Lavender leaves turning gray can give you a run for your money. It can happen due to some smaller issues causing a bit of a domino effect:
- The most common cause is overwatering. Frost damage comes in second as another stand-alone reason and because it’s seasonal.
- When poor drainage is present and overwatering, fungal infections can begin to spawn.
- These fungal diseases can also attract pests, hence the domino effect.
The pests don’t necessarily turn the lavender leaves gray, but they become problematic if not treated soon enough. Depending on the severity of the issue, the plant may eventually rot out and die.
Luckily though, there are some things you can do to mitigate the problems, such as adjusting the watering schedule and moving the plant to a warmer area.
Let’s look at these issues with a lot more depth, as well as the solutions that can help correct them.
Table of Contents
Lavender Leaves Turning Gray: Reasons and Solutions
One of the main reasons for lavender leaves turning gray is via the contraction of fungal disease. These issues are usually caused by the knock-on effect of overwatering, heavy rains, or overhead watering.
When winter rolls on, the damage caused by frost can also discolor the leaves of a lavender plant.
Leaving them a dark grayish color as the frost begins to bite. Let’s look at these 2 issues in a little more detail. We will go into more detail surrounding overwatering a little further down.
Fungal Disease
Fungal diseases are known to cause the leaves of most plants to turn gray, especially lavender. One of the prime culprits is a disease called ‘Botrytis cinerea’.
It is also known as botrytis bunch rot, grey mold/gray mold. Other diseases can affect a lavender plant. However, this one specifically will turn the leaves gray once established.
The main reasons that fungal infections such as botrytis on lavender begin to occur are:
A lack of growing space/room between plants
This creates a humid environment as the minimal airflow between the plants is reduced. As a result, the plant may sweat and become sticky, which makes this mold disease begin to spawn.
Wrong soil type/composition
Lavender plants thrive in soils that offer good drainage. If they are planted somewhere with sills that clump, such as clay, the water can pool around the roots.
If the roots sit in that stagnant water for an extended period, they will eventually rot. The soil above will also clump and hold water above the stem base.
These conditions are a certified breeding ground for diseases of this nature.
How To Treat Fungal Infection of Lavender Plant?
If you discover that your lavender has contracted this type of disease, you should act fast before it completely establishes itself and gets out of control. Here are some measures you can take to clean your plant up.
Then treat it, so the disease doesn’t have an environment that encourages them to continue to grow.
Firstly, always remember to remove and isolate an infected plant. The last thing you want is for the disease to spread to other plants that may be close. These types of diseases can become airborne.
- Remove the plant from its pot and/or ground location.
- Gently shake the soil from the root system and give the roots a light rinse with a soft spraying hose.
- Carefully dispose of the old soil if potted and remove the surrounding areas from the ground if planted in the garden. Don’t forget to also sterilize the pot. These measures may seem extreme. However, they will ensure that the disease does not spread even further.
- Using a sterilized pair of sharp pruning shears or scissors, prune away any gray stems and/or leaves that have been affected.
- Inspect the roots to see if they have been damaged, and remove those that are. If the roots were infected, disease would likely spawn in the soil.
- Use an organic fungicide such as Mycostop or neem oil on the affected areas of the plant.
- Spray some fungicide in the hole from which you removed the plant (if it was in the garden). Let that sit for around 48 hours before replanting to ensure that the disease has been completely neutralized.
- Then, once satisfied that all disease has been dealt with, it’s time to rehome. Combine ⅓ horticultural sand/grit to ⅔ potting mix or compost and mix well. Replant the newly treated lavender.
- Place the plant in a sunny area and give it a light watering only. Avoid rain or excess watering for the first 1-2 weeks while the root system establishes itself again.
- Once finished, sterilize any tools or equipment to avoid spreading the disease.
Frost Damage
Certain species of lavender cope with the cold better than others. These include Hidcote superior, Munstead and Lacy Frills, to name a few.
These specific species can withstand temperatures as low as 5°F (-15°C). Comparatively, several species cannot survive in these chills.
The extreme colds cause new growth to be almost capped at the tip and prevent new areas from sprouting up. Generally, lavender suffers for this period and then can shoot back up when the warmth of spring arrives.
How To Revive Lavender From Frost Damage?
The process of bringing your lavender back to life is pretty simple. Follow these easy steps.
- Using a sterilized pair of pruning shears or scissors, cut the lavender stems down to just above where the green shoots start to grow.
- This will open up space for the sun to shine and help the remaining green areas grow without hindrance.
- Look for other areas that can be pruned, allowing smaller stems to bush out a little more. This process is pretty easy and it is very hard to do wrong.
Try not to worry if some stems are bare but buds and flowers form at the tips. By pruning in this fashion, you will encourage the plant to focus its energy on regenerating new growth along those bare stems.
Otherwise, the energy would be trying to bring areas that are already dead back to life. That is a waste of good energy! Try not to worry about areas lacking depth, they will fill out during the spring and summer.
If possible, try to give these plants protection over the winter. That may be some kind of covering or windbreak.
If you’re growing in pots, you may want to consider moving them somewhere warmer during winter, such as in a garage, covered porch or indoors.
Other Common Reasons For Lavender Leaves Turning Gray
Incorrect Watering and Solution
As we have discovered, a handful of issues can arise that make the leaves of your lavender turn gray. The primary problem is overwatering. A mature lavender plant is a drought tolerant.
It doesn’t require too much water, although, like most plants, it does need water to survive. Younger lavender plants need that little bit extra in the beginning to ensure they get a good start by building strength and resilience.
Some potentially harmful issues can arise if a lavender plant is overwatered, watered from above or subject to heavy rains. These include fungal disease, which we went through earlier, and pest infestations.
The pests won’t necessarily cause the leaves to turn gray, but they can make the plants’ life tough if they begin a colony there due to excess water.
Quick Fix
Try to only give your lavender water when required. There isn’t a universal watering schedule that should be followed. More so, checking the soil regularly for its moisture content can help distinguish when it is time for a drink.
Stick your finger down the side of the stem into the soil and see if it is mostly dry.
If so, then give it light water. When you do so, water it at the base and avoid splashing. Furthermore, never water the plant onto the leaves. This will trigger a chain reaction of molding and then pest infestation.
Poor Soil and Nutrient Imbalance and Solution
Lavender plants thrive in well-draining soils. If the soil is hard-packed and retains water, excess moisture can cause havoc for the stems and roots.
As a result, the knock-on effect will ensure that the leaves turn gray due to fungal diseases such as gray mold.
The soil should also be neutral to slightly alkaline (pH 6.5-7.5). This can be achieved via a good quality fertilizer marginally higher in nitrogen than phosphorus and potassium.
Quick Fix
Set up your lavender growing site with soil that can drain away without hindrance. Using something with a ratio blend of ⅓ horticultural sand/grit to ⅔ potting mix or manure/compost is ideal.
It will be nutrient-rich and phorus enough to allow the water to find its way away from the roots as it passes by.
Simply having good quality soil will reduce the need for added nutrients in the long term.
You may want to add some plant food during the spring and fall/autumn months to give it the energy to belt out some sprouts during the growing season.
Insufficient Growing Space or Pot and Solution
As mentioned earlier, insufficient spacing when planting lavender in the ground or a pot can cause fungal disease to spawn.
When the lavender has limited airflow, the branches, leaves and flowers can begin to bunch up as it sprouts out. When this occurs, they rub together and sweat.
The excess moisture from the stagnant sweat will turn gray as mold forms.
Quick Fix
Aim to space your lavender plants at least 10-12 inches apart. Especially when growing them in the ground as they can’t be moved as easily as the potted variants.
Once they begin to touch each other, it’s a good idea to prune them back and encourage them to grow less in those areas. If this is impossible, simply maintain them with about an inch of space between them
Poor Maintenance and Pruning and Solution
Lastly, poor maintenance couples a bit with spacing as well as pruning, watering and soil composition. It’s wise to get around your lavender plant and observe it every few weeks to see if there is anywhere that is overgrown or dying.
These types of things should be tended to asap to allow for continual hassle-free growth.
Quick Fix
To be honest, lavenders are a really easy plant to grow and maintain. Simply keep an eye on it and shape it the way you like.
Lavender Maintenance and Growing Tips
Let’s review some tips to ensure your lavender plants stay happier for longer.
Dos and don’ts of growing lavender plant
Do
- Observe it regularly and routinely. Just doing so will allow you to understand its needs.
- Use well-draining, nutrient-rich soil. Keep the pH at around 6.5-7.5
- Grow in an area that provides at least 6-8 hours of full sun
- Water only when required; test the moisture content of the soil with a finger or chopstick. If it’s bone dry, give it a drink.
- Prune dead wooded stems after winter frost has thawed out to encourage new growth.
Don’t
- Let it overgrow and allow multiple plants to grow into each other.
- Use hard-packed soils/clay
- Overwater, water overhead, allow heavy rains to belt down onto it.
- Grow in shady areas
How to prevent lavender disease?
The best way to prevent diseases spawning on lavender is by simply taking extra care when watering. This includes not letting them succumb to heavy rains.
Overwatering and watering from above leave excess water on the plant itself above the soil and below underneath. Mold forms more in the upper regions, and root rot forms below.
How To Prevent Frost Damage?
If you plan planting your lavender in the ground, then the best way to counteract frost is by choosing somewhere protected from the colder weather.
This may be somewhere undercover or behind a windbreak. Generally, this is easier said than done because not everyone has the luxury of an ideal location like this.
Never fear, though; frost damage can usually be fixed by pruning back the affected areas once the frost has thawed out.
Cut away any dead stems to just above areas with new growth. If new growth comes from the tips, leave that entire stem to regenerate.
Potted plants are a little easier to avoid being affected by frost damage. Try moving them to where they are protected from the harsh cold weather. E.g., move them inside your house, a garage, a covered porch, etc.
Perfect Watering Schedule For Lavende
No universal watering schedule should be used on a lavender plant. These plants’ sizes, shapes, and locations can and will vary. Furthermore, lavender plants are drought resistant and used to periods of minimal water supply.
The best thing to do is test each plant individually by sticking your finger down the side of the stem and testing the moisture content. If it seems bone dry, it will most likely need some water.
Give it a drink but avoid flooding the whole plant. Check that the water is draining after a short period.
Ideal Nutrient Balance For Lavender
Lavender doesn’t require much in the way of nutrients, but like all plants, they have certain needs if you want to achieve optimal yield from your plant.
When planted, these plants can receive most of their nutrients from a well-created soil mix.
The balance ratio that can be added for better results should be something with more nitrogen than potassium and phosphorus.
Slow-release fertilizers suit lavender best; as mentioned earlier, they receive some good food from their soil. It’s best to top them up as too much food produces excess foliage with minimal flowers.
Frequently Asked Questions (fAQs)
What does Overwatered lavender look like?
Firstly, the soil will be clumpy and begin to smell. The leaves can turn yellow from root rot, starting with the lower areas and moving upwards as it spreads. Alternatively, the leaves can also turn gray due to untreated fungal disease. Both of these issues begin to form and progress once overwatering occurs.
Will gray lavender come back?
Depending on the cause and severity, gray lavender can be corrected. Frostbite, for example, causes the leaves to turn gray and they can be pruned back to health once the frost thaws out. Comparatively, the fungal disease can be treated if spotted soon enough.
As long as you completely clean up all of the affected areas, treat with fungicide and report them in brand new soil, there is no reason for them not to recover.
Should I cut off dead lavender?
Pruning away any dead lavender is a good idea in most cases. As long as there are still some signs of growth, the plant will generally continue to flourish after a prune. Trim the stems down to just above new growth areas.
If the stem has green shoots and flowers poking out the crown/top, leave the whole stem. The newly pruned plant will now focus its energy on regenerating all the alive and well areas.
How do you rejuvenate lavender?
Depending on the issue, the most common course of rejuvenation is pruning. Aim to remove any dead or decaying stems, branches, leaves and/or flowers. The best time to do so is firstly early in spring and again late in the summer after all flowers have ceased blooming.
If disease and/or pests have caused the issue, removing the plant, cleaning it up, applying some pesticide and/or fungicide then repot is best.
How often should lavender be watered?
Unfortunately, there is no one size fits for watering a lavender. Each plant can be grown in a range of different conditions and have different needs. These can include differing climates, sizes, species, etc. The best way to water a lavender is by observing how it grows and testing the soil regularly.
Stick your finger down the side of the stem and determine the moisture content of the soil. If it comes up bone dry, then it’s safe to water your lavender plant. Never over-water lavender.
Can lavender survive winter in pots?
Different species of lavender can withstand differing degrees of weather conditions. For example, English lavender varieties thrive in colder temperatures, whereas French lavenders will suffer greatly.
As far as potting them is concerned, you can have them planted this way if you move them somewhere with some protection when the colder times of the year come around. For example, move them inside your home, into a garage or covered porch area with a windbreak.
Conclusion
As we have covered in great detail, there are numerous reasons that a lavender’s leaves can start turning gray. The main concern is overwatering, which can then go on to cause other problems such as mold and pest infestations. Frostbite is also a prime reason for gray leaves forming.
Regardless of the cause, the damage is generally reversible if the warning signs are spotted early. A simple pruning can fix most issues.
We hope that you have found this article about Lavender leaves turning gray helpful and we look forward to creating more just like this to help answer any other questions you may have. As always, happy growing!
