If you’re looking for a houseplant that’s a little different, consider a lavender plant. With proper care, this “living bouquet” offers months of fragrance and bloom indoors.
Start by placing your plant in a sunny south-facing window, where it will receive as much light as possible. In low light, growth may become weak and spindly and the plant will cease flowering. Rotate the pot weekly for uniform growth.
Ideal temperatures for indoor growth are 45 to 50 degrees F at night and 60 to 65 during the day. Provide good air circulation, but avoid the direct flow of forced-air heat.
Drench the soil completely when watering and allow the pot to drain thoroughly. Allow the soil to become somewhat dry between waterings. Over- or under-watering may cause leaves to turn yellow or wilt. Fertilize with half-strength houseplant fertilizer once a month.
You may cut and dry the stems for scented sachets, potpourri or small bouquets. Pruning encourages bushy, new growth, but may delay flowering, which occurs at branch tips.
Lavender can be grown outdoors, but hardiness varies, depending on the variety. Most plants sold for indoor bloom are French lavender (Lavandula stoechas), which is hardy to zone 8, but there are hardier varieties, such as English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), which thrives in zone 5. When planted outdoors, lavender requires well-drained soil in full sun.
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