the moisture right.

Debris, fallen leaves and stems trap water between them. They keep the soil wet and prevent water from draining out. Prevent this by regularly clearing the soil of debris. 

You can also add some mulch such as builder’s sand or washed shells to better dry out the soil.

FAQ

Should I cut off wilted Lavender?

Prune wilted Lavender to promote new growth and prevent further damage. Remove affected parts to maintain plant health.

How often should I water Lavender in hot weather to reverse wilting?

Water Lavender deeply but infrequently in hot weather to prevent wilting. Aim for 1-2 inches of water every 10-14 days.

How long does overwatered Lavender take to recover?

Overwatered Lavender may take 1-2 weeks to recover. Allow the soil to dry out before watering again and ensure proper drainage to prevent future issues.

Conclusion

You have now read all about creating an ideal environment for your lavender plant. Let us summarize the range of care you can provide a wilting lavender plant.

• Lavenders can wilt as a result of stressful conditions.
• Stress-conditions of lavenders can be over-watering, small pots and hot weather.
• Ensure the soil of the plant is not soggy or nutrient-dense.
• Lavender plants do not need frequent watering. It is enough to just keep the soil moist.
• Visual signs that you have overwatered your lavender plant are wilting and browning of its leaves.
• Remember to water the plant after transplantation, otherwise, its leaves will wilt.

With our expert tips, you can now prevent you lavender plants from wilting and even revive them back if they droop. This will help you grow beautiful lavender blooms in your garden.