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sue_ostergaard

Overwinter lavender in pots??

7 years ago

I have several pots of Goodwin Creek Grey lavender that did not get planted this fall. Currently, they are in the garage. Can I overwinter them in the basement until spring, like my grandfather used to do with the geraniums?

Comments (3)

  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    Probably a good chance. Find a dark or dimely lite area maybe better, or at least cool/cold spot. I don't know if you might need to water a little. I maybe wouldn't let the get bone dry like I do with geraniums.

    FYI. I live in Minneapolis, MN and have some french lavender growing in a somewhat protected area in a garden. It is sheilded on two sides by my house. They say lavender is Hardy to only zone 7, we are in a area far outside their hardiness ,zone 4,-5. I gave my sister a few small lavenders that self seeded. One she planted outside in a somewhat sheilded area one she tried to over winter, but treated as a house plant, it did make it barely, but then again she kills most houseplants.

    Good luck.

  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    I disagree. Lavender is a hardy evergreen so keeping it anywhere with dim light will lead to etiolation, weakness and, if not death, straggly unhealthy plants martyred by bugs by the end of winter. You want the brightest light you can find for it together with cool temperatures. Somewhere like an unheated sunroom or glazed porch. Or a green house. The idea is that it should sit ticking over and resting but not producing new growth. It can take temperatures down to freezing.

  • 7 years ago

    I am with floral on this one. Does your garage have a bright window? Can you give them an inexpensive fluorescent light set on a time for more than 12 hours and set just above the leaves? A combo of cool temperatures and bright lights might get them through. I would be very surprised if these were able to winter over for you outdoors since they are rated zone 7 and need excellent drainage, so it is probably good that you didn’t get them planted.

    I have overwintered the lavender cultivar ‘Phenomenal’ in my garden, but none others have survived well enough to be ornamental the following year. I have overwintered other types of English lavender in large pots that I tipped on their sizes to prevent too much water and buried in snow for insulation. We often have deep snow all winter, so this worked for me.