Step 1 · When to repot

Know when it’s time.

Lavender likes to be a little snug. Repot when roots run out of room, not on a schedule.

Signs it’s time

Roots poke out of the drainage holes.
Water runs straight through, or the pot dries out in a day.
The plant is top-heavy and tips over.
It has been 2–3 years in the same pot.
New plugs or bare root that just arrived.

Wait if…

It is the heat of summer.
The plant is in full bloom. Repot after flowering.
A hard frost is coming in the next week.
The plant is sick. Fix watering first.

Best time: spring once hard frosts are over, or early fall, 6–8 weeks before your first frost.

Step 2 · Choose the pot

Go up one size, not three.

A pot that is too big holds wet soil around a small root ball. That is how lavender rots.

🧮 Next pot size calculator

What is it in now?

Recommended next pot

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Do

Use a pot with drainage holes. Always.
Terracotta or unglazed clay breathes and dries evenly.
Choose a wide, stable pot for tall lavandins.

Don’t

Jump from a 4-inch pot to a big patio pot.
Use a decorative pot with no holes.
Leave the pot standing in a full saucer.

Step 3 · Mix the soil

Fast-draining, never soggy.

Lavender wants a gritty mix: bagged potting mix opened up with perlite, pumice or fine grit.

🧮 How much mix do I need?

New pot size

Number of pots

Grit or perlite share Editable assumption

35%

We suggest about one third grit or perlite. Go higher for heavy mixes or rainy climates.

Add 10% extra for settling and topping up

Total mix

0 qt

Potting mix

0 qt

Grit / perlite

0 qt

Estimate. Pot volumes vary by maker. 1 cubic foot ≈ 25.7 quarts; bagged mix is often sold by the quart or cubic foot.

Do

Start with a quality, peat- or bark-based potting mix.
Blend on a tarp or in a tub until evenly mixed.
Lightly dampen the mix before potting.

Don’t

Use garden soil in pots. It packs down.
Use moisture-control mixes or water crystals.
Add a gravel layer at the bottom. It holds water higher up.

Step 4 · Prep the plant

Set up for a smooth move.

A plant with a moist (not wet) root ball slides out easily and loses fewer roots.

Do

Water the plant the day before.
Work in shade or on a cloudy day.
Gather the pot, mix, clean snips and gloves first.
Bare root: soak the roots in a bucket of water for about an hour.

Don’t

Repot a bone-dry plant. Roots tear.
Leave bare roots sitting in sun or wind.
Prune hard at the same time. One stress at a time.

Step 5 · Loosen the roots

Ease it out, open it up.

Roots that circle the pot keep circling in the new one. A gentle tease sends them outward.

Do

Tip the pot, support the base of the stems and tap the rim.
Squeeze plastic pots, or run a knife around the inside edge.
Tease circling roots loose with your fingers.
Snip off dark, mushy or dead roots with clean snips.

Don’t

Pull the plant out by its stems.
Knock off all the old soil on potted plants.
Cut healthy white or tan roots.

Brown, soft roots that smell sour point to overwatering. Trim them and run the Plant Health Checker.

Step 6 · Set the depth

Crown high and dry.

The crown, where stems meet roots, must sit at the same level it grew before. Never deeper.

Do

Add mix under the root ball until the crown sits ½–1 inch below the rim.
Fill around the sides and firm gently with your fingers.
Bare root: fan the roots over a small cone of mix.

Don’t

Bury the stems or pile mix against them.
Pack the mix down hard.
Leave air pockets. Tap the pot to settle the mix.

Step 7 · Water & settle

One deep drink, then patience.

Water slowly until it runs from the holes. The mix settles and closes any air pockets.

Do

Water at the base until it drains freely.
Top up with a little mix if it sinks.
Keep the plant in bright shade for 2–3 days.

Don’t

Water again until the top inch is dry.
Leave water in the saucer.
Put it straight into hot afternoon sun.

Step 8 · Aftercare

The first two weeks.

A little droop for a day or two is normal. New growth at the tips means roots are settling in.

Do

Move back into full sun after 2–3 days.
Check the top inch every couple of days; water only when dry.
Look it over at two weeks: firm, upright and green is a win.

Don’t

Fertilize for about a month.
“Rescue” a droopy plant with extra water if the mix is still damp.
Prune until you see new growth.

📒 Log this repot

Repot lavender without the stress.

Know when it’s time.

Signs it’s time

Wait if…

Go up one size, not three.

Do

Don’t

Fast-draining, never soggy.

Do

Don’t

Set up for a smooth move.

Do

Don’t

Ease it out, open it up.

Do

Don’t

Crown high and dry.

Do

Don’t

One deep drink, then patience.

Do

Don’t

The first two weeks.

Do

Don’t

Log this repot, remember it later.

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