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Yes, you can bring lavender in for the winter, and it’s a great way to protect your plants from harsh frost and keep them thriving until spring.
If you’ve been wondering whether you can bring lavender in for the winter, the short answer is yes, but the success depends on the type of lavender you have and how you care for it indoors.
When you bring lavender inside, you’re essentially giving it a temporary home that mimics its natural Mediterranean climate, which means plenty of light, good airflow, and well-draining soil.
In this post, we’ll explore everything you need to know about bringing lavender indoors for the colder months, from pot preparation to watering schedules and even how to handle common indoor issues.
Let’s dig in and make sure your lavender survives the winter like a champ.
Why You Can Bring Lavender In For The Winter
You can bring lavender in for the winter because most lavender varieties aren’t fully hardy in freezing conditions, especially when they’re grown in containers.
When lavender stays outside in wet, cold soil, the roots can rot, and the plant may not make it to spring.
Bringing lavender indoors protects it from temperature swings, heavy rain, and freezing winds that can damage the foliage and roots.
However, it’s important to note that not all lavender is the same, so let’s break down which types respond best to being moved inside.
1. Hardy Versus Tender Lavender Varieties
If you have English lavender, also known as Lavandula angustifolia, you can bring lavender in for the winter, but it actually might not need to come inside because it’s quite cold hardy.
English lavender can survive down to about -20°F when planted in the ground with good drainage.
On the other hand, French lavender, Spanish lavender, and other tender varieties are much more sensitive to cold, so you absolutely should bring lavender in for the winter if you’re growing these types.
Tender lavenders will die if exposed to frost, so moving them indoors is the only way to keep them alive through the winter months.
Before you decide, check your plant’s label or do a quick search to identify which lavender species you’re growing at home.
If you’re unsure, it’s always safer to bring lavender in for the winter rather than risk losing it to a sudden cold snap.
2. Container-Grown Lavender Needs Extra Protection
Even hardy lavender varieties struggle when they’re in pots because the roots are exposed to colder temperatures than they would be in the ground.
When soil freezes inside a container, it can crack the pot and damage the root system beyond repair.
So if your lavender lives in a pot, you’ll likely want to bring lavender in for the winter to keep those roots safe and insulated.
Potted plants don’t have the same insulation as garden soil, so indoor wintering gives them a consistent temperature that prevents freeze-thaw cycles.
This is especially important if your winters are unpredictable, with warm days followed by sudden freezing nights.
How To Bring Lavender In For The Winter Successfully
Once you’ve decided to bring lavender in for the winter, you need to do it the right way so the plant doesn’t go into shock or develop mold indoors.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you make the transition smooth for your lavender plant.
1. Inspect and Clean the Plant Before Moving It Indoors
Before you bring lavender in for the winter, give the plant a thorough check for pests like aphids, spider mites, or whiteflies.
These critters love to hitchhike inside on your plants, and once they’re indoors, they can spread quickly to other houseplants.
Use a gentle spray of water to rinse off the foliage, and remove any dead leaves or spent flowers that might harbor insects.
If you spot any bugs, treat the lavender with insecticidal soap a few days before bringing it inside.
This cleaning step is crucial because indoor conditions can make pest problems worse, and you don’t want to introduce an infestation to your home.
2. Choose the Right Pot and Soil for Indoor Wintering
When you bring lavender in for the winter, make sure it’s in a pot with excellent drainage holes at the bottom.
Lavender hates wet feet, so you need a container that allows excess water to escape freely.
Use a well-draining potting mix that’s been amended with sand or perlite to improve aeration and prevent water from pooling around the roots.
If your lavender is already in a suitable pot, you can leave it as is, but if it’s in a decorative pot without drainage, consider repotting it into something more functional.
A terracotta pot is a great choice because it’s porous and allows moisture to evaporate from the soil, which keeps the roots drier.
3. Find a Bright, Sunny Spot Indoors
Lavender needs at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight every day, even when it’s indoors for the winter.
The best window is one that faces south or west, where the sun is strongest for the longest period.
If you don’t have a sunny enough window, you can supplement with a grow light to provide the intensity lavender craves.
Without enough light, your lavender will become leggy, pale, and weak, and it may not produce flowers next season.
When you bring lavender in for the winter, rotate the pot every few days so all sides of the plant get equal light exposure.
4. Adjust Your Watering Routine for Indoor Conditions
Indoor air is typically much drier than outdoor air, but lavender actually prefers that dry environment.
The trick is to water less frequently than you did outdoors, allowing the top inch of soil to dry out completely between waterings.
Overwatering is the number one killer of lavender indoors, so when you bring lavender in for the winter, check the soil moisture with your finger before giving it a drink.
During the winter months, lavender goes into a semi-dormant state, so it uses much less water than it does in the heat of summer.
Aim to water only every two to three weeks, depending on the warmth and dryness of your home.
Make sure to empty any saucer underneath the pot after watering so the roots aren’t sitting in standing water.
Common Problems When You Bring Lavender In For The Winter
Even with the best care, you might run into a few issues when you bring lavender in for the winter, but most of them are easy to fix if you catch them early.
Let’s go through the most frequent problems and how to solve them.
1. Yellowing Leaves and Root Rot
If the leaves on your lavender start turning yellow and the stems feel mushy at the base, you’re likely overwatering.
When you bring lavender in for the winter, it’s easy to fall into the habit of watering too often because you think the plant needs regular moisture.
But lavender thrives on neglect, so let the soil dry out more, and make sure the pot has proper drainage.
If root rot has already set in, you may need to remove the plant from the pot, trim away the rotten roots, and repot it in fresh, dry soil.
2. Leggy Growth from Insufficient Light
If your lavender starts stretching out with long, weak stems and sparse foliage, it’s not getting enough sunlight.
When you bring lavender in for the winter, you’re moving it to an environment that’s much dimmer than the outdoors.
Move the plant to a brighter window or invest in a grow light to give it the energy it needs to stay compact and healthy.
You can also prune back any leggy growth to encourage bushier new growth from the base.
3. Dry, Brown Foliage from Low Humidity
While lavender likes dry air, extreme indoor heating can cause the foliage to crisp up and turn brown at the edges.
If this happens, move the pot away from direct heat sources like radiators or vents that blow hot air.
You can also place a shallow tray of water near the plant to add a little moisture to the air without making the soil too wet.
But be careful not to create a humid environment that promotes fungal growth on the leaves.
So, Can You Bring Lavender In For The Winter?
Yes, you can bring lavender in for the winter, and doing so is often the best way to keep tender varieties alive through freezing temperatures.
By moving your lavender indoors, you protect it from frost, excessive rain, and harsh winds that can damage or kill the plant.
Just remember to give it plenty of sunlight, water it sparingly, and keep it in a well-draining pot with good airflow.
Whether you have tender French lavender or a hardy English variety in a pot, bringing it inside gives you peace of mind and ensures you’ll enjoy fragrant blooms again next spring.
Take the time to prepare your lavender properly before you bring it in for the winter, and you’ll be rewarded with a healthy, vibrant plant that’s ready to go back outside when warm weather returns.
So go ahead and bring lavender in for the winter, your plant will thank you for it.