Lavender plants have connotations of sunny, relaxing summers due to their medium purple or bright pinkish-purple color.
Its unique scent soothes the mind and body, making it the perfect plant for a quiet afternoon in the garden.
Lavender is a slow feeder and can survive in nutrient-poor soils, but it grows well with a small amount of fertilizer.
However, it's important for gardeners to be aware that over-fertilizing lavender can result in excessive foliage, no blooms, or complete wilt.
This is not to say that feeding your lavender plants is completely out of the question. It's all just a matter of doing it right. The best (and only) time to fertilize lavender is in spring, at the beginning of the growing season.
But what can you use to feed your lavender plants? According to gardening enthusiast Stephanie from home and DIY blog Celebrated Herb, you can also use kitchen scraps.
“Lavender doesn't need a lot of nutrients, but you can also use food scraps to provide more nutrients,” she said.
1. Coffee grounds
Stephanie claimed that used coffee grounds are an “excellent” source of nitrogen, which is “essential for plant growth”.
Coffee grounds can also encourage the growth of hydrangeas and roses, resulting in bigger and better blooms.
Simply sprinkle coffee grounds around the base of the lavender and mix it into the soil.
2. Banana peel
Banana peels are rich in potassium, which promotes flower growth and root growth in plants.
To use, cut up a banana peel and bury it in the soil around the base of your lavender plant.
Banana peels are also great for encouraging orchids and roses to bloom.
3. Vegetable scraps
Vegetable scraps, such as carrot leaves and lettuce leaves, can be used to make “homemade compost that can provide additional nutrients to your lavender plants.”
Simply place dry leaves, grass clippings and scraps into your compost bin and wait for them to decompose into rich compost.
4. Eggshell
Crushed eggshells are an excellent source of calcium and help prevent flower-end rot on plants. Sprinkle crushed eggshells around the base of the lavender.
However, Stephanie added that food scraps “should not be the only source of nutrition” for lavender and should be used in moderation to avoid over-fertilizing.
