Can You Grow Lavender Indoors?

About Lavender

• Lavender, botanically Lavandula, is one of the members of the mint family and there are around 39 species native to the Mediterranean and Middle East, North and West Africa, India and the Atlantic Islands. All are found in somewhat dry soil with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH and good drainage. Their leaves are evergreen, fragrant and slightly to intensely grayish in color. The flowers are borne in spikes above the leaves, and are usually lavender-to-purple, with some varieties being pink or white.

Varieties To Grow

• English lavender, L. angustifolia, is the type most people think of as a typical lavender. Though it can reach 2 or 3 feet in height, you'll want to buy dwarf varieties to grow indoors so light can reach as much of the leaf surface as possible. Lavandin, L. intermedia, is a hybrid between L. angustifolia and L. latifolia. The flower spikes are long-stemmed and thick, making them a good choice for ornamental purposes. Again, choose shorter varieties for indoor culture. Spanish lavender, L. stoechas, has showy spikes of flowers with a few petals at the top that look like rabbit ears. It tends to sprawl and is more tolerant of slightly acid soil than other lavenders.

Cultivation

• Indoors or out, lavender needs excellent drainage, a neutral soil pH and lots of light. Add sand, perlite or small gravel to your soil, plus a bit of lime if acidity is a problem. Organic matter such as leaf mold or coir, coconut fiber, will also help keep the soil open as well as hold moisture. Lavenders should always be pruned after flowering to keep them compact. Indoors, cut the new growth back by half and thin the branches so light can reach the base.

Growing Lavender Indoors

• Since lavenders dislike high humidity, indoor air suits them and they take well to pot culture. Your main problem will be giving them enough light to keep them from growing leggy and flowering poorly. If possible, put them outside during the summer months and use a plant light to supplement the sun available on a windowsill. Have the plant light close to the tops of the branches for best results.