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The laurel tree is native to southern latitudes and thrives in countries with warm climates. There are even relict laurel forests with unusually salubrious air.
Middle latitudes, including the Russian climate, are not very suitable for this thermophilic plant. But if you have patience and make some effort, then it is quite possible to grow your own laurel tree in your home. The laurel tree is native to southern latitudes and thrives in countries with warm climates. There are even relict laurel forests with unusually salubrious air.
Middle latitudes, including the Russian climate, are not very suitable for this thermophilic plant. But if you have patience and make some effort, then it is quite possible to grow your own laurel tree in your home.
How to plant bay leaves from seeds
The easiest way to grow homemade laurel is from seeds. They are ordered from online gardening stores or imported from the south. Before planting, you need to pay attention to the freshness of the seeds, since they do not remain viable for long - only a few months. It is best to sow seeds in winter or early spring - between December and March.
Seed preparation
How to plant a bay leaf from seeds The seeds of bay leaves are protected by a dense black shell, through which it is difficult for the sprout to break through. Therefore, before sowing, it is recommended to clear the seed from the pericarp. A healthy nucleus inside the pericarp is usually yellowish-white and dense; it cannot be crushed with your fingers. To accelerate seed germination, you can soak them for three days in a weak solution of potassium permanganate before planting.
Soil preparation
Soil is well suited for laurel, in which there are enough nutrients. Optimal composition:
Garden land - part 1
Leafy ground - part 1
Peat - ½ part
Sand - ½ part
Lime - you can add quite a bit of it to the mixture, since acidic soil is destructive for laurel.
You can prepare a less saturated seed mixture. To do this, take equal parts of leaf and sod land (1 part each) and add 2 parts of sand. Such soil must be well compacted and moistened.
Preparing the container for planting
A clay pot is perfect for growing laurel. At the bottom, you need to arrange drainage - expanded clay balls or any shards. About 2 cm of clean sand is poured onto the drainage layer. Then the pot is filled with prepared soil, and then another 2 cm of clean sand. The soil temperature should be 20 degrees.
Planting and leaving
The seeds are buried in the sand by 1 cm. The soil should be watered well, the surface of the pot should be covered with glass or foil and left in a warm place. To ventilate the shelter, you need to remove it every day for half an hour. In this case, the soil should not be allowed to dry out, otherwise the seeds may die. Usually, at a favorable temperature (18-25 ° C), seedlings appear in a month and a half, but they can germinate even longer, even up to three months. As soon as the first shoots hatch, the film must be removed from the pot and watered regularly. During this period, to accelerate growth, it is better to place the pot in a well-lit place. After the appearance of the first pair of leaves from seedlings, they need to be dived (transplanted).
Transplanting laurel seedlings
When the seedlings grow to 5-8 cm, they are planted in small pots with a diameter of 10 cm. Before transplanting, the seedlings must be well watered so that the earth becomes moist and soft. This is done in order not to damage the taproots of the sprouts. For picking, prepare a soil mixture with a more saturated content:
Sod land - 2 parts,
Rotten manure - 2 parts,
Sand - 1 part,
Peat - ½ part.
In this case, charcoal can be used for the drainage layer.
The transplanted plants are placed in a shaded area. It is better not to expose them to the sun for two weeks. Water for irrigation must be defended. Its temperature should be 2-3 degrees higher than room temperature. After two weeks, the laurel can be displayed on a sunny windowsill, where it will gain strength, grow quickly and start branching well. You just need to monitor the formation of the crown and pinch the tops of the shoots in time.
Laurel seedlings
It is difficult to find a person who has not heard of bay leaf seasoning. The native area of the spicy culture is the subtropics. In the Russian Federation, its cultivation in open ground is possible only in the south. In other regions, the plant is cultivated under normal indoor conditions. Experts share their experience on how to get a fragrant homemade lavrushka without problems: grow it from seeds, prevent diseases and properly trim the leaves. For clarity, the tips are illustrated with photos.
Laurel tree: a description of the plant. Features of cultivation
An excellent seasoning for first and second courses, sauces and marinades with a strong and unique aroma is bay leaf. And it also has disinfecting and diuretic properties, therefore it is also used in folk medicine. The leaves are rich in nutrients, acids and essential oils. In ancient mythology, laurel branches were the talisman of the house from everything bad.
Attention! Scientifically proven: the tree cleans the air in the room, prevents the formation of fungus and the development of bacteria.
Another property of the home form of the laurel tree is decorativeness. Always fresh greens can decorate any corner of the room. Even the northern side, because the plant is unpretentious to the abundance of sunlight, although at the southern window the bush will turn out denser and more magnificent.
Laurel is a useful and ornamental plant
The seeds of the Mediterranean guest are easy to purchase online or find in flower shops. The fresher the seed is, the higher the germination rate will be. The only correct planting dates: spring (end of winter) or autumn.
Step-by-step technology for planting laurel
The process consists of the following stages:
- Store seeds in the refrigerator before starting work.
- Soak the material for 2-3 days. This will help the sprout to break through the thick seed coat. Floated seeds are unsuitable for reproduction.
- Soak the seeds in a growth promoter for a few hours. For example, in Epin.
- Plant in regular large pots or containers with a good drainage system. Use any neutral fertile soil as a base. However, the top layer 2-3 cm thick should consist of disinfected sand.
- Deepen the seeds 1 cm and cover the planting with foil. The greenhouse is designed to maintain a high level of moisture in the soil.
Be prepared that even with ideal conditions and proper care, you will see seedlings no earlier than in 3-6 months. Therefore, flower growers recommend sowing laurel in January or February. In this case, even with the slowest development, seedlings will appear in the summer, and this is the best time for their active development and growth. Favorable temperature for germination is not lower than +12 ° C. After the seeds have hatched, remove the foil. At the stage when a pair of real leaves appear, dive the seedlings into separate pots.
Laurel seeds
Caring for a laurel tree in a room environment
Unlike other immigrant plants from the Mediterranean subtropics, laurel is unpretentious and hardy.In addition to the possibility of growing in the shade, it has the following features:
- The plant does not like dry air. Complete regular spraying and bathing once a month under a warm shower by installing a container of water. Place it on a nearby windowsill. The mini-lake can be decorated and made an element of the decor of the room.
- Feed the laurel with fertilizers about once every 3 weeks. From the second season, focus on organic matter (pigeon droppings have worked well). Throughout the life of the plant, mineral fertilizing works effectively.
- Water the tree only with settled water at room temperature. From May to September - once every 3 days, the rest of the time - once every 5 days. On the hottest summer days, watering can be increased. However, beware of excess moisture in the soil.
- Young bushes up to 3 years of age need to be transplanted every 2 years into a larger pot. The best time is spring. Older trees are transplanted no more than once every 5 years. Sometimes old laurels are not replanted, but simply replaced with a new topsoil. After the procedure, apply organic fertilizer and stop feeding for six months.
Spray the plant regularly
- In summer, the laurel will benefit from fresh air. Take the plant out onto a balcony, veranda, or even a garden. But beware of cool drafts.
- Prune the tree. The best time is the border of summer and autumn. This will stimulate the laurel to grow in breadth rather than upward. Starting at 2 years of age, use garden scissors to form a crown in the form of a ball or any other shape.
- Loosening is also necessary for this plant. Work carefully - the roots are shallow.
Advice. In winter, during the dormant period, it is advisable for the laurel tree to provide a cool atmosphere with a temperature in the range of + 10 ... 15 ° C.
Alternative ways to propagate the laurel tree
You can also get a new copy of laurel with horizontal layering and cuttings. The first method is relevant only for open ground, and the second is suitable for indoor culture. Cuttings should be harvested in March or April:
- only shoots of a healthy plant are suitable, which have not yet been covered with a crust, but have already ripened;
- get 6-8 cm segments: make an incision in half the thickness of the branch, tear off the rest with a small piece of bark;
- the stalk should have a heel, which is located below the first node;
- remove the leaves at the bottom of the segment.
You can propagate laurel by cuttings
Be prepared for difficulties, because the cuttings are poorly rooted. To increase the chances of success, soak the length first in water, then in any root-forming stimulant. Dip the stalk 2 cm into the cleaned sand and cover with foil. Spray the soil to keep the humidity high in the greenhouse. Under normal developmental conditions, the branch will sprout roots after about 1 month. After that, it can be planted in open ground.
The laurel tree has a specific aroma and antimicrobial substances in its juice, therefore it is quite resistant to pests and fungal infections. A plant can become infected only if it is strongly started. In this case, apply standard methods for specific ailments. An outward sign of poor health of the tree is yellowed leaves. In general, laurel care is not difficult. Even a beginner can grow it on the windowsill.
Growing laurel on a windowsill: video
How to grow bay leaves at home
Not a single housewife in her kitchen can do without bay leaves. We use this popular herb as an aromatic herb, as well as for medicinal and cosmetic purposes. It is very affordable and we can get it in any store. But it is much more pleasant to use the useful leaves of laurel, which is grown on your own windowsill!
Despite the fact that the Mediterranean lands are the birthplace of laurel, it develops perfectly in the conditions of our apartments.And already for 3-4 years of life, you can collect and dry leaves rich in valuable substances, essential oil and various acids. In addition, an adult plant looks very beautiful and can be a real decoration for your winter garden.
How to care?
Before figuring out how to grow a bay leaf at home, you need to understand if you can provide the plant with the proper conditions. The tree itself can adapt to both sunny and darkened rooms. But if the house has a balcony, then in the summer it is advisable to take the plant out into the air. A garden or suburban area for this purpose would be the best option. In winter, place your laurel in a bright room.
Growing bay leaves does not require any special skills and knowledge. You just need to water the plant as the earthen coma dries out more often in summer, less often in winter, and spray the leaves with lukewarm water on the hottest days. Laurel should be watered with water at room temperature, he will not like cold water. And once a month, the plant should be fed so that it develops well and grows stronger. For this purpose, such concentrated mixtures as "Cactus" or "Palm" and the like are perfect.
Carbonate, light soil is what you need for planting laurel. In specialized stores you can buy ready-made mixture "Cactus", in which your plant will develop very well. From the moment of planting, you will have to replant the laurel every year in a new pot. When the tree reaches 5 years of age, you can change the land once in a four-year period.
Growing bay leaves from seeds
It is quite simple to grow laurel from seeds at home. Such a plant will adapt better to the new life, and will be able to develop well. Seeds are planted in the spring or fall. If you were able to get the seeds at the wrong time for germination, it is better not to risk it and hide them for several months in a cold place, sprinkled with sand.
Seed growing takes place in several stages:
- To begin with, the seeds are placed in small boxes. The soil in these containers should consist of a sod, leaf mixture, mixed with sand (1: 1: 0.5). Before planting, the seeds are freed from the surrounding pulp, and at the end of the procedure, they are covered with glass (you can use plastic wrap).
- When your seeds germinate and give 2 leaves each, they can be transplanted into separate small pots (you don't have to buy ready-made containers in the store - used yogurt cups, etc.).
- The grown and matured plants are transplanted into ceramic pots until further growth.
Propagation by cuttings
If you do not know how to grow a bay leaf at home without seeds, then you can prepare cuttings for this purpose. The process of preparing cuttings should begin no earlier than March-April. Shoots are used only from a healthy bush that has already matured, but has not yet been covered with a crust.
Cuttings are cut into small pieces of 6-8 cm, observing some rules: when cutting off the cutting, you do not need to completely cut it off with a knife. Make an incision, and then gently tear off a piece to capture some of the crust. The stalk should have a heel starting below the first knot. Pouring at the bottom of the cutting is removed.
Growing bay leaves from cuttings is not an easy task. Cuttings root poorly, so it is recommended to use drugs that stimulate the process of root formation to form the root system. Before lowering the cuttings into the composition, they should be wetted. Something special is not required to remove excess preparation - you just need to shake off the cuttings.
The stalk prepared in this way is planted in a kind of greenhouse: under a plastic wrap supported by pegs, in clean sand, about 2 cm. in depth. You should wait for the rooting of cuttings no earlier than a month later.Then they can be planted in the ground.
An adult plant can be given absolutely any shape as a decoration for a room. You can trim your tree in the shape of a ball, or in the shape of an animal. Already from 2 years of age, the crown of a tree can be formed.
By growing a bay leaf yourself in your own apartment, you will not only get a wonderful decoration, but also a home remedy and an exquisite seasoning. We wish you every success!
Svetlana Frantseva "How to grow bay leaves at home" specially for the Eco-life website.
Photo: Alexey Korostiy
More about unusual home plants:
How to grow pineapple at home
How to grow a date palm from a seed
The use of bay leaves in cooking has become a tradition; no hot dish can do without it. But not many people know that you can grow bay leaves at home. It will perfectly enliven the home interior and fit into the landscape design of the garden area.
Laurel noble adapts to any place of stay. Some tricks and rules for caring for a plant make it possible to grow a beautiful green shrub even in the open field.
How to care for a plant at home
If you decide to grow laurel at home, you need to find a suitable place for it.
- You need to place the plant on a windowsill or on a flower stand, where there is a lot of light and sun. In the shade, the plant develops more slowly. Do not expose foliage to direct sunlight.
- Ventilate the room often to prevent discoloration and drying of the leaf tips.
- Water as the soil dries. The tree requires good drainage so that the root system does not rot from excess moisture. A refreshing shower and spraying will moisturize the crown and avoid pest infestation.
Advice
It is recommended to use a water solution with baking soda for watering. To prepare it, you will need 1 liter. running water and ½ teaspoon of soda.
- It is worth maintaining the average temperature in the room, not higher than 25 degrees, in the cold season, the laurel should arrange a winter period at home, when the temperature of the content is 10-14 degrees, and watering is reduced and carried out once every 2 weeks.
How to plant correctly?
The growth and development of the plant depends on the correct planting. Before starting, it is necessary to prepare all the components of the process: layering, pot, soil, mineral fertilizer, drainage, shovel.
- Take a small pot, because the plant develops slowly, and a large container will inhibit growth.
- Pour drainage on the bottom (2–3 cm). You can take expanded clay or ordinary foam, which must first be broken into small pieces.
- Prepare an earthen mixture: sand (1 part), peat soil (1 part), leafy soil (2 parts), turf soil (4 parts) - and fill the pot halfway.
- Place bay leaf in the middle, cover with mixture and tamp lightly.
- Water the plant with the diluted mineral complex.
Transplanting a plant at home into a new pot is done once every 2.5–3 years due to the slow development of the root system and the upper part.
An adult tree is transplanted every 4 years or the top layer is renewed every 2 years. In the warm season, the plant can be placed outdoors.
Reproduction methods
There are several ways to propagate a noble laurel at home:
- cuttings;
- planting seeds;
- separation of offspring.
Reproduction requires not only experience and skill, but also patience.
Cutting is one of the most time consuming methods, using a large, sturdy tree. To do this, you need to proceed according to the following algorithm.
- Separate the twigs with 4 internodes neatly with a utility knife or blade.
- Dip each of them in a substance for active growth of the root system (it can be found in any specialty store).Place in a container of water until roots form. Cuttings can be placed in moist perlite by covering the top with a glass jar. The plant must be periodically ventilated to prevent decay.
- After the roots appear, transplant into a ceramic or plastic pot.
Seed propagation is the longest process; seedlings may appear 60–65 days after planting.
Sowing should be carried out in early spring, as a soil, you can use a universal planting mixture. The seeds are placed at a depth of 1.5–2 cm, slightly moistened on top and covered with glass containers, which must be removed periodically to ventilate and moisten the soil.
Advice
Opt for fresh seeds that have been recently packed, because bay leaves tend to quickly lose germination quality.
Growing a leaf by separating the offspring is an easy and fast way to reproduce. When transplanting an adult plant, it is necessary to separate the “children” with roots from it and plant them in a separate small container.
Proper maintenance in the garden
Average frost resistance allows you to grow shrubs in the open field or in a greenhouse. Bay leaves can freeze at temperatures below 13-15 degrees.
Advice
If, nevertheless, you took the risk of purchasing a plant in a region where the temperature in winter drops below this norm, plant it in a wooden tub or garden pot. This will transport the laurel to a warmer location.
Conditions that must be observed when growing in the garden:
- choose a sunny place for planting;
- neutralize the acidity of the soil;
- provide moderate watering;
- timely feed the plant.
This plant easily tolerates pruning, therefore it is a favorite shrub for experienced gardeners. In the southern regions, laurel hedges are common, which are given various interesting shapes and adjusted to the design concept.
Bay leaf is an unpretentious plant, it can be grown with pleasure at home, with little experience in floriculture.
By planting a shrub outdoors, you will get a versatile decorative element in your garden plot. Simple rules for planting and caring for a plant will allow you to grow an environmentally friendly seasoning for culinary masterpieces at home.
