Growing lavender on the balcony

The optimal location on the balcony

Blooming lavender is reminiscent of your last vacation and relaxes body and mind, and the intense scent lasts annoying insects away. Instead, the flowers, which contain a lot of nectar, provide plenty of food for bees and butterflies. So that the lavender feels comfortable on your balcony, it should if possible sun all day have - ergo an alignment in a south or south-westerly direction is desirable. He should also be as protected as possible to the plants from strong weather such as wind and Rainfall to preserve.

Flowering perennials such as lavender have similar needs in terms of location as lavender

• Beard flowers
• broom
• Summer and autumn lilacs
• Almond tree
• Crabapple and Ornamental Cherry
• Rosemary, sage and thyme
• Johannis herbs
• Rock pear
• Wild roses (e.g. B. Shrub roses)

Substrate and plant container

The roots of the lavender require a lot of space, which is why the planter should be as wide and deep as possible.

Low growing lavender varieties can also be cultivated in a balcony box, but you can to an appropriate water drain should pay attention. Window boxes(€ 7.99 at Amazon *) damming the water, which can quickly become a deadly trap for drought-loving plants like lavender. As a result, a permeable, sandy substrate and drainage are required Expanded clay,(€ 16.36 at Amazon *) Pebbles or pottery shards are indispensable. The substrate should also be as lean as possible. For this purpose, you can use commercially available Potting soil with plenty of sand (e.g. B. Mix the play sand in a ratio of 1: 1).

Lavender can be propagated from cuttings without any problems. If you do not have the space to overwinter the perennial plant appropriately, simply take cuttings and overwinter them. This saves a lot of space and usually works on the windowsill in an unheated bedroom. For this purpose, cut off shoots that are about 10 to 15 centimeters long and still green and stick them in suitable lavender soil. Keep the substrate slightly damp, but not wet. The cuttings take root after an average of four to six weeks. You can also grow lavender plants from commercially available seeds in spring instead of buying ready-made plants.

Wintering lavender on the balcony?

Winter hard lavender - which in principle only includes the many varieties of real lavender - can usually be hibernate on the balcony, provided that there is good protection, of course. Cover the substrate with sticks and wrap the pot with protective mats (ex. B. made of coconut) or fleece to protect the sensitive roots from frost. Not hardy lavender - such as the one particularly popular as a potted plant Coppy lavender - on the other hand, must not stand outside in winter, but should overwinter under cold house conditions. Temperatures between 10 and 12 ° C are ideal.

Tips & Tricks

If possible, plant your lavender in containers made from natural materials such as clay. Plastic containers store too much water and do not allow it to evaporate, so that a climate unfavorable for lavender can develop in them.

IJA