Okay, I've got some young lemon verbena plants again this year in 4" or so pots, and I want to consolidate them all into one big pot, with the idea of trying to haul them indoors again this winter (if spider mite doesn't get them all). I've got about a 12" pot, and 4 4" potted plants, and a bag of potting soil.

What else does it like in the soil? Grit? Limestone? Gardens Alive Herbs Alive? The potting soil is the usual 'forest product', so it's probably a lot of peat, shredded bark, and perlite. At least that's what it looks like.

Is that too many in one pot? I never have very good luck trying to overwinter them in the Conservatory, but I keep trying.

-- Anonymous, July 12, 2001

Answers

Julie, I guess we never discussed this, but I have a lemon verbena in a pot that is on it's third summer. Made it through 2 winters here in a south-facing window. The first winter was the one I was gone so much, and it made it with just occasional watering by D, who mostly kills plants, so I guess it's a tough thing. It got too dry one time and dropped all its leaves (which I gathered while still relatively green, put in a dish, and put it in a clothes drawer). I watered it well, and it began to put out new sprouts. The tips had died, so I pruned them and it came back nicely.

This was from one 4" pot, and I put it into an 8" clay azalea pot. I was doing a bunch of herbs at the same time, and I THINK it fell into the group that needed good drainage, gritty soil. I think this because I put it into a clay pot, and I only did that with the ones that liked to be drier. I also think I gave it some Gardens Alive herb food, since they sent me a sample that year. I don't think I've fed it since, though it does get watered with the birds water all winter, so there's probably a little bit of nutrients getting to it.

This past winter, it did come down with spider mite (I summer it on the deck -- I think it's supposed to get full sun, but you know, it's only partial on the deck because of the trees). I sprayed it with either Concern or Safer insecticidal soap. That took care of THEM. It does get sparse and spindly even in the south window, so as soon as we were getting nice days, I'd take it outside for the day and then back in at night.

It responded well to pruning. It may need repotting. I really think it needs a bit more soil on the top, since the roots are beginning to show. I think I'll dump off any loose dirt and add new. Maybe I'll try a little worm compost on it.

Don't know if any of this helps you -- hope so!

-- Anonymous, July 13, 2001

You'd think that sisters would communicate better, wouldn't you? :-P Especially with the amount of time we spend on phones and sending emails back and forth!!

Oh well. Any one have any opinions on adding lime, or even better, ideal Ph for it? I'm not finding much on Garden Web in particulars, except that I've perhaps been watering too much.

-- Anonymous, July 13, 2001

O.K. You know me I don't know any thing about the proper way to do any thing. But I do know that I have had a Lemon Verbena in a pot for years. Love It! Harvest from it all summer to make tea in the winter. Now every year when I bring it in, it loses all its leaves, and then starts over again, I always thought that was just what it did. It is just in regular potting soil. Seems very happy. Getting bigger every year. TRen

-- Anonymous, July 13, 2001

arrrrrrrrrkkkkkkkk............when mine lost all it's leaves I thought it died and threw it out!!!! I guess I will try again, I sure loved it. I find security in the smell of lemon. Funny how some smells bring different things to mind. I think that is the biggest reason that I raise herbs, aroma therapy.

-- Anonymous, July 13, 2001

Is lemon verbena the same as lemon balm? I guess not, because I've got dozens of lemon balm plants growning outside & overwintering just fine in the ground. VERY prolific and sturdy plant with beautifully intense lemon scent (I dry it or use fresh for tea), and it's spreading all over, crowding out the strawberries - wish I could give a lot of plants away - don't know how they'd hold up to mailing, but I live in NW Illinois.....

-- Anonymous, July 13, 2001

You're right, Bonnie, they are not the same. However, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE lemon balm. Did I mention love? ;-) Great for making herbal tea, so good! It is easy to grow, although, oddly, sister Julie, who is more than 200 miles NORTH of me has overwintered it outdoors in pots whereas mine all froze out. Hmpf!

-- Anonymous, July 13, 2001