Laurel is beautiful, useful and quite unpretentious. It is not capricious, grows well in the shade and in partial shade, and on a sunny windowsill. It will grow more or less luxuriantly in any soil. The leaves become more fragrant if the tree receives enough sunlight. Laurel is beautiful, useful and quite unpretentious. It is not capricious, grows well in the shade and in partial shade, and on a sunny windowsill. It will grow more or less luxuriantly in any soil.
The leaves become more fragrant if the tree receives enough sunlight.
The laurel needs Fresh air, while he is not afraid of drafts and sudden temperature changes. IN summer period plants are placed outside.
Indoor bay leaf care
Temperature
When kept indoors in winter, plants require fairly cold air. A temperature of 10 degrees is unacceptable for human habitation, but laurel plants are comfortable wintering in such conditions. If there is a cool place in the house for hibernation, at least 15 degrees, then with the onset of warmth the laurel will thank you with vigorous growth. And in the coolness the plant rests and gains strength.
In the spring season, laurels are ready to migrate outside at the first above-zero temperatures, especially at night. In the spring season they will like temperatures of 18-20 degrees.
But in summer – just below 30 degrees, optimally 20-25. Closer to autumn, the temperature is gradually reduced and the plant is prepared for a painless winter.
Bay leaf care at home
Lighting
Laurel is not at all afraid of direct sunlight and thrives on brightly lit southern windowsills. In summer, of course, he will like it more outdoors - in the garden or at least on the balcony or veranda. However, you should not abuse the sun’s rays immediately after purchasing a seedling, or after a cool winter. If you are not used to it, laurel can get sunburned. Therefore, bright sunlight must be added gradually.
Watering
The laurel needs watering with soft water at room temperature. It needs to be watered every time the top layer of soil dries out - approximately once every three days. But if it is very hot and the soil dries out, then you can water it several times a day.
Closer to autumn, when the air temperature drops, watering is reduced. In winter, once every few days is enough. You still need to focus on drying the soil surface.
Laurel home care
Humidity
Laurel just loves it wet air. You can provide him with constant comfort the following conditions:
warm shower;
spraying;
tray or stand with wet drainage material.
The pot itself should be above the surface of the water. The roots of the plant should not become soaked. You need to spray conscientiously so that moisture gets not only outside, but also inside the crown.
How to care for laurel
Feeding and replanting
In the first year of life, the laurel seedling will feel good without additional nutrition. But already in the second year it will need to be fed. To provide the plant with a little mineral fertilizer, it will be enough. They are paid monthly.
Laurel does not particularly suffer from poor soil. The only thing it cannot tolerate is excess moisture in the soil.
The laurel tree grows slowly. When kept in containers, trees need to be replanted periodically. Young animals are transplanted often - every couple of years. When replanting, take a pot 2 cm wider than the old one. For older trees, the pot is changed after 3-4 years.
Laurel will respond gratefully not only to minerals, but also to organic fertilizers. You can use pigeon droppings diluted with water and infused. Sometimes they also use diluted slurry. Mineral and organic fertilizing should be alternated. Before applying fertilizer, the soil must be thoroughly wetted so as not to burn the roots.
After transplantation, the plant will have enough nutrients for a long time, 4-5 months. The same soil composition as before is ideal for replanting.
Containers and pots made from natural materials are ideal for planting and replanting laurel plants.
Laurel at home care
Pest protection
In an apartment or inside a house, laurel thrives if you provide it with moist soil (but without waterlogging!) and regular showers. If the air is too dry, the plant begins to shed its leaves. At normal conditions some leaves fall off naturally, mostly old ones that are at least three years old.
Laurel care
Trimming
Laurel can accelerate in growth and grow up to six meters. But uncontrolled growth will lead to chaotic crown formation. bay tree will look untidy and may even create inconvenience in the room. Timely pruning of the crown is necessary not only to give the plant an aesthetic appearance, but also for better ventilation - as a prevention against diseases and pests.
They begin to work on the crown when the tree reaches two years of age. The top of the main shoot is cut off, leaving 10-15 cm above the ground. When side shoots grow from the remaining stem and reach 15-20 cm, they need to be pinched. This way the laurel will branch luxuriantly.
The laurel easily tolerates pruning, so it can be given any shape, even the most imaginative: a ball, a pyramid, a standard, an interesting sculpture, a composition, or even an entire hedge. If pruning is done after mid-August, when plant growth stops, then the remaining growth buds will be well formed before the onset of winter and will begin to grow in the spring.
Trimming does not promote fruiting of the laurel. Domestic laurel trees that grow in tubs or in the garden do not bloom.
Growing laurel, thanks to its unpretentiousness and versatility, can be a fun activity.
Please note that this website is for informational purposes only.
When using bay leaves, you should consult a specialist (doctor).
There are contraindications when using bay leaves: pregnancy and lactation in women, acute forms of kidney, liver and heart disease, peptic ulcer stomach and duodenum, allergic reaction to bay leaf, severe diabetes mellitus and etc.
In pursuit of a beautiful appearance, you may stumble upon a beautiful Laurel tree. An additional effect of growing it indoors will be a pleasant aroma, and a bonus – protection from blood-sucking insects!
Laurel (from Latin Laurus) – low evergreen laurel family. The most common and popular is the Nobilis or Noble laurel variety. The homeland of this tree is the Mediterranean region, from where it then spread throughout the subtropical part of Europe. In Russia it is often found in the southern part Krasnodar region and in Crimea.
Types of laurel
Noble (from Latin Laurus nobilis)
- in conditions open air and soil grows up to 12 meters high. It has a pleasant and strong aroma of leaves.
Canarian, also Azorean (from Latin Laurus azorica)
- the tree is even taller, reaching 15 meters in height. The leaves are larger than those of the noble one, have a wavy edge, but the aroma is somewhat weaker than that of its brother. 
How to care for laurel at home?
Lighting
First of all, choose a bright place, preferably with bright diffused light - an east or west window, a spacious ventilated balcony without direct sunlight. Then you need to select the soil and prepare the plant itself - germinate a seed, root a cutting or root layer, or take an already grown bush from a flower shop.
The soil
The tree is unpretentious to soil, but it is better to choose light soil for indoor laurel - for example, a mixture of garden soil and sand in a ratio of 5:1. When buying soil in a store, pay attention to mixtures for indoor palm trees or cacti - they will also suit the composition. It is better to grow Laurel nobilis in pots small size, gradually changing them - it is recommended to replant the young plant regularly.
Temperature and watering
At home, caring for laurel is quite simple. After the small tree has taken root and turned green, it is important to provide it with comfortable conditions and proper regular watering. In summer, laurel is watered with water at a temperature of 25–30 degrees. If tap water is too hard in your region, it needs to be filtered or boiled first. The plant should not be flooded - too wet soil is much more harmful than dry soil, and can even kill the tree. On particularly hot days, you can also spray the leaves with a spray bottle twice a day (morning and evening). This will help remove dust and dirt from the leaves and reduce the likelihood of pests.
IN winter period common laurel prefers special care: a relatively low temperature - +15 degrees at room humidity. Therefore, it is recommended to remove the pot with the plant away from heating devices, leaving it on a cool windowsill or insulated but not heated loggia. Watering in winter is usually less intensive - a couple of times a week is enough.
Fertilizer
Caring for laurel nobilis at home includes feeding during rapid growth. For this purpose, ready-made mineral or organic fertilizers for domestic plants are used, both special “Lavr” and those intended for cacti and palm trees. The frequency of feeding is up to two times a month.
Transplantation and transhipment
Laurel transplantation is carried out, depending on the age of the plant, once a year for young tree and after a year or two - for an older tree. Carry it out better in spring before the start of the active period. Growing laurel is usually done in small pots, each new pot selected 5-6 centimeters larger in diameter. Laurel transplantation at home occurs in the following order: first, the root ball is removed from the old pot and some of the soil is carefully shaken off; then transfer it to a new pot with drainage placed on the bottom and half filled with soil; The roots are carefully straightened, covered with earth and compacted so that the tree holds tightly. It is important not to add too much soil, maintaining the same relative level as in the old pot. If everything is done correctly, the laurel will grow with new strength, continuing to delight with its beauty and aroma. 
Reproduction
How to grow from seeds?
Growing laurel from seeds at home is not a difficult process, but you need to be patient. Seeds can remain viable for up to a year after ripening on a tree, but this is only possible if the right conditions storage, so most often they are recommended no later than after 3 months. Before planting, you can remove the “shell” - the pericarp - from the seeds, this will speed up the germination process. Laurel from a seed at home without pre-treatment sprouts quite slowly - sometimes the sprouts can remain in the ground for up to six months. There is no need to despair; it is only important to water the soil periodically. When the seedlings hatch and unfold two or three leaves, it is time for picking - the plants are dug up and the root is pinched to 2/3 of its length. After this procedure, laurel seedlings are planted for a permanent “place of residence.”
How to grow from cuttings?
If among your friends there is already a gardener who grows laurel, a new seedling can be obtained from an old tree by cuttings. The most suitable time for propagating indoor laurel by cuttings is spring, but if necessary, you can root the cuttings both in summer and autumn. Branches are cut 6-8 cm long (two or three internodes) from mature but not yet lignified young shoots. Then, for better rooting, they are kept in a solution of heteroauxin or potassium permanganate for a day, after which they are buried in the ground half their length and cared for in the same way as in the case of growing laurel from a seed. 
Visual design
Forming a laurel at home is a simple and, one might say, optional process. Regular, careful pruning creates beautiful shape crown and enhances branching, due to which even small indoor tree make it look like its tall street counterparts, giving it the appropriate appearance - a ball, a pyramid or a classic standard one. 
Pests
Among indoor laurel pests, scale insects are more common, spider mites, mealybugs and aphids. At the first signs of an unhealthy tree: massively falling yellow or gray leaves, white cobwebs on the leaves and branches, damage to the bark and sprouts of the plant, you should immediately begin isolating it from its healthy neighbors. Scale insects damage almost the entire plant: leaves, branches and trunk. If the infestation is weak, the pests can be removed using a cotton swab with a soapy solution, but if the infestation is severe, you will need Actellik or Karbofos insecticides (after this treatment, the leaves become unsuitable for consumption). Spider mites appear on trees in dry rooms with high air temperatures. The signal for tick damage is grey colour fallen leaves, the juice of which it feeds on. Aphids migrate to Nobilis from other plants, including those brought from the garden. To combat it, it is recommended to use tobacco decoction with soap, which is sprayed repeatedly on the plant.
Diseases
Improper care at home leads to the deplorable state of home laurel. Overwatering causes leaf spots and root rot, while underwatering causes leaves to turn yellow. IN winter time Without proper care, the tree may lose its leaves.
Application
At home, some housewives grow bay laurel as a fresh and affordable spice. The leaves of the plant have a pleasant aroma and bitter taste, well suited to fish and meat. They are often found in soups, main courses, and autumn preparations. The light scent of wood essential oil refreshes the air and helps reduce the number of insects in the room - for example, mosquitoes do not like it. Home laurel is unpretentious in care and takes root in the most different apartments. With proper care, this decorative foliage plant will delight you with its beauty and aroma for many years.
Grow an overseas spice on your windowsill? Nothing could be easier! Contents1 Description of the plant2 Where it grows3 Types4 Use5 Beneficial features And...
Bay leaves grow in warm Mediterranean climates, but it is very interesting to talk about whether bay leaves can be grown at home? After all, today there are a large number of opportunities to create a microclimate on your windowsill that will completely suit this plant. Moreover, it is widely known that laurel is not considered a very demanding plant. It easily tolerates temperature changes and is not very demanding on moisture. Therefore, growing a tasty, fragrant seasoning at home is quite simple. And when the shoots grow enough, you can delight your family and guests with rich borscht, spreading the mouth-watering aromas of your own bay leaves!
The subtropical climate of the Mediterranean is ideal for good growth laurel tree. In our country, the plant feels good in natural environment Krasnodar region. However, there are many known cases when own plots gardeners grow good bushes and middle lane. The leaves are quite fragrant and are perfect for seasoning homemade broths.
Laurel trees belong to the Laurel family. Today three types of these plants are known. They are evergreen, for home grown Noble laurel is best suited.
Growing homemade bay leaves
In general, we can say that laurel is not a picky plant, therefore, with proper care, moisturizing and feeding, it is not even the most experienced gardener can grow a big tree at home. Not only can its leaves be used in the kitchen for all types of dishes: both first and second, the incredible fragrant aromas of the growing tree will soar in all rooms.
It is known that growing laurel secretes phytoncides, which very effectively fight bacteria and fungi. So we can say with confidence that home tree will protect the family from frequent illnesses and colds.
Location and lighting
Laurel is rightfully one of the unpretentious types of vegetation. It easily tolerates even difficult conditions. But, still, if you want to see a fragrant, healthy and beautiful tree, then it is better to create the most favorable conditions.
Thus, many gardeners note that a flower pot can be placed in any part of the room: be it the south or even the north side. The plant will grow in both limited light and excessive sun exposure. The only thing is that the size of the pet depends on the conditions. On the south side you will become the owner of a large and stately bush that can easily overcome even a two-meter height. In different lighting, your bush is unlikely to please the eye with its lush growth.
Watering and fertilizing
Lavrushka is good at frequent moisturizing. In general, you should try to thoroughly water the soil in the pot about once every 5 days in winter and at least once every 3 days during hot days. To prevent the soil from becoming too moist, it is better to organize good drainage at the bottom of the pot, allowing excess liquid to pass into the saucer. However, it will not be superfluous to water the plant even every day during particularly hot seasons. Monitor the need to moisten the soil based on the degree of drying upper layers soil.
It is advisable to settle the water in advance, because most often in our country the liquid contains a lot of iron. Hard water is unlikely to please any flora, especially those grown at home.
Please note that laurel bushes will be very happy if you sprinkle a small drop over them warm water. Let it fall on the leaves, trunk, upper layer soil. You shouldn’t do this frequently, but in the warm season it is better to spray water at least once a month.
Very good decision A container of water placed next to the pot will serve. In the warm season, the liquid will evaporate and moisten the surrounding air, creating pleasant conditions for the normal growth of the bush.
Trimming
Laurel grows slowly, but can grow to quite impressive sizes. In wildlife, trees easily reach six meters or more. Of course, a home specimen is unlikely to boast such growth. But this does not mean that over time your compact bush will not outgrow the room’s capabilities.
The first pruning procedure is best done on a fully grown plant. When it reaches two years, the upper shoot of the crown is carefully cut off from the bush. Then, when the top acquires side shoots, they are also carefully thinned out.
It is best to prune in late summer, when the plant has finished growing. There is no point in not working on flower formation at all. Otherwise, you will end up with an untidy tree.
Air temperature and humidity
Laurel is extremely unpretentious to temperature conditions. Few pets can boast of resistance to quite low temperatures winter, and this tree will happily overwinter at 10 degrees Celsius. Of course, such a regime is not typical for a living room, but, anyway, try not to keep laurel in winter at high temperatures.
Advice. As soon as the cold weather passes and the average temperature at night stops dropping below zero, you can safely send the tree out into the fresh air. For example, a balcony or summer garden is a good choice.
In summer, try not to overheat the bush. 20-25 degrees will be enough. Laurel does not like dry air. Therefore, artificially increase the humidity by spraying. Place a saucer of water near the flower.
The soil
Absolutely any soil will be suitable for your bay leaf. The main thing is to ensure good drainage of the pot and try to feed the flower so that it grows beautifully, with the correct shape.
Reproduction methods
Many gardeners advise using one of three simple types bay leaf dilutions:
- seeds;
- cuttings;
- bends.
Seeds
Most reliable method Growing laurel involves using seeds. Many stores offer bay leaves. Today it is not a problem to place an order online. The right time January is the time for sowing. This is due to the fact that the seed can lie in the ground for quite a long time. The first shoots appear no earlier than a month later, but may not emerge for up to six months. Therefore, planting in winter will result in plant growth occurring in spring and summer: the most favorable time in terms of temperature and humidity.
Attention! Many gardeners advise propagating laurel using seeds. This is explained by the fact that from the very beginning the bush will grow and form in the same conditions and will not experience stress from changes in temperature or humidity environment. In addition, purchase required amount seeds can be affordable price and in almost any store.
Store seeds in a cool place until sowing time. For example, a refrigerator or a shaded buffet. Before planting the seeds, they must be soaked because they have a thick skin. This will significantly speed up the process of new shoots appearing.
There are no special soil requirements for seed growth. Any fertile soil will do, which you can prepare yourself or buy at a flower shop. The only thing is very important condition: the top layer should be laid out 2-3 centimeters with calcined sand. This is very important for the seeds to be accepted.
By the way, many people advise thoroughly calcining the entire soil before planting seeds in the ground to kill bacteria and pests. It is believed that this recommendation is useful not only for propagation by seeds, but also for cuttings and layering.
The seed is sunk about 1 cm. A mini-greenhouse is arranged above the pot. A plastic bag or even glass jar. The greenhouse must be ventilated periodically.
Ripening occurs in different ways and depends on temperature. But when the shoot throws out the first two leaves, the new plant can be replanted separately. It is not necessary to use store-bought pots. First time ideal home A yogurt cup will serve as a container for your baby.
Cuttings
Growing a bay leaf from a cutting is more difficult than from a seed. For cuttings, the middle or lower part of the branch is usually chosen. It is best to take a young bush, the stem of which has not yet been covered with wooden bark. The most important condition is that the new shoot has three free areas between the bases of the leaves (the so-called internodes).
The bottom cut must be made oblique. The leaves at the base of the cutting are removed, and the top ones are cut to about half so that they do not evaporate too much moisture.
The soil can be enriched with special additives that will promote rapid development of roots. Of course, a greenhouse is being built over the shoot. New laurel trees need to be watered frequently. Spray 4-5 times every day. After the root system appears (usually after a month), the shoot is transplanted to permanent place.
By layering
It is quite easy to obtain a shoot of a young plant using a method that is very often used for propagating grapes. To do this, layering is done from a young shoot. The lower branch is lowered and buried in the prepared small groove. There the stem is securely fastened so that it for a long time remained in the ground. In the place where the branch will be covered with earth, an incision is made in the bark.
It is important to provide the sprinkled ditch with very good watering. After some time, a young shoot will emerge from the ground. It is dug up, carefully separated from the lower branch at the base and transplanted into its own pot.
Next, as with cuttings: the first time good watering and greenhouse conditions.
How and when to replant laurel?
The bay tree does not grow quickly. At good conditions maintenance, bushes are replanted every two years. New dishes is taken on the basis that the width exceeds the previous one by several centimeters. Older plants are replanted every 3-4 years, as they grow. It is important to try to use the same soil for the same shoot.
In order for the bush to form as healthy and beautiful as possible, already for annual plants It is customary to generously fertilize the soil. Manure is good for this purpose. The main thing is to dilute it with water so as not to burn the roots. You can enrich the soil no more than once a month. But fertilizing rarely, less than twice a year, will also not benefit the formation of a noble appearance of the pet.
Laurel also prefers mineral fertilizers, which can be picked up in flower shops. It's good if you make it a rule to alternate different types fertilizers
Diseases and pests
Laurel does not tolerate dry air very well, as it historically grows near sea coasts. Therefore, when humidity is low, the bush begins to dry out and shed its leaves.
The unpretentiousness of the plant allows almost any owner to grow a full-fledged bush. In fact, the bay tree does not require anything other than good moisture. And few flowers do not require watering. You also need to fertilize the soil at least sometimes, since bay bushes are replanted quite infrequently.
Conclusion
Growing bay leaves at home is very good idea. There are no particular difficulties with care or reproduction. Laurel most often develops well on its own. And if you monitor your pet’s growth especially carefully, then you can safely talk about a lot of advantages that the owner of this wonderful bush will receive.
Laurel – evergreen tree of the Laurel family, native to the Mediterranean. From its homeland, the plant spread throughout the subtropical part of Europe. IN wildlife in Russia, the laurel tree is found in Crimea and the south of the Krasnodar region.
The laurel tree forms a densely leafy crown of a pyramidal shape. The leaves of the plant are alternate, entire, with wavy edges. The flowers of the tree are collected in umbrella-shaped inflorescences, white, cream or yellowish-green. After flowering, a fruit is formed - an inedible black-blue berry with a diameter of 15 millimeters.
Types and varieties of indoor laurel with photographs
The laurel genus includes three plant species.
In nature it grows in the coastal zone, at an altitude of 300 meters above sea level, in Western Transcaucasia. The plant is a shrub or tree with a height of 4 to 8 meters. The leaves are simple in shape, lanceolate, leathery, 7 to 20 centimeters long, with pointed ends. The flowers are small, formed in the form of umbrella inflorescences, yellow.
Varietal forms of this species:
- Narrow-leaved.
- Golden.
- Wrinkly.
Photo. Noble laurel
Inhabits humid forests in the Canary Islands. Azores Islands, Madeira Island. The height of the tree is about 15 meters. The leaves are ovate, 10-12 centimeters long, dull green. Flowers form inflorescences in the axils of the leaves, light yellow in color.
Photo. Laurus Azores (Canarian)
Originally from southwest China, o. Taiwan, Korea and other Asian countries. Found naturally in the USA, Australia, Africa, Brazil. A plant with alternate leaves, lanceolate in shape, covered with small translucent dots.
The flowers are small, yellowish-green, collected in paniculate inflorescences. Parts of the plant contain essential oil, the main component of which is camphor. This substance is used as a component of some medicines.
Photo. Camphor laurel
Necessary conditions for growing a bay tree at home
The bay tree has been grown as an ornamental houseplant since the 16th century. Laurel – unpretentious plant and is able to grow even with a lack of light. But under these conditions, the crown of the tree will be poorly leafed and less decorative.
If you create ideal conditions for growing bay leaves at home, you can get good results within three years. The plant is a source of bay leaf, which is used as a culinary seasoning and an ingredient in some medicines.
Location and lighting
The laurel tree needs diffused, but fairly bright light, so it must be placed in the apartment on western or eastern windows. IN summer time It is recommended to install the plant on ventilated loggias or balconies. If such a possibility exists, it is better to place the pot with the plant in a slightly shaded place outside for the summer.
Direct sunlight on laurel foliage is not desirable, so you should not grow it on a south-facing window. But this is only in the spring-summer season. In winter, when there is not enough sunlight in the room, you can move the tree to a south or south-west window.
The bay tree loves good lighting, but direct sunlight is dangerous for it.
Requirements for soil and containers for growing
Laurel needs light, breathable soil. When buying ready-made land, you should opt for substrates for palm trees or cacti.
You can prepare the soil yourself by mixing the following components:
- Garden soil - 3 parts.
- Humus - 2 parts.
- Sand – 1 part.
You can plant a bay leaf in any pot: the material of the growing container does not matter. Laurel feels fine in ceramic, plastic pots and wooden tubs. The main condition is that the volume of the dish should leave room for the development of roots, but not be too large so that the soil in it becomes sour.
Required air humidity and temperature
Like anyone tropical plant, laurel requires high air temperature and humidity. The temperature of summer laurel content is acceptable within the range of 20 to 27 degrees. In winter, the plant needs lower temperatures. Laurel feels most comfortable at a temperature of 12-15 degrees.
The optimal temperature for growing laurel in summer is from 20 to 27 degrees Celsius.
Important. The plant may not tolerate air temperatures below plus 5 degrees.
Laurel is demanding on air humidity, so it should not fall below 50-60%. Optimal humidity it is necessary to maintain it by regularly spraying the tree, placing the pot on a tray filled with expanded clay and water, and placing an artificial fountain next to the tree. These events are especially relevant in the spring-summer period when elevated temperature air.
Watering and fertilizing the plant
The bay tree needs to be watered regularly in spring and summer. For irrigation, well-settled or melted water at room temperature is used. On hot days, the amount of moisture needs to be increased. The soil in the pot should be evenly moistened, but without stagnant water. Therefore, after watering excess moisture It is recommended to drain it from the pan.
In winter, watering is sharply reduced. It is necessary to moisten the soil only after the top layer has dried to a depth of 4-5 centimeters. If the plant is kept in a room with a temperature below 10 degrees Celsius. There is no need to water it at all in winter.
Throughout the entire period of growing laurel at home, the plant needs regular feeding. The basis for feeding a young plant is a nutrient substrate, which is renewed annually.
The laurel watering regime should be observed: the soil in the pot should always be moist.
Additionally, plants are fed with liquid organic fertilizers, which are widely available for sale. Once every 30 days, mineral mixtures are used as feeding. Experienced flower growers recommend purchasing special Laurel fertilizers or formulations intended for feeding palm trees and cacti.
Transplanting a plant
The schedule for transplanting a laurel depends on its age. Young trees are transplanted into a new container every year. Mature tree replanted every 2-3 years. For replanting, select a pot that is 5-6 centimeters larger than the previous one.
Transplantation is carried out using the transshipment method so that the roots are not damaged. The plant is removed from the old pot along with a lump of earth, being careful not to destroy it, and placed in a new pot. The remaining space is filled with nutrient soil. After transplantation, the plant should be placed in a shaded place.
Important. When placed in a new pot, the planting level is left the same as in the previous pot.
Crown formation
The crown of a laurel tree is easily formed by pruning.
The laurel crown is easy to shape, so correct pruning allows you to get a beautiful appearance tree. Pruning also stimulates the formation of new shoots and the crown becomes dense.
With proper pruning, the laurel tree can be shaped into a pyramid, ball or standard. The pruning procedure is optional. But if you decide to start forming the crown, this should be done from mid to late March or late August early September, until the end of the growing season. The eyes remaining on the plant will have time to develop before winter, and in the spring the plant will begin to actively grow.
Low plant in standard form can be obtained by the following steps:
- A one-year-old seedling is pinched at a height of 15 centimeters.
- After some time, numerous shoots appear on the main stem. Of these, 5-6 pieces are left.
- Shoots that have grown to 14 centimeters are pinched.
- When the next row of shoots appears, they are pinched again, growing up to 14 centimeters. Repeated pinching allows you to form a lush crown.
Reproduction methods
The bay tree reproduces by seed and vegetative methods.
Sowing seeds
Reproduction of laurel by seeds is the most reliable way obtaining a strong, viable plant, adapted for cultivation in the conditions of a specific apartment. Growing under the same conditions throughout the entire life of the tree eliminates stress for the plant.
Laurel seeds can be found for sale in specialty stores or online stores. The germination of seeds depends on their freshness. Before sowing, the seeds must be stratified in the refrigerator for 30 days and then soaked in water for 3-4 days.
Growing bay trees from seeds is the easiest method for obtaining this plant.
Advice. Adding growth preparations such as Epin to the water for soaking seeds increases the speed and energy of germination.
Seeds are sown in containers filled with any fertile soil. The top layer of soil is 2-3 centimeters thick and consists of coarse sand. It is pre-steamed in a water bath or calcined in the oven or microwave. Sand is the most favorable environment for germination and development on initial stage bay leaf seedlings.
The seeds are placed in a moistened substrate to a depth of 1-1.5 centimeters and moistened with a spray bottle. The container is covered with film and placed in a warm place. You should not expect sprouts to appear quickly, since laurel seeds germinate within 4-6 months. In this regard, it is recommended to sow in January so that seedlings emerge at the most favorable time in terms of temperature and light. After the first shoots appear, the film is removed from the seedling container.
Caring for bay tree seedlings
A container with laurel sprouts is placed in the brightest place in the apartment. The room temperature should not exceed 20 degrees, otherwise the seedlings will stretch out. In the phase of two true leaves, seedlings can be planted in separate pots.
You can grow a bay tree from seedlings.
The height of the seedlings at this time is about 8 centimeters.
Pots with a diameter of 10 centimeters are prepared for them and filled with soil mixture:
- Soddy soil - 2 parts.
- Humus (manure that has been rotted for at least 2-3 years) – 2 parts.
- Sand – 1 part.
- Peat – half part
After transplantation, the plants are placed in a shaded place: direct sunlight during this period should not fall on the plants. After 2 weeks, the transplanted plants are placed on a lighted windowsill.
Vegetative methods of propagation
If a laurel bush grows at home or in a friend’s apartment. You can get new specimens using vegetative propagation methods.
Cuttings
For cuttings, shoots are used after pruning the plant. The procedure is carried out in early spring. The blanks should have 2-3 buds. The shoot is cut at an angle of 45 degrees, then lower leaves deleted. The top leaves are cut to half their length. The lower cut of the cutting is treated with a root formation stimulator. The cuttings prepared in this way are placed in damp sand, perlite or vermiculite.
Bay tree cuttings take root within 1-3 months.
The cuttings can be rooted in any substrate. But only with a neutral acid reaction. The shoot will not survive increased acidity of the soil.
Rooting of the cutting occurs within 1-3 months. After the roots of the cuttings have become stronger, the plant can be planted in a pot.
Dividing the bush
Dividing a laurel bush is the separation of shoots from it. The procedure is carried out exclusively with plants over the age of 3 years and only during the dormant period (from October to March). Severing shoots during the period of active growth of a bush can destroy it. Also, you should not tear off shoots from laurel under the age of 3 years.
The shoots are separated in such a way that part of the bark of the main trunk of the tree remains on the lower part. You can plant a laurel shoot in any moist substrate with low acidity.
Attention. No more than 3 shoots can be separated from one bush.
Features of care for diseases and pests
Of the pests, the main enemies of the bay tree are scale insects, spider mites, aphids and mealybugs. An insect attack on a plant is indicated by a white or sticky coating on the leaves, falling or yellowing leaves.
The appearance of spots on laurel leaves indicates the development of the disease.
If the infestation can be caught at the very beginning of the appearance of pests, bathing in a soapy solution followed by a shower for the tree will help to cope with them. In case of severe infection, it is necessary to spray the laurel with an insecticide (Aktara, Fufanon, Aktellik, Iskra).
If you follow the rules of care, laurel is practically not affected by diseases, since it is resistant to viruses and fungi. Its only enemy is root rot when the soil is waterlogged. When the roots of the laurel rot, the leaves turn black. You can save the plant with the help of an antifungal drug (Gamair, Glyokladin). Before using the fungicide, the soil in the pot must be thoroughly dried.
Growing problems and ways to overcome them
Improper care indoor laurel reflected in its appearance:
- Leaf spotting occurs when there is excess moisture. Due to excessive watering, the roots of the plant begin to rot.
- Yellowing of leaves occurs when there is a lack of moisture in the soil and air. Also, the leaves turn yellow when laurel is grown in too dense soil.
Even a novice gardener can plant and successfully grow a laurel tree at home. With a little effort, the housewife will have bay leaves in her kitchen to use as a homemade seasoning.
We invite you to watch a video in which a florist tells everything about growing a laurel tree at home.
Genus laurel (lat. Laurus) belongs to the laurel family and has only 2 species. Grows in the Canary Islands and the Mediterranean region. Up to forty species of laurel are currently included in today's taxonomy in English.
Laurels are evergreen shrubs or trees. The simple leaves are leathery to the touch, the edge of the leaf is entire and slightly wavy. The axillary inflorescences are umbrella-shaped.
If the plant is well cared for, then young specimens can grow at high temperatures and low air humidity; adult specimens will grow poorly under such conditions.
Planting and caring for laurel (in brief)
- Bloom: the plant is grown as an ornamental foliage plant.
- Lighting: bright sunlight.
- Temperature: in spring and summer – 20-26 ºC, in autumn the temperature is gradually reduced to 12-15 ºC.
- Watering: during the growing season - regular and abundant, as soon as the top layer of the substrate dries. In hot weather, water twice a day. With the onset of autumn, watering is reduced, and in winter they simply make sure that the substrate does not dry out completely.
- Air humidity: high: in hot weather, the plant should be regularly sprayed and kept on a tray with wet expanded clay.
- Feeding: during the growing season - once a month in a comprehensive manner mineral fertilizer. In winter, laurel is not fed.
- Rest period: from October to March.
- Transfer: young plants - once every two years, adults - once every 3-4 years.
- Substrate: two parts of humus soil, two parts of leaf soil and one part each of peat, turf soil and sand.
- Trimming: pruning is carried out in mid-August.
- Reproduction: seeds, cuttings.
- Pests: scale insects, spider mites, mealybugs.
- Diseases: sooty mushroom.
- Properties: The plant is a popular spice and has medicinal properties.
Read more about growing laurel below.
Laurel – photo
Care for laurel at home
Lighting
At home, the laurel plant easily tolerates direct sunlight, so it feels good on southern windows with bright lighting. In summer, it is best to take the laurel out into the fresh air. Despite the fact that laurel normally tolerates direct sunlight, after wintering or immediately after purchasing the plant, it is gradually accustomed to the sun to prevent the appearance of sunburn. In winter, the plant is kept in a cool and bright place.
Temperature
The optimal temperature in summer is 20-26 °C. Starting in autumn, the temperature should be gradually reduced, and in winter, in order for wintering to be as painless as possible, the temperature should be within 12-15 °C.
Watering the laurel
In summer, home laurel should be watered generously with soft water as soon as the top layer of soil dries. You can water it a couple of times a day if the temperature is very high. In the fall, watering is reduced, and in winter it is watered only 2-3 days after the top layer of soil has dried.
Spraying laurel
The laurel plant needs high humidity air - it must be constantly sprayed with settled water. It would be a good idea to place the pot with the plant on a tray with moistened expanded clay or peat, making sure that the bottom of the pot is not immersed in water.
Fertilizing laurel
During the growing season, the houseplant laurel needs to be fed monthly with mineral fertilizers.
Laurel pruning
Indoor laurel can be trimmed - they tolerate pruning well. The plant can be given any shape. You need to prune when growth stops, usually in mid-August. Those eyes that remain on the plant will develop well before winter, and when the plant begins to grow in the spring, they will sprout. When pruning a laurel in the spring, you need to remove the strong eyes at the top, and the growth from the remaining weaker eyes will be small.
Laurel transplant
The laurel flower grows slowly. Young plants need to be replanted approximately every two years if the roots have completely filled the pot, and adult plants - once every 3-4 years. The earth mixture is made up of leaf, humus, turf soil, sand and peat (2:2:1:1:1). The substrate must be neutral or slightly alkaline. Because indoor plant Laurel grows well in small pots, so it is worth replanting it into a pot that is no more than 2 cm larger in diameter than the previous one. The size of the tub is increased by no more than 5 cm. Do not forget to build high-quality drainage at the bottom of the pot.
Laurel from seeds
Laurel seeds are sown in the spring in pots, bowls or boxes with a soil mixture of two parts leaf and turf soil and one part sand. When sowing, the soil temperature should be at least 18 °C. In the phase of one or two leaves, seedlings dive at a distance of 2 cm from each other into the same substrate. When the laurel seedlings get stronger, they are transplanted one at a time into individual pots 7 cm in diameter in a substrate of 4 parts turf soil, 2 parts leaf soil, 1 part peat soil and sand. Young plants should grow with regular watering and misting, at a temperature of 10 to 12 °C in a lighted place.
Laurel propagation by cuttings
When propagated by cuttings, shoots are cut off either in April or early summer. The cuttings should not be woody, have 2-3 internodes and be up to 8 cm long. They are planted to a depth of 1.5 cm at a distance of 10 cm from each other after shortening the leaves. Soil mixture consists of two parts: 2-3 cm of sand is poured on top, and three to four centimeters of turf soil is poured below. Laurel cuttings should take about 30 days to take root; the temperature should be kept at 16-20 °C. After the cuttings take root, they are planted in 7-centimeter pots - the substrate and care are the same as when propagated by seeds.
Medicinal properties of laurel
The leaves have a stimulating effect and are a spice. Bay leaf stimulates the removal of fluids from the body and is used for hysteria and colic. The leaves and fruits are also used for flatulence.
For localized tumors in folk medicine Extracts from any parts of the plant are used as an anticancer agent. Using the same extracts you can take care of your facial skin. The composition of ointments used for rheumatism includes laurel oil.
You can prepare a tincture from dried bay leaves - crushed leaves are poured with 40% or 70% alcohol in a ratio of 1 to 5. The container is tightly closed and left to infuse for a week at room temperature. After this, filter and pour into a bottle, which is stored in a cool, dark place.
Highest level essential oils bay leaves are contained from November to December - it is at this time that it is worth collecting bay leaves to be used in cooking. Leaves are collected from four to five year old plants.
Diseases and pests of laurel
The laurel is turning yellow. Due to insufficient air humidity, laurel leaves may turn yellow and curl. In this case, the humidity needs to be increased.
Laurel pests.
