How to Dry a Lavender Plant

Overview

Look at many household and personal care products on the market and you will find that lavender, or at least the scent of lavender, is one of the ingredients. Lavender is grown for its ornamental beauty, for the calming effects of the scent and for use in culinary recipes. Dried lavender is often used in potpourri and in special blends that add fragrance to closets and drawers.

Step 1

Cut the lavender stems to a length of 6 to 8 inches when the blooms are 25 percent opened; 75 percent of the blooms should still be closed when cutting lavender for drying.

Step 2

Gather a handful of stems and wrap them tightly with a rubber band.

Step 3

Hang the plants upside down from a nail or ceiling hook in a cool, well-ventilated, dark area. A corner of your basement, a shed or an unused closet works well.

Step 4

Allow the lavender to hang and dry for two to four weeks. The exact amount of time will depend on humidity and temperature of the room.

Step 5

Remove the lavender from the hooks, trim away the stems and store the dried flowers in a cardboard box. Alternatively, you can leave the entire plants hanging in place and use them as needed.