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Repotting guide

When & how to repot Lavandin (Lavandula × intermedia)

Also called lavandin, Dutch lavender, hybrid lavender.

More about lavandin

About Lavandin

Lavandula × intermedia · also called lavandin, Dutch lavender · herb

Lavandin is a vigorous sterile hybrid of English and spike lavender, grown for its long, camphor-scented flower spikes and abundant essential oil. A woody Mediterranean sub-shrub, it demands full sun and sharp drainage, tolerates drought and poor soil, and resents wet, heavy ground. Larger and later-flowering than English lavender.

Mature size: 60-90 cm tall and 90-120 cm wide, larger than most English lavenders.

Watch for — Root rot from wet soil: The most common killer. Heavy, poorly drained, or overwatered soil rots the roots and crown. Plant in gritty, free-draining ground and water sparingly.

How to tell lavandin needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For lavandin, watch for these signs:

For the underlying biology of a pot-bound root system and why it stalls a plant, see our guide to spotting and fixing a root-bound plant.

How often to repot lavandin

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. Lavandin's growth habit — rounded, woody evergreen sub-shrub forming a dense mound of grey-green foliage, with long aromatic flower spikes held well above the leaves in mid- to late summer. — sets the pace. Lavandin is a vigorous sterile hybrid of English and spike lavender, grown for its long, camphor-scented flower spikes and abundant essential oil. A woody Mediterranean sub-shrub, it demands full sun and sharp drainage, tolerates drought and poor soil, and resents wet, heavy ground. Larger and later-flowering than English lavender.

What size pot to step lavandin up to

Use a pot only one size up — or even the same pot with fresh gritty mix if the roots have room. Lavandin stores water and rots in a large pot of slow-drying soil. A tight terracotta pot that dries fast is far safer than a generous plastic one. Never up-pot a succulent by several sizes.

Not sure of the exact diameter? Our pot size calculator takes the current pot and root spread and tells you the right next size — it deliberately recommends a single step up, never a big jump.

The best time of year to repot lavandin

Spring or summer, while lavandin is in active growth and warm, is best — roots recover fastest then, and the plant is not sitting in cool damp soil. Avoid repotting a succulent in winter dormancy.

Step-by-step: repotting lavandin

  1. Repot dry. Do not water lavandin for several days first. Working with dry roots and dry mix dramatically lowers the rot risk for a succulent.
  2. Pick a snug, fast-draining pot. Choose terracotta one size up at most, with a drainage hole. Have gritty lean, gritty, free-draining alkaline soil, ph 6.5-8.0 ready.
  3. Tip it out and clean the roots. Slide the plant out, crumble off the old soil, and trim any black, mushy or dead roots with clean snips.
  4. Pot into dry mix. Set lavandin at its original depth in dry gritty mix, firming gently. Do not bury the stem deeper than it was.
  5. Wait a week before watering. Leave it completely dry and out of harsh sun for about 7 days so any damaged roots callus. Only then water lightly.

Aftercare

Keep lavandin completely dry and out of fierce sun for about a week so any nicked roots callus before they meet moisture; watering a freshly repotted succulent is the classic way to rot it. Then resume the normal lean, dry rhythm. Do not fertilise for about 3 weeks — fresh mix already carries nutrients and feeding freshly disturbed roots scorches them.

The right soil mix for lavandin

Lavandin wants lean, gritty, free-draining alkaline soil, ph 6.5-8.0. Sharp drainage is essential. Add grit or sand to heavy ground and avoid rich, moisture-retentive soil; raised beds or slopes suit it best. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting lavandin — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot lavandin?

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix for lavandin. Repot lavandin every 2–3 years into a snug pot of lean, gritty, free-draining alkaline soil, ph 6.5-8.0, ideally in spring or summer. Let it sit in dry soil and do not water for about a week afterwards so any nicked roots can callus. Over-potting and watering straight away is what rots succulents.

What size pot does lavandin need?

Use a pot only one size up — or even the same pot with fresh gritty mix if the roots have room. Lavandin stores water and rots in a large pot of slow-drying soil. A tight terracotta pot that dries fast is far safer than a generous plastic one. Never up-pot a succulent by several sizes. Use our pot size calculator to size it from the plant's current pot and root spread.

When is the best time of year to repot lavandin?

Spring or summer, while lavandin is in active growth and warm, is best — roots recover fastest then, and the plant is not sitting in cool damp soil. Avoid repotting a succulent in winter dormancy.

Should you water lavandin after repotting?

No — not straight away. Repot lavandin into dry mix and wait about a week before the first watering so any damaged roots callus over. Watering a freshly repotted succulent is the single most common way to rot one.

Should you fertilise lavandin after repotting?

Not immediately. Wait about 3 weeks after repotting lavandin. Fresh mix already contains nutrients, and feeding freshly cut or disturbed roots burns them. Resume your normal feeding routine once you see new growth.

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