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Lavender wilted after being in the sun all day.

alynxidealynxide Posts: 2
in Problem solving
I read that lavender likes full sun, so yesterday I put it in a sunny spot in my back yard and left it. I’ve only had it for a couple of days and kept it on a baker’s rack on my patio until then. It looked like it was clouding up to storm so I went and retrieved it and found it like this. I live in the southeastern US and it was very hot (nearly 100F) and humid. I hadn’t watered it so it couldn’t be from overwatering. I did give it a light soak yesterday evening bc the soil was very dry. I was hoping it would perk back up overnight but it’s still in the same condition. Any advice? Can she be saved?


Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Desperately needs watered.
    They can cope with drought - but only when planted in the ground, and watered regularly until established. It's a common mistake to think they simply don't need watered, especially in pots. The pot is also very small for the amount of growth it has.

    You may need to immerse it now to make sure the compost is well dampened. Otherwise, any water can just run through. Then make sure it has regular watering. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • alynxidealynxide Posts: 2
    Ah, okay! Every google search on wilted/droopy lavender just turned up results saying it was probably over watered, which I knew couldn’t really be the case with mine. Hopefully it isn’t too late for this one. I’ll also look for a bigger pot to replant it in as well, I just re-potted it into that one last night since the one it came in was even smaller. Do you know about how long it usually takes for them to perk back up?
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It would only be a day or two. Make sure it has good, gritty compost, so that excess water drains away well.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • TheGreenManTheGreenMan Posts: 1,957
    I have two lavender plants, both in pots, and I water them every other day in high summer. They are healthy and floriferous. 
  • Blue OnionBlue Onion Posts: 2,995
    And it was most likely unused to direct sun.  You said you only had it a few days?  You need to 'harden off' any plants that came from the garden center, etc.  They've been babied, and are unused to the harsh sunlight of the SE US.  Keep it in dappled shade and put it out in the sun mornings and evenings for a few days, gradually increasing the amount of sunlight over the week.  Also, a good soak every day.  Put the whole pot in a bucket and let it sit for 10 minutes or so in the water.  Let it grow into the larger pot you just put it in for a few weeks, before going larger.  

    It doesn't look too late for it from the image.. you've just given it a shock by putting it out in direct sun all day.  It needs some time to harden up the cells in the leaves to reduce evaporation and deal with hot sunlight.  
    Utah, USA.
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