Lavender Wilting
Jan H11
Posts: 47
Hi all - I bought a small lavender plant 2 weeks ago and have realised it was pot bound so I've repotted it into s larger one. I watered it in but I'm wondering if it's too wet as it's drooping all over. I've kept it indoors out of drafts and out of full sun but it's getting worse! I was going to put it outside but its frosty still so I didn't. Any ideas if it is beyond help now and should I put it outside? Thanks everyone.
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This may sound daft but it looks like it desperately needs water. The root ball may be dry even if surrounded by damp compost, especially if it was pot bound before you potted on. Try plunging the whole lot into a bucket of water and stand it in the shade outside. Let it soak for couple of hours and then drain completely.
Hi Fidgetbones
Thank you for your reply. I will try that, I did soak it in the sink when I originally noticed it wilting and then watered it again once I'd re-potted it as it was wilting more! Fingers crossed that is what it needs then, more water! I'll let you know how it goes.
I would give it a good soak as Fidget suggests, but then let it drain and don't water again until the soil, when you press your finger into the pot up to your first knuckle, feels dry.
Fingers crossed it makes it
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
might be worth unpotting it and loosening up the pot bound rootball if you didn't do that before.
In the sticks near Peterborough
... and at the same time check for the dreaded vine weevil grubs
If it's of any help, I find lavender in containers does best with loambased compost with a generous addition of horticultural grit.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Oh god yes, the vine weevil grub. Plants can be fine one minute, then literally keel over the next
Blimey! Sound more of a nightmare (possibly) than I thought! And there I was thinking my mum's ancient lavender plants looked like nothing short of a nuclear bomb would affect them!
OK, thank you for all of the above advice.......I'll investigate when I get home from work.....if it's not too late!
Grubs look like this and are pretty foul!
About 1cm long, creamy, with a darker head.
I stuck mine in a dish and let the blackbirds have a treat, whenever I found them.
There may be eggs laid by the adult beetles, in the soil, that you can't see...so if you do find a grub then it's best to chuck the soil out, wash the root ball and replant in fresh soil (as Dove said above!)
Good luck
Last edited: 26 April 2017 10:12:27
Duh, would help if I actually attached the photo, wouldn't it...
Well folks......I tried all of the above advice and sadly it was to no avail!
I think it had given up before I'd managed to intervene! That's reall knocked my confidence now...however, I won't give up - hopefully the lesson learned is to be careful when buying a plant from a supermarket!! Thank you everyone for trying.