Lavender quickly indicates when it feels unwell with drooping leaves and/or flowers. However, you have to use your detective instinct to look for the cause, because if the lavender is hanging, there can be many reasons.
Why is my lavender hanging and what can I do about it?
If lavender hangs, incorrect care, unsuitable location, pests or diseases may be the cause. Make sure there is enough sun, moderate watering, good drainage and he althy plant parts for optimal care and recovery of the lavender.
Make sure you buy he althy plants
Newly purchased lavender plants should be repotted immediately after purchase. The small plant pots are far too narrow for this space-consuming plant and should therefore be replaced with a larger pot as quickly as possible. By the way, you should look at the lavender plants very carefully before buying, especially the roots. There should be no yellow or brown spots on the plant, and the roots should also appear he althy and strong. Don't be surprised if the newly purchased and newly repotted lavender leaves its leaves hanging, this is completely normal. The plant has suffered a shock and now has to – literally – find its footing again.
Are the location and care correct?
Furthermore, incorrect care measures and an unsuitable location can cause the lavender to droop. In the worst case scenario - especially if the plants receive far too much water - the lavender can even die. For this reason, you should pay attention to the following points with older plants - newly purchased plants still need some time to get used to:
- suitable substrate (dry, airy, permeable, low in nutrients)
- good drainage in the soil so that no waterlogging can form (particularly important for potted lavender!)
- Pot lavender has no “wet feet”, i.e. H. It is not allowed to stand on wet coasters
- water regularly, but not too much
- sunny (no shade or partial shade!) and wind-protected location
- suitable overwintering (varies depending on the variety)
Watch out for pests and diseases
Hanging leaves can also be a sign of an infestation by aphids or a harmful fungus. Although aphids on lavender are rare - after all, lavender oil is often used as an effective biological remedy against the beasts - they can still infect already weakened plants. Therefore, check your lavender for green aphids, especially in the leaf axils and on the undersides of the leaves. They can usually be easily removed with a soft soap solution or lavender oil. However, if the lavender is infected with a fungus, only a large area of pruning will help. But be careful: Do not cut too far into the woody parts, as the plant will no longer sprout.
Tips & Tricks
If the lavender hangs, it is not always due to unfavorable location conditions or incorrect care. Lavandin, a cross between lavender and lavender, has a natural tendency to let its inflorescences droop. So if you can't find a cause for your hanging lavender, but it continues to grow happily, then it could simply be the Provençal lavender Lavandin.
