I have been watering but I’m conscious they don’t need too much, so only every other day or so. Is that too much/too little?
I think they can cope with regular watering, but excess water must be able to drain away, so the roots aren't sat in wet soil. Best planted in a heavy grit soil.
It sounds like your plant had been raised in a very controlled environment before you bought it. Wilting quickly could mean the top growth is too big and not enough roots below. The leaves look like they had been fed too much and the excess lush growth may not be able to deal with even cooler temperatures and wind. Heat can also cause it to collapse.
Your plant is probably trying to acclimatise to its new surroundings. This can take time.
If this continues after following instructions with watering I would just prune all the top growth down so it can cope.
Lavenders are grown in gritty, fast-draining soil, in full sun (8 hours or, preferably, more), and not overfertilized or overwatered, lavender should last for 8 to 12 years.
Growing lavender in a pot can be a little tricky. A terra cotta pot allows more air to reach the root system, which is a good thing. And use a shallow pot instead of a deep one. If you prefer a pretty ceramic container, use one that is small enough to allow the plant to become potbound, or filled with roots. Then transplant to one that is only slightly larger instead of moving it to a pot that’s much bigger than the previous one.
It’s easier to manage a potbound lavender than it is to keep one alive in a large pot. The reason is that a lot of water is held in a large volume of soil, increasing the risk of root rot. You’ll still have to add drainage material, such as pine fines, PermaTill, or coarse sand, to the potting soil. Don’t layer it, but incorporate the grit throughout the soil.
Fertilize only 2 times a year, in spring and early summer, with low analysis products, low in nitrogen. If in doubt, don’t fertilize. It’s worth a try for the scent alone. Pollinators of all sorts also love this plant.
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Lavenders are grown in gritty, fast-draining soil, in full sun (8 hours or, preferably, more), and not overfertilized or overwatered, lavender should last for 8 to 12 years.
Growing lavender in a pot can be a little tricky. A terra cotta pot allows more air to reach the root system, which is a good thing. And use a shallow pot instead of a deep one. If you prefer a pretty ceramic container, use one that is small enough to allow the plant to become potbound, or filled with roots. Then transplant to one that is only slightly larger instead of moving it to a pot that’s much bigger than the previous one.
It’s easier to manage a potbound lavender than it is to keep one alive in a large pot. The reason is that a lot of water is held in a large volume of soil, increasing the risk of root rot. You’ll still have to add drainage material, such as pine fines, PermaTill, or coarse sand, to the potting soil. Don’t layer it, but incorporate the grit throughout the soil.
Fertilize only 2 times a year, in spring and early summer, with low analysis products, low in nitrogen. If in doubt, don’t fertilize. It’s worth a try for the scent alone. Pollinators of all sorts also love this plant.