Spring Indoor Gardening Tips for 2023

Welcome back to our fellow lavender lovers. At the top of our list is to thank all of you for your continued support over the last few years. Though we have been quiet on the blog, we have been working hard at the farm. Let’s recap; when the pandemic happened, everything shifted, and we were hit with everything from jars and packaging not being available to the kitchen we use to make jams close. That said, we even made it thru the crazy arctic blast at Christmas and the high winds that took everyone’s power recently. We are resilient here at Lavish Hill.  We are in the process of restocking our shelves with the products you know and love. Beth is hard at work developing new offerings for you, so many new ideas!

Spring is just around the corner even if it doesn’t feel like it yet. It may be too early to plant in the garden but it’s not too early to bring spring color inside. Get out those gardening cloves, head to your closest garden center, and plant some lavender.

Decide on Dwarf Varieties for Indoor Growing

There are more than 450 different kinds of lavender, so decide which variety is best to grow indoors based on your intended use. Consider growing 'Hidcote' English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) if you want a dwarf type that will scent your rooms all season long. Its deep purple flowers can be easily maintained and dense for container growing. Consider growing 'Munstead' English lavender if you want to add sweet, delicate lavender leaves to your baked products or other culinary creations. Grow 'Kew Red' or Spanish lavender for its spectacular blooms if you want to add lavender stems to a tabletop vase.

Purchase seedlings at your neighborhood garden center

The simplest method to begin growing lavender indoors is to purchase young potted plants or transplants rather than attempting to grow lavender from seed because lavender seeds are challenging to germinate. Re-pot your new lavender plant into a container that is one or two sizes larger than the initial one as soon as you get it home. Because the herb likes slightly drier conditions and water evaporates more rapidly from the porous material of the pot, growing lavender in terra-cotta pots works particularly well.

Provide Plenty of Light

Put your lavender shrub somewhere warm in the summer, put your lavender shrub somewhere warm, and in the winter, somewhere a little cooler but still light. A southern-facing kitchen windowsill is typically a good location for growing lavender indoors because it is easy to access while preparing and is probably going to have enough light and airflow. Weekly rotation of the plant will ensure that all surfaces get six to eight hours of direct sunshine. Place your lavender plant under grow lights for 12 to 14 hours each day if there isn't enough sunlight present in your house.

Water Lavender When the Soil Feels Dry

When the top of the soil feels dry, water lavender. Overwatering can result in rotting and insect problems, make sure the plant is not resting in soggy dirt. In between waterings, allow the soil to gradually dry out.

Regulate the Temperature Inside Your Home

Maintain indoor temperatures between 60°F and 70°F during the day and at least 10 degrees cooler at night for the ideal indoor growing circumstances. Keep your lavender shrub away from drafty areas and areas with forced air heating.

Maintain Low Humidity Levels

Low humidity levels are preferred by lavender. The relative humidity in most houses hovers around 40%, which is ideal for lavender cultivation.