One of the most beautiful plants, most photographed, painted, copied and imagined, is lavender. Those little purple flowers.
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Although not everyone knows it, there is a lot of confusion because there are some plants that resemble it even though they are not the same plant or the same flower (although they are very similar). In fact, in some florists there can be confusion due to the great resemblance but despite these similarities, if you look better, you can quickly detect both the stem and the flowers, intensity of color and smell, it is not the same variety. We will tell you later, so that you do not make mistakes.
Up to a total of sixty kinds of lavender type can be found. And that, surely it is difficult to differentiate one from another. But we will tell you that, for example, there are types of this plant that are extremely fragrant and suitable for, for example, making essential oils. In fact, precisely, if lavender has something, it is that it is well known for its multiple benefits. And they are from cosmetics, such as those that have to do with health, with beauty and even with the culinary. Because yes, lavender is also used in the kitchen.
But let’s go to the beginning, if you want to have and/or plant your own lavender plant, what do you have to do?
Instructions
- This beautiful plant that at first glance may seem very fragile, you have to know that it is only appearance. In fact, it is a bush and it is quite robust. Well cared for and with the basic and necessary care (it does not demand too much either), in a suitable area, it can grow up to a meter in height and become wide… until it stops growing. It can be made very wide.
- When it comes to choosing where it is best to plant it, you are in luck. Because basically, lavender can grow almost anywhere. It can be planted or grow or germinate, from areas already prepared with soil, pots and/or pots, such as in rockeries, in flower beds or even on the edges. That yes, you must take it into account so that later when it grows, it does not bother and you see yourself in the need to have it uprooted or transplanted.
- Another thing that you should know and that is essential: it needs sun. In fact, that is why it keeps so well and adapts so easily in areas such as the Mediterranean. That climate is ideal for lavender. But you can also have it and keep it in not so warm areas. That if, in cases where you live in places with a cold temperature, you have to look at what kind of lavender is best suited. Not all of them resist frost, for example. Others can resist and be even in temperatures below zero.
- Now you will ask yourselves, the million dollar question, and when do the flowers come out? Well, calm down because you can have it throughout the year (if it is well cared for) and depending on where you live. But flowering, as such, is in times of heat. From summer to September, in general. Although you already know that with the weather in recent times, its flowering can start with the heat, a little earlier and last a little longer.
- With the soil, as we have already mentioned, you should be calm because it is very grateful and usually grows well in almost any type of soil. Of course, the only one that does not get along is the one that is of the clay type. The ideal are those that are well watered, drained (they do not take stagnant water well) in case there is an excess of water it can end up drowning and rotting the roots.
- The soil can be normal and even put a thin layer of sand so that it drains well or make a small blanket around the root ball for cold times.
- Care must be taken when pruning. Because one of the most common mistakes when you have a lavender bush, is to make the mistake of wanting to let it grow. Thus, to the wild. Because it’s natural forms, the beautiful flowers in lilac tones, the smell, wanting there to be many, etc. In the end, this can be a huge disadvantage and grow so large that the actual carving part of the bush becomes too dry and turns into woods. If you look at some huge lavender, surely, the lower parts, inside among so many flowers and green leaves, you will be able to see the wood of the branches. They can be cut even with your hand because of how hard it is and if you accidentally hit it, you can even scratch and prick yourself. All this in the end, is bad for the plant. This is what gardeners call.
- Because it takes away its strength, it doesn’t let it grow well, that part of the plant won’t be able to grow anymore and will be pulling for others, and may even die. In fact, when pruning again, in these cases you have to be very careful because you usually have to sacrifice a large part of the plant and make new cuttings with the rest to get a new plant.
- To make your own plant or make transplants of the same or new cuttings, it is very simple. The truth is that if you have a little patience in a month, you can have a pot with new cuttings ready to grow and flourish. What is necessary will be and it will suffice to have soil and a pot that although it may be small at first, you must bear in mind that as soon as it begins to take root, it will take root and it needs twice the size of its root ball so that it has space and does not drown when their roots grow (it won’t take long) and they put out some very long and big roots.
- Cuttings are placed on it (a piece of lavender on the green side, which is what it smells like) and it is planted in the ground. Just a few inches is more than enough. It is watered a little and waits for a small root to come out and grow.
- The trick of the gardeners is that the lavender always looks as leafy and full of lilac flowers, is to prepare during the first year. In other words, whether the plant has been bought, taken from cuttings or transplanted, as soon as the lavender has grown and has already sprouted flowers for the first time, it has to be pruned. You have to take into account when pruning because doing it in very cold times, for example, will not benefit you at all, rather, on the contrary.
- The most appropriate thing is to do it in hot weather, from spring, in May, for example. And now comes the problem for lovers of this plant because they do not want to cut to the chase and hence it gets a little out of hand, you have to cut approximately half its size. But beware, although it may seem that you “run out of your plant” which is what most people think, you can make a lot of new plants with all these cuttings that you just cut. Imagine the new lavender plants that you can do again. And by pruning it as it should be done, it is not synonymous with running out of plants, it is simply giving it life and making it sprout again with more strength, more vitality and better.
- Some lavender leaves can also be used to give a different touch to the kitchen. If you have a barbecue or grill, once the meat is almost ready, place a little on top or before, in the fire, add a little lavender. That smell will aromatize the meat and it’s great.
What do you need:
- The chosen lavender.
- Toilet.
- Pass.
- Land.
- Pot, pot, flowerbed, parterre, etc.
- Scissors.
Tips
This plant has many uses. From beauty, used in aesthetics, in the kitchen, in drinks, in ointment tricks, as an air freshener, in candles, etc. And of course, in the decoration.
The leaves, so characteristic of that lilac color, should be cut, especially when they are dry. Well, it is the perfect time to use it in bags and close it, making them an air freshener, to decorate as a bouquet of dried lavender flowers, lacquer can be poured over the flowers so that they do not stain with dust and wither, they can be placed in water, save the flowers and place them in frames, in pictures, etc.
Totally natural drinks can be prepared with lavender. It will suffice to cut a little lavender, take a saucepan and bring it to a boil. When boiled, everything is strained and that liquid that will now be dark can be drunk. It also goes very well to use in aesthetics. For the most delicate skins, the sensitive ones, this totally natural lavender liquid is great. You can wash with it. Of course, being natural, it can only be kept for a couple of days. But it is as simple as repeating the operation and doing more.
For fungi or intimate problems, taking hygienic baths with lavender water is also great. And even for hair issues, such as rinsing with lavender water, to treat dandruff or dehydration of the scalp.
