Does anyone here grow lavender?

Luvvy1

I can't seem to keep my plant alive.  I don't get it...

*I swear I know how to spell lavender.  Honest.

jodippls

My mom just bought some lavender plants yesterday. She's planning to put them on her front porch so they'll be in full sun. I don't know if that helps you or not.

Kristin&Kelly09

I know my DH planted lavendar when we started our garden last month but I have no idea how it is doing.  Guess I need to check on the plants we have a little more often. 

cakenbake

Lavender is originally from the Med, so think dry, rocky, and alkaline soil, as well as full sun. Here's a great article: clicky.

I fell in love with lavender when we were in Italy, so I've done some research. 

Luvvy1

Ah, thank you.  I think I need to mess with the soil a bit and make it sandier.

duncanpowers

Yeah, I was going to say--it really likes dry, sandy conditions. And try to water it from the ground, not by sprinkling over it. It's not into having wet leaves.

Luvvy1

Okay, I made a 75/25 mix of sand/potting soil and put a 2" layer of rocks at the bottom of the pot.  I watered the outside rim of the pot, and only enough to moisten the soil.  I also put it outside directly under the sun instead of sun through the window of my porch.  I will call this plant Frankenstein if it lives.  I think I killed it and that makes me sad. 

My mint on the other hand, is out of control.  It's awesome.

alwaysfare

Sounds like I should try growing lavender. I'm great at forgetting to water plants.

jodippls

alwaysfare:

Sounds like I should try growing lavender. I'm great at forgetting to water plants.

Me too. I've killed everything I've tried to grow.

Luvvy1

jodippls:

alwaysfare:

Sounds like I should try growing lavender. I'm great at forgetting to water plants.

Me too. I've killed everything I've tried to grow.

Try a spider plant.  I swear they are very, very hard to kill.  My gardenia is rocking too!  (Also, the previously mentioned mint.)  If you can't find a spider plant, I might be willing to give you a trimming of mine.  It started from a trimming of my grandma's.  

OR!  I can't think of what they are called, but the ones that sprout the white lilly-esque flower are pretty hard to kill.  I've grown and split one of those at least three times.  If all else fails, get a cactus.

cakenbake

Basil is also super easy to grow. I had a plant that I started in Italy that literally had three leaves on it as a seedling. It ended up in a 2.5 foot tall BUSH!

jodippls

I killed my cactus, basil and mint.

This year will be different though. Yesterday, with my mom's help I bought a potted Zinnia, Phlox and Cilantro (very random combination, I know). This Saturday I'm going to dig up my front flower bed (it has 3 bushes and some monkey grass in it) and start planting. I'm planning to split the Phlox and plant some Petunias and Marigolds. I'm going to put the Zinnias in a hanging basket. We'll see how that goes.

Luvvy1

My phlox is dying.  Not sure why though.  I put that one outside in the direct sun too.  Hopefully that will make a difference.