How to grow bay leaves at home?

Bay trees are cultivated in subtropical latitudes, and they grow there with pleasure. In Russia, laurels can be found in nature in the southwest of the Krasnodar Territory. However, like many other thermophilic plants, laurel can be grown at home. You just need to be attentive to the needs of this Mediterranean wonder and take care of it in the same way we take care of fish, parrots and other pets. Bay trees are cultivated in subtropical latitudes, and they grow there with pleasure.

Bay leaf growing at home In Russia, laurels can be found in nature in the south-west of the Krasnodar Territory. However, like many other thermophilic plants, laurel can be grown at home. You just need to carefully consider the needs of this Mediterranean miracle and take care of it in the same way we take care of fish, parrots and other pets.

Laurel - houseplant

Laurel houseplant Fresh laurel leaves have a calm pleasant green color that will enliven any interior. Fragrant leaves will freshen and purify the air in the house, thanks to their ability to release phytoncides, which inhibit the development of bacteria and fungi.
Laurel is a rather unpretentious plant. It is not as picky about growing conditions as lemon, for example. And if you plant a bay leaf at home, it will thrive even in the northern part of the house in less light conditions. But still, with sufficient illumination, the plant will turn out to be much lush and thicker.
The full-fledged bay leaves that are used in cooking will appear on your personal bay tree within two years. It is at this age that the leaves acquire a rich aroma. In indoor conditions, laurel grows up to two meters, and with especially good care, even higher. So you can generously share your own bay leaf harvest with your friends.
For laurel, propagation by seeds, layering, cuttings and seedlings is acceptable.

Laurel noble

Growing laurel from seeds

Cultivation of laurel from seeds The method of growing laurel with seeds is the most reliable, since the development of young plants from the very beginning occurs in the same conditions, and therefore they are not subjected to special stresses.
Laurel seeds can be found in flower shops or ordered online. Great luck and almost one hundred percent guarantee - freshly harvested seeds. But in any case, before sowing, you need to store the seeds in the refrigerator. This is the key to their best germination. In addition, laurel seeds have a thick skin, and in order to facilitate the emergence of a sprout, the seeds are soaked for several days.To accelerate germination and stimulate growth, it can be soaked in a special activating solution. For example, the growth drug "Epin" has shown itself to be excellent.
Any fertile soil is prepared for sowing seeds, but the top layer in a 2-3 cm thick container must be steamed or calcined sand. This is the best environment for the development of laurel seeds.
Seed peas are planted to a depth of 1 cm and covered with foil to retain moisture in the soil. Seeds germinate for a long time, up to several months. If you have patience and treat this process with love, they will surely hatch.
The optimal period for sowing seeds is during the winter months (January, February). Then, even if the seeds are late and lie in the ground for six whole months before germination, they will begin to develop in a favorable period both in temperature and in light.
And when this happens, they remove the film from the greenhouse and wait for the formation of the first leaves. Small laurels with two leaves can already be transplanted into a separate pot.
The site has detailed instructions for growing laurel from seeds.

How to propagate bay leaves at home

How to propagate bay leaves at home

Growing laurel from cuttings

Growing laurel from cuttings Growing a plant from cuttings is a more laborious process than sowing seeds. Laurel cuttings are harvested from an adult plant in the spring, when the trees wake up after winter, or in the first half of summer. Very successful cuttings are obtained from annual shoots that have not had time to lignify. The branches are cut into 6-8cm pieces.
Each cutting should have three internodes, that is, three free areas between the places of attachment of the leaves. For grafting, it is better to use the lower or middle part of the branch. Each stalk should have an oblique cut below. Then the first leaves must be removed, and the top ones must be cut off, leaving half a leaf - in order to minimize moisture evaporation. Pruning bay leaves
Any soil is suitable for bay leaves, but for planting cuttings it is better to prepare a nutritious substrate of your choice:
 a mixture of 1 part of leafy soil with 1 part of marsh moss;
 a mixture of 1 part of sod land and 1 part of sand;
 a mixture of 1 part sand and 1 part moss;
 just coarse sand.

Bay plants are very tolerant of any soil. The only thing they cannot stand is excessive waterlogging. So, almost the main condition for the successful cultivation of laurel is good drainage.

It is advisable to steam the prepared soil in order to avoid damage to the cuttings by pathogenic bacteria. The sand can be ignited. Any suitable drain is placed on the bottom of the container.

For better rooting, you can use special stimulants that promote root formation. Powder Kornevin is suitable for this purpose. The lower part of the cutting should be dipped in the growth preparation powder. And you can keep the bases of the cuttings (immersed by 2-3 cm) for a day in a special solution of heteroauxin. The roots from such a procedure will turn out to be well branched and strong. Some gardeners use phytohormones for better rooting, and also organize bottom heating for cuttings.

The cuttings are buried 1.5 cm in the ground. They need to be provided with watering and a temperature of at least 22 degrees. To maintain the temperature regime, the cuttings are covered with a suitable transparent material: film, glass or a jar. Every day, the shelter needs to be briefly removed or opened for ventilation. It is useful not only to water the cuttings, but also to spray them with water. The first three weeks - this should be done 4-5 times a day. Then the number of sprays is gradually reduced.
It will take about one month for rooting. Once the plants have taken root, you can transplant them into another container. For the substrate, garden or sod land, leaf land and sand are taken.You can add a little peat and lime (5-10g).

Growing seedlings from horizontal layers

Growing seedlings from horizontal layers A laurel tree can be grown from a layer as is done with grapes. Take one of the lower branches, put it in a groove, pin it to the ground and sprinkle it with soil. In the place where the branch will cover the ground, you need to make an incision or at least a scratch on the bark.
A prerequisite for successful germination is a sufficient amount of moisture.
As soon as a green sprout appears from under the ground, you can dig out a layer and cut it off from the main branch. Then plant the young plant in a separate container.

Growing laurel seedlings

Growing laurel seedlings Buying ready-made laurel seedlings is no longer a problem. And the price for them is very democratic.
As soon as pets appear in the house, they need to be placed where there is diffused lighting or partial shade. At least they don't need direct sunlight for the acclimatization period.
It should also be the coolest place in the house, since laurel is not one of those who love high temperatures. A pleasant thermal regime for laurel is 15-20 degrees in summer and 10-12 in winter.
Laurel loves humid air. Therefore, it can be humidified in different ways: by spraying, containers with water next to the pot, shower.
When the time comes to pinch and prune bay trees, move them to a lighter spot for better branching.

Recommendations for proper cultivation

Recommendations for the correct cultivation of laurel Laurel responds well to organic fertilizers. This could be, for example, pigeon droppings. It is diluted with water, preferably settled. For one part of the litter, take 20 parts of water. Laurel will also accept mineral fertilizers well. You can feed him once every three weeks.

Recommendations for the correct cultivation of bay leaves Laurel is very fond of water, so at least once a month he needs to arrange a warm refreshing shower. You also need to water the plant with warm, settled water. In the cold season, this is done once every five days, and in the warm season, more often - once every three days.

Bay trees need to be replanted periodically. At a young age, the transplant is carried out after two years, and older trees need to be disturbed less often - once every five years. After transplanting, laurel does not need to be fertilized for about six months. But fresh air will not interfere with it. As long as the temperatures allow, the laurel can be kept on the balcony or in the garden, and brought into the room before winter.

One of the most popular home-grown evergreens is the laurel flower. He may be a small bush or a miniature tree.

In ancient times, laurel wreaths were worn on the heads of winners and famous people. This plant is very convenient to grow at home, because, in addition to decorative decoration of the apartment, it also has useful functions. You don't need to run to the store for a bay leaf, you just need to pluck it from the tree.

Characteristics

Laurel belongs to houseplants that are easy to care for. Even a beginner in flower cultivation can do this. In nature the laurel tree grows very tall... There are specimens exceeding 18 meters. Today, in the Sochi forests, you can see a laurel reaching 15 meters in height.

Although this plant is not very pretentious, it requires a favorable environment for it to grow well. This houseplant is very fond of the sun's rays, but it can grow well in a shaded place.

Laurel does not react to drafts, it is not afraid of drought. A laurel tree at home does not require much maintenance, it is necessary that there is always enough water, without waterlogging the soil.

Home laurel copes well with diseases, is not afraid of pests. To give a certain shape, laurel bushes can be trimmed. WITHmodern gardeners manage to grow tall laurel trees, differing from their counterparts in an openwork, intricately intertwined trunk.

Types of indoor laurel

This plant is subdivided into two groups:

• Noble;
• Canary.

Canarian laurel has wide, large leaves, the edges of which look somewhat wrinkled. This species loses to the noble laurel in terms of the strength of its aroma.

The main botanical variety of laurel is divided into three types:

• Narrow-leaved;
• Golden;
• Wrinkly.

Each variety is characterized by the shape of the leaf and its color.

How laurel is planted

The noble laurel should be planted in early spring. If you have already grown laurel earlier, then you need to pick up a pot whose diameter is a couple of centimeters larger than the previous one.

First, a drainage layer is placed in the pot. For this, you can use expanded clay or broken brick. The substrate is placed on this layer. For laurel, the soil should consist of sand, turf and leafy soil.... Such a composition is sold in the store, as land intended for breeding cacti.

Home laurel care

This houseplant is not very moody. But, it needs to be constantly sprayed and trimmed so that the crown has a decorative shape. It is also necessary to monitor the appearance of pests or diseases in order to prevent their development.

For good growth, the laurel does not interfere with a lot of sunlight at all. It can grow well in partial shade. Summer, when the temperature is more than 25 degrees, the bay bush can be left on the balcony... With proper care, indoor laurel can live for over 15 years.

In order to get a good growth of an indoor noble laurel, it is necessary to create conditions for him that resemble his native places. With the onset of cold weather, the optimal temperature in which a room laurel can safely be is 18 degrees.

Professionals recommend in January to lower the temperature to 10 degrees. In apartments where central heating works in winter, it is better to install laurel bushes away from heating radiators.

Where should the laurel bushes be in the apartment?

In order to grow a good laurel flower, it is very important to find the right location for it. It is desirable that the plant does not fall into drafts, the laurel does not like them. But you need to air the room with laurel regularly.

It is not required to create special lighting for the laurel. Normal room light is enough. To achieve the flowering of laurel at home, you need to take care of it, trying to bring the conditions of its location closer to real ones.

For example, a pot with a tree should be placed where there is a lot of light. So, with a large amount of scattered sunlight, laurel leaves will take on a more decorative look. The bush will be very dense, which rarely happens if the bay tree grows in more shaded areas.

How to water laurel bushes

In the spring and summer, the bushes need to be watered regularly. When it is very hot outside, watering should be more vigorous. But, prolonged waterlogging should not be allowed, because the stagnation of water in the soil can lead to rotting of the roots and the death of the plant.

The watering schedule in the winter is very different from the summer. The substrate needs to be watered only after the top layer of soil in the pot begins to dry... Watering should be done with well-settled water at room temperature.

With the onset of heat, the noble laurel should be sprayed in the morning and evening hours. You can also place a container of water near a bay pot.

Experienced florists use another method. Pebbles are poured into the pallet, then it is filled with water, a pot of laurel is placed on top.

How laurel reproduces

Usually propagation of this unpretentious plant is carried out by cuttings, but you can propagate laurel and seeds.

To grow laurel from seeds, you need to have special soil.To obtain rapid growth, it is recommended to pre-soak the seeds in heated water and hold for a couple of hours.

The seeds do not need to be buried deep in the soil. It is enough to sprinkle them with earth and cover with foil.

When laurel propagates by cuttings, they must be cut off from shoots that did not have time to completely lignify.

With the onset of spring, the cut off shoots are planted in slightly moistened soil. It is advisable to remove all leaves from the trunk, leaving two or three. The length of the handle should not exceed 8 cm... For the plant to take root faster, it is worth using wet sand. Usually young seedlings take root well within one month.

How is the transplant done

This operation does not need to be performed very often. A small tree should not be transplanted into a large pot. Laurel will do great in a small pot.

When he grows up and the pot becomes cramped for him, another container is taken, with a large diameter of about 4 cm.

The transplant is performed by rearranging the earthen coma. The missing soil is poured into the pot. Then the transplanted laurel watered well. Transfer work usually performed in the spring or summer.

Problems that may arise when growing

When decorative laurel is grown at home, the appearance of pests and tree diseases is possible. Several types of parasites can cause serious harm to the plant:

• Shield;
• Spider mite;
• Mealybug.

The bay bush is usually attacked by fungal diseases. This may be due to excess watering. At this time, brown spots appear on the bay leaf.

To fight such diseases, you need removal of damaged areas and plant transplant, with the addition of a new fresh substrate.

If you follow all the rules for growing laurel at home, you can always have a beautiful, fragrant and healthy plant in the room.

Laurel is a plant known to everyone. Nowadays, it is difficult to imagine a dish cooked without bay leaves, which give food a specific taste and aroma. Back in ancient Rome, homemade laurel was grown. Caring for an unpretentious plant is simple, besides, it takes root well on loggias and balconies.

Main characteristics

Laurel is a houseplant, which can be taken care of even by novice flower growers. In natural growing conditions, this tree is capable of reaching a height of 18 meters. By the way, in the Sochi area you can find specimens that are 15 meters high.

Despite the fact that the laurel does not require special care, it is still desirable to create the most favorable environment for the plant. Indoor culture prefers to be in a sunny place, however, it will grow well in the shade. Also, a plant such as laurel is not afraid of drafts and drought. Home care should be carried out so that he does not experience stress due to lack of water, or, conversely, does not suffer from waterlogged soil. Laurel is resistant to diseases and pests, it can be cut into different shapes. Many gardeners manage to grow large trees that have an openwork intertwined trunk.

Varieties of indoor laurel

This plant has only two types:

• laurel noble;
• Canary laurel.

Unlike its compatriot, the Canarian species has large, wide leaves, slightly wrinkled at the edges. But his aroma is somewhat weaker than that of a noble brother.

Several varieties of the noble laurel tree are known. An indoor plant, the care of which is quite simple, is in high demand among flower growers. The main botanical species has three varieties: narrow-leaved, golden and wrinkled. All of them differ from each other only in the shape and color of the foliage.

Healing properties

In addition to the fact that it is a fragrant, well-known seasoning, laurel also has a number of medicinal properties. This applies not only to the leaves, but also to the fruits. They contain aromatic essential oils and tannins.So, inhalation of vapors of tinctures prepared from plant components helps to fight cancer.

Also, experts say that laurel, which is properly taken care of at home, can prevent the development of a disease such as coronary heart disease.

Care features

Despite the fact that there is no particular trouble in growing laurel, it still needs to be looked after. Otherwise, even such an unpretentious plant may die. Possessing a lot of useful advantages, it can look very beautiful and decorative, but this requires care. Laurel is very fond of pruning the crown, spraying foliage. It is advisable to constantly wipe dark green fragrant leaves from dust collecting on them.

Temperature

For good growth, it is advisable for each plant to create such conditions to which it is accustomed to in its native places. This also applies to such a flower as indoor laurel. Winter care is, first of all, the optimal air temperature (not higher than 18 degrees). And in January, experts generally recommend lowering it to 10 degrees. Therefore, during the heating season, especially in apartments with central heating, it is better to keep the plant away from heat sources.

Reproduction

A plant such as laurel, which is properly cared for at home, propagates quite easily by cuttings. It can also be grown from seeds, but the processes and root cuttings take root for a very long time.

If you decide to grow a plant from seeds, then be sure to check the expiration date of the seed. Take care of special soil and keep in mind that slightly different conditions are needed to get good germination.

For greater efficiency, experienced florists recommend soaking the sowing material in warm water for several hours. You should not place the seeds deep in the soil, it is advisable to sprinkle them with a layer of earth and cover them with a film.

If you plant the laurel with cuttings, then they should be cut from the shoots of this year, which have not yet had time to completely lignify. The preparation of future seedlings is carried out in the spring - in March or April. The cut off shoots are planted in moistened soil. It is advisable to remove most of the leaves, leaving two or three, which are best shortened. The length of the planting material should be 6-8 cm. For better and faster rooting, it is advisable to use very wet sand. Young seedlings will need about a month to take root.

Transfer

The transplant should not be performed frequently. You should not choose a large capacity for a small tree. The plant thrives best in a small pot. When it becomes cramped for him, the new container should be 4 centimeters more. The transplant should be done by transshipment of an earthen coma, adding the necessary soil to a new pot. After planting, the laurel must be watered. The transplant can be done in spring and summer.

Top dressing

All plants need periodic feeding, even laurel. Home care does not require feeding the tree often, it is enough to do it twice a month, during the active growth period, that is, from June to September. For top dressing, saltpeter, potassium salt, liquid superphosphate are used. All fertilizers are diluted in water.

Lighting

In order to preserve the decorativeness and beauty of the laurel foliage, it is advisable to put it on a light, warm, well-lit side. Despite the fact that the flower feels fine in the shade, its color may change slightly, the leaves will no longer have such a bright color, and the tree itself may stretch out, and the foliage may thin out.

In indoor conditions, it is very difficult to achieve flowering of a plant such as laurel. Home care that is consistent with natural factors can help the tree to bloom. True, his flowers are not very beautiful.Basically, these are small inflorescences of yellow flowers with a pleasant aroma.

Useful Tips

Laurel is a plant that will be a joy to care for, even for children, since, basically, it is the right watering and location. If you do not know how to properly water a decorative tree, then do it when the topsoil dries slightly. Do not flood the flower, because even in an unpretentious laurel, the roots can rot from the abundance of water.

Remember to drain before planting or replanting. Try to refrain from transplanting one year old laurel. The only thing that this tree does not really like is frequent transplants, its roots are very sensitive.

If you are planting a flower with cuttings, then when cutting, try not to completely cut the process from a large tree, try to gently tear it apart. The resulting "heel" will contribute to the faster development of the root system of a young seedling.

Keep moisture in mind and spray the plant daily in hot weather. Try to do this in the evening, because drops of moisture on the sheets, when exposed to sunlight, turn into very strong lenses that can leave severe burns on the foliage, which will lead not only to an ugly appearance, but also to their death.

Do not feed the plant during the dormant period in winter, otherwise, in the natural time for active growth, the laurel will not be able to develop normally, since it will not have time to gain strength. It is also advisable to reduce watering in winter.

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:

1. Store seeds in the refrigerator before starting work.
2. 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.
3. Soak the seeds in a growth promoter for a few hours. For example, in Epin.
4. 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.
5. 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