Why would you bring it indoors? Certainly hardy enough in zone 7 to remain outside in winter, even in a container. Lavender needs very little water in winter (or at any other time for that matter) as well as very sharp drainage, so it is quite possible that it has been overwatered. I'd get it back out into cooler temps ASAP, although I'd keep it in a protected location for now until spring. And water only if you have extended periods without rain.

Have to agree with above message. Lavenders like being treated harshly, dry conditions, sandy or gravel beds are best, no fertilizers, even like cold weather but not much wind. Usually do best if ignored. I would put him back outside in a wind protected area, leave him alone for the rest of winter. Maybe mulch around his pot to prevent sudden temp changes hurting roots. He may not make it anyway. You just can't be so nice to lavender, they croak.

What lavender do you have? Some of the hardier Lavenders don't do well indoors at all. I would think that in zone 7, most of them would be hardy outdoors.
It could be dropping leaves because you are overwatering it. Let the soil dry out between waterings. You can actually wait until it looks like the leaves are starting to wilt, and then water it. Lavender does not like to be constantly wet. I would also give it a good trim, that way it will send out healthy new shoots. That's how we overwinter them in the greenhouse, and we have about 35 different cultivars. Hope that helps.

I can't add much more, but sorry you had to learn the hard way. Unless you get an early spring, it probably won't survive much longer. I would also back off on watering. If you have a cold porch or garage (not freezing), you might try moving it out there. Personally I wouldn't transplant it outside yet because you haven't hardened it off and the dramatic temperature change would definitely kill it.

My experience with throwing hardy shrubs inside and outside, is that there doesn't really exist the change in temperature that will upset them. My rosemary was outside until last week. So it went from 25°F and covered with ice, to inside. When it warms back up to lows of around 25, I'll just throw it outside again.

So given that this is zone 7, I'd kick it out and keep it out.

BTW, it's the pots that can't handle the cold, not the plants.

I think I read that "Spanish Lavender" can be grown indoors. Has anyone tried this?

Andi

I have some lavender pinnata that I bought last spring (I think they are sometimes called lace lavender or fernleaf lavender)--I read that they are quite tender, so I brought them indoors because we had a record-breaking (for Northern Calif, anyway) cold spell here, starting a few weeks ago. Now, the plants are all blooming! I'm afraid to put them back outside even though it has warmed up a little. Does anyone have experience with this variety? I'm wondering how to take care of them now, and when to put them back outside.

Thanks.

We have a "Wild" Lavendar plant indoors and it is very dried out. I think we are overwatering it as the soil is very moist. I trimmed back several of the dead stems. In our zone I do not think it could handle the heat outside at this time of year. Even the green parts are wilted. Should we keep it indoors?