Viewing post #909295 by sharkfur

Interesting - first thing I learned about these things is gravel or pebble in the bottom... Of course, just to make sure, I did drill small holes on the bottom, too, to actually create drainage.

The soil I used is an all-purpouse one....In the garden center I was told that it would be perfectly fine for it. And I also mixed in some grit, to make it a better choice.

It might be just me, but since I started watering them more, they seem to be feeling a lot better. It seems like I did calculate it wrong initially, based my idea on the lavenders I had in the open....

sooby said:According to the UK newspaper I read, it has been fairly hot there, up to 98F (36.7C) earlier in July.

I have a lavender plant (L. dentata) in a pot on a sunny windowsill because it isn't likely to survive a winter outside here and I don't want to risk it. It is a far more thirsty plant in a pot than I expected and absolutely hates to get too dry. Ditto for rosemary in a pot, surprisingly. I checked a few articles from lavender growers this morning and it seems this is a known thing with potted lavender (and rosemary) - while they certainly don't want wet feet they both also hate to get too dry.

On another note, having gravel in the bottom of a pot doesn't increase drainage (it actually reduces it- the technical term is a perched water table) but does reduce the amount of potting soil available to the plant. Personally I would replace the gravel with more potting media with same texture throughout the pot. You say the soil was mixed with plenty of grit, did you use garden soil or a soilless potting mix (or maybe John Innes if they still sell that there these days!).