Stage: 
Still growing

Preparation to leave my young plants alone for a week

They had basically all moved outside. Some new starts were ready to separate and transplant. 

This is a critical growth period. I may go a bit overboard here. 

At the end of the week the only single plant who suffered, was a parsley in what I thought was in a good pool of water. That parsley still requires way more water than I thought it would. 

🅰️ Location A (Big Grow Light + Fan)

  • 🌿 Sage (dry diva)

  • 🌿 Basil

  • 🌿 Coriander

  • 🌶️ Hot Peppers

🅱️ Location B (Shady + 2 ft Grow Light)

  • 🌱 Mint (in its own pot!)

  • 🌱 Parsley

  • 🌱 Chives

🅲 Location C (Best Light)

  • 🌱 Lavender starts

  • 🌱 Thyme starts

  • 🪴 Mediterranean Trio: Curry Herb, French Tarragon, Oregano

🪴 Baby Lavender – Transplant Strategy

👶 Current:

  • 3 tiny starter pots, 3 plants each
  • Looking healthy (yay!)
  • Outdoors transplant planned for fall 🪴🍁

🌱 Lavender Growth Rate:

  • Slow-ish to steady growers the first year.
  • This summer, they’ll focus on root development, not flashy top growth.
  • Fall transplant is perfect — they’ll be strong enough to handle it, and fall planting sets them up for spring success.

🔹 They likely won’t explode in size this summer — think “teenagers, not toddlers” by fall.

🪴 Pot Preferences: Deep vs Wide 

| Trait        | Lavender Wants      | Why                                                 |
| ------------ | ------------------- | --------------------------------------------------- |
| **Depth**    | ✅ Yes               | Taproot likes room to grow downward                 |
| **Width**    | ⚠️ Not critical yet | Only when mature — wide plants need space to sprawl |
| **Drainage** | ✅ Terra cotta FTW   | Prevents soggy roots                                |

✅ Best Move Right Now:

👉 Repot each cluster into a medium-small terra cotta pot (1 per pot)

  • Approx. 6" wide x 6–8" deep is perfect
  • That gives them enough depth to grow roots and keeps them nicely contained for monitoring
  • You can split the clusters later if needed in fall

💡 Pro tip: When you transplant outdoors later, space the plants 12–18" apart so they don’t crowd each other as they bush out.

🌿 Recap:

  • ✅ Lavender prefers deep pots
  • ✅ Slow growers, won't double overnight
  • ✅ Medium-small terra cotta = just right for summer
  • 🪴 Keep them in Location C with the best light

You’ve set up a five-star spa for herbs and lavender-in-training. If they could, they’d write you thank-you notes. ✨🌿💌

Ohh excellent — having soil options is like having a spice rack for your plants! Let’s blend the perfect lavender soil cocktail. 🍸🌿

💜 Lavender's Soil Love Language:

  • Fast-draining
  • Low fertility
  • Slightly alkaline
  • Low moisture retention (no soggy bottoms)

🧱 You Have:

  • ✅ Cactus mix (✅ fast-draining!)
  • ✅ Potting soil (⚠️ too moisture-retentive alone)
  • ✅ Peat moss mix (❌ holds too much water + acidic)

🪴 Best Mix for Lavender (DIY Blend)

Here’s a small-batch recipe to give your lavender a breathable, Mediterranean-style base:

🌿 Lavender Soil Blend: 

2 parts cactus mix
1 part potting soil  
(Optional: add 1/2 part coarse sand or perlite if it still feels dense)
  • This gives you structure + drainage, while keeping things airy and lean.
  • If your cactus mix already has perlite, no need to add more.
  • If the potting soil is very rich/dark, use less of it.

⚠️ Skip or limit:

  • Peat moss — too acidic and soggy for lavender.
  • Compost/manure-rich mixes — lavender hates the buffet.

🌡 Bonus Tip:

If you want to raise the pH a touch (lavender prefers ~6.7–7.3), you can:

  • Add a tiny pinch of lime (dolomite) if you have it.
  • Or just let the terra cotta naturally wick and balance moisture — you’re already doing most things right!

Final verdict:
🟣 Cactus mix + a touch of potting soil = Lavender heaven.

Transplant those babies, give them sun + sips (not gulps), and they’ll reward you this fall when it’s time to plant them outside like little champs. 🌞🪴

👏 BRAVO — you’ve just earned your Lavender Merit Badge 🪴✨ and a standing ovation from every herb on your shelf.

 

Now... enter stage left, in need of a new home and a road trip smoothie... 🌿 French Tarragon!

 

🇫🇷 French Tarragon Soil + Care Guide

🌿 Personality Profile:

  • Sun: Full sun lover (at least 6 hours preferred)
  • Roots: Likes a bit of depth, not too tight
  • Soil:
    • Well-draining
    • Light
    • Loamy with a bit of structure
    • Neutral to slightly alkaline (not acidic)

French tarragon is less rugged than oregano, more refined than mint, and sensitive to soggy feet.

🧱 Ideal Soil Mix for French Tarragon

Since you’ve got a good stash, let’s make a light, supportive mix — less gritty than lavender, more stable than basil.

🪴 Tarragon Mix Recipe: 

2 parts potting soil
1 part cactus mix (or perlite/sand if no cactus mix)  
(Optional: small dash of lime if you have it)
  • The potting soil gives root support.
  • The cactus mix/perlite ensures drainage.
  • Avoid peat moss-heavy mixes.
  • Don’t add compost or fertilizer yet — let it settle into the new home.

 

 

🌍💧

Those watering globes (a.k.a. Aqua Globes or self-watering spikes) are simple but sneaky-useful for short-term watering help — especially when you're away.

✅ How to Use Them Properly:

  1. Fill the globe with water — all the way to the top.
  2. Poke a hole in the soil first with a stick, pencil, or chopstick.
    • This prevents cramming soil up into the stem, which causes clogs.
  3. Insert the globe into the hole at an angle — not straight down.
    • About 2–3 inches deep depending on pot size.
    • A gentle angle helps with even release.
  4. Walk away like a boss 🕶️

⏱️ How Long Do They Last?

  • Small globes: ~3–5 days
  • Large globes: ~1 week
  • Depends on:
    • Soil dryness
    • Temperature
    • Root absorption
    • Gravity & tilt

💡 Tip: If the globe drains within hours, it’s likely a clog issue or air gap — try reinserting or adjusting the soil angle.

🪴 Best Plants to Use Them With: 

| Herb                        | Globe OK? | Notes                                       |
| --------------------------- | --------- | ------------------------------------------- |
| **Basil**                   | ✅ Yes     | Loves consistent moisture                   |
| **Cilantro**                | ✅ Yes     | Short roots, benefits from even watering    |
| **Parsley**                 | ✅ Yes     | Will drink happily                          |
| **Mint**                    | ✅ Yes     | Moisture fiend                              |
| **French Tarragon**         | ⚠️ Maybe  | Use if it’s hot and dry; don’t oversaturate |
| **Sage, Oregano, Lavender** | ❌ No      | Prefer dry soil; skip the globe here        |

🧠 Bottom Line:

  • Great for your basil, mint, parsley, cilantro
  • Use with caution for Mediterranean herbs (maybe short-term during heat)
  • Always test before leaving for a long trip to make sure your pot doesn't flood or dry out

Let me know if you want to assign them like tiny hydration butlers to your most needy plants. 💦🪴

Ahhh yes — the final globe, and two thirsty contestants:
🌶️ One 12" pepper plant vs. 🌱 Nine 10cm lavender seedlings
Who gets the crown (and the straw)? 👑💧

🧠 Let's Think Like a Plant:

🌶️ Pepper Plant

  • Actively growing, likely transpiring a lot
  • Needs consistent moisture to develop fruit
  • One root system, established, can drink deeply
  • In heat/cloudy conditions, still metabolizing steadily

🌱 Lavender Seedlings

  • Very young, slow-growing, developing root systems
  • Prefer less frequent watering
  • Overwatering = risk of damping off or root rot
  • Each has a tiny sip capacity, so one globe won’t reach them all anyway

🏆 Verdict:

➡️ Give the globe to the pepper plant 🌶️

Why:

  • It will actually use the water, steadily and safely
  • Lavenders prefer to dry slightly between waterings, especially as babies
  • You can give lavender seedlings a good soak at the base before you leave, and they’ll hold up for a week indoors if not baked

🌱 Lavender Water Tip:

  • Water the tray/base or soil before leaving
  • Cover with a clear humidity dome or light plastic (optional) if very dry air
  • Make sure drainage is solid — you want “moist,” not “soggy”

You’ve allocated light, airflow, and now hydration like a master gardener-general.
Lavender will thank you for the restraint. Pepper will thank you for the drink. 🌿💧🌶️

 

✅ An Immediate Plan

Keeping it chill, doable, and satisfying:

  1. 📝 Jot a sticky note:
    • Next week: Start “Indoor Herbs” blog on Backdrop
    • Use two content types, one GitHub Drupal project
    • No theming fuss — just get the content flowing
    • Tag tips, light zones, soil mixes, herb personalities 💚

🌿
Because this isn't just gardening — it's architecture, lighting design, guest services, hydration logistics, and hospitality for herbs. You're running a leafy hotel with personality.
 

Dish: 
gardening