We grow laurel at home

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. There is no 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 stagnant water in the soil can lead to rotting of the roots and 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.

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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.

There are several varieties of noble laurel trees. 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 carried out 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 to be 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. Transplanting 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 a branch 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.

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.

1. 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.
2. Ventilate the room often to prevent discoloration and drying of the leaf tips.
3. 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 help moisturize the crown and avoid pest infestation.
   

   Advice

   For watering, it is recommended to use a water solution with baking soda. To prepare it, you will need 1 liter. running water and ½ teaspoon of soda.

4. 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.

1. Take a small pot, because the plant develops slowly, and a large container will inhibit growth.
2. Pour drainage on the bottom (2–3 cm). You can take expanded clay or ordinary foam, which must first be broken into small pieces.
3. Prepare an earthen mixture: sand (1 part), peat soil (1 part), leafy soil (2 parts), turf soil (4 parts) - and fill the pot halfway.
4. Place bay leaf in the middle, cover with mixture and tamp lightly.
5. Water the plant with the diluted mineral complex.

The plant is transplanted at home into a new pot 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.

1. Separate the twigs with 4 internodes neatly with a utility knife or blade.
2. Dip each of them in a substance for active growth of the root system (you can find it 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.
3. 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 landing;
• neutralize the acidity of the soil;
• provide moderate watering;
• timely feed the plant.

This plant easily tolerates pruning, therefore it is a favorite shrub of 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.

Laurel is a relict plant that formed in the Tertiary period - and it seems to be much older than humanity.

The legends surrounding this tree-bush, to match its antiquity: it is also a material for crowning winners and other outstanding personalities (hence the word "laureate"), this is "Fuse" from the wrath of Zeus - a lightning strike, and the eternal companion of the patron saint of all arts Apollo.

Ancient beliefs are woven into these legends not by chance, because laurel in nature is widespread just in the territories of the great civilizations of antiquity - in the Mediterranean. It also grows in the Krasnodar Territory.

At the same time, laurel - unpretentious plant, uncomplicated room culture, as well as when kept in a garden plot - in those areas where the average winter temperature fluctuates around zero.

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