Growing Lavender in the Tropics

Is it possible to grow lavender in a tropical country like the Philippines? Given the right condition, right soil and right place, growing the aromatic herb lavender in the tropics is possible. Lavender or Lavandula is a genus of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. Lavender is a native plant growing in Mediterranean region. They are cultivated as ornamental plants for garden and landscape use, for use as culinary herbs, and also commercially for the extraction of essential oils. Tropical climate like the Philippines experiences hot and humid weather throughout the year. Too much heat and sudden rainfall will likely kill your lavender plant. However, lavender is a strong, dependable woody shrub that will last for several years under the right conditions. Lavenders thrive best in dry, well-drained, sandy or gravelly alkaline soils in full sun. I successfully grow my lavender in pot here in the tropics. Here's the photo of my Lavender 'Munstead', a wonderfully fragrant dwarf variety that is well adapted for heat and humidity. I bought my pocket of seeds in the grocery store the lavender 'munstead dwarf'. After two months, here it is: To best successfully grow your lavender seeds here in the tropics, here are the things that you should do. 1. I made a self-watering seed starter container for my lavender seeds. Photo below: It was a great success. however, some died because the birds bathe in my growing lavender seedlings. They cannot resist the aroma of the lavender leaves. That's why I put stones in the surviving lavender seedlings and brought it indoors. 2. The soil I used for my lavender seeds, I mix 1:1:1 part of sand, rice hull and garden soil. Make sure the soil is moist all the time but not wet. Remember: when the lavender plant is fully grown, the soil should be dry before you water it. When transplanting in pots, you can amend crushed rocks for additional drainage. The soil should be alkaline. Add lime to adjust the pH of the soil. 3. Provide plenty of light when you want to grow your lavender indoors and give it a good air circulation to avoid diseases. 4. Bring it outdoors so it gets a splash of morning sun to make your lavender plant healthy. I also have a potted lavender plant bought in an ornamental shop here in our place. I put it near my window so the birds cannot destroy my lavender plants. Reference: https://ift.tt/34XKXii

Source: Business Diary Philippines