Laurel care at home. Laurel tree home care Laurel content at home

The noble laurel is known to culinary specialists for its fragrant leaves.

It is difficult to imagine many hot dishes without bay leaves, especially soups, cabbage soup, borscht.

However, it is not necessary to buy this seasoning.

Growing laurel noble at home

will provide you with fresh high-quality raw materials.

Laurel noble

In nature, noble laurel is an evergreen plant up to 18 meters high.

Its young leaves and shoots are used as a spice (bay leaf), they also have medicinal properties.

Most of the essential oils in the leaves accumulate in autumn or winter.

Branches with leaves are cut from a 3-4 year old plant and hung in the shade to dry.

When the leaves dry, they are plucked and stored in linen bags.

Cut off up to a third of the crown at a time.

And a year later, new leaves are harvested from the same plant - it grows so fast.

This plant is unpretentious, easily tolerates pruning.

Therefore, in the south it is sometimes used for hedges , giving the most diverse, sometimes bizarre form.

Laurel noble rather frost-resistant plant.

Dies only at 15 degrees of frost.

The drier the air, the lower the temperature it can tolerate.

A bay tree grows on almost any soil, except for marshy ones, but prefers neutral or slightly alkaline ones.

Laurel at home

Laurel noble grows well at home.

He is not afraid of drafts. Therefore, in the summer it is exposed to the open air, slightly shading from direct sunlight.

The only condition when growing laurel

Need it water properly , avoiding waterlogging of the soil, and regularly spray the leaves.

In summer, plants are sprayed so that water penetrates deep into the crown. This helps to prevent the appearance of pests, especially scale insects. When watering, add baking soda to the water (half a teaspoon per 1 liter).

Laurel is placed both in the sun and in the shade, although it branches better in the sun.

In winter, the noble laurel is more comfortable at a temperature of 13 degrees, but it tolerates drops of up to 2 - 5 degrees. If the room temperature is above 18 degrees, then the plant should be sprayed frequently. Otherwise, due to the dryness of the air, the leaves of the noble laurel will begin to fall off, which often happens.

With proper care, only those leaves that have been growing for more than three years fall.

Leaves are harvested as a spice when they grow more than 10 cm in length.

Transplant laurel in the spring choosing a pot 2 cm larger than the old one. This limits the growth of the root system, and hence the growth of the bush itself.

At the bottom of the pot, be sure to put broken shards and coarse sand with a layer of 3-4 cm for drainage. The land mixture is prepared from turf, leaf soil and sand (2: 1: 0.5).

plant formation

Growing laurel can turn into an exciting activity. After all, a noble laurel can be given any shape!

In the south, there are entire parks with animals, figures, hedges made of living laurel plants.

At home, you can also form various compositions from laurel. To do this, the plant will have to be trimmed often.

The laurel looks beautiful in the form of a ball or pyramid. To form a crown for this, they begin in the spring of the second year of life.

The upper part of the main shoot is cut at a height of 10-12 cm above the soil surface. After that, 2-3 shoots grow from the underlying buds. When these shoots are 15-20 cm long, pinch them.

Thus, the bushes grow by 8-10 cm per year. You can also form them in a standard form.

Reproduction of noble laurel

Laurel plants get used to living conditions in a room better when propagation by seeds .

To plant the seeds, they are cleaned of pulp, as it delays their germination. When dried, the seeds quickly lose their germination capacity, so they are usually sown in the fall. But if this is not possible, then they are stored until spring sprinkled with sand in a cold place.

Seeds are sown in a bowl with a soil mixture of soddy, leafy soil and sand (1: 1: 0.5), covered with a film or glass on top.

They germinate faster at temperatures above 18 degrees.

When the seedlings grow up and they have two leaves, they are seated according to the 2x2 cm pattern or in small pots.

Later they are planted in separate pots.

To propagation of laurel cuttings start in March-April.

Cuttings for this are cut 6-8 cm long from mature, but not lignified shoots. When cutting the handle below, the following technique is used: the knife is driven almost to the end, and then the bark with adjacent tissues is partially torn off.

It turns out, as it were, a heel below the lower node. The lower leaves are removed.

Cuttings take root hard .Therefore, root stimulants are used, for example rootin (soaked cuttings are lowered with their lower part into this growth powder; shake off excess powder).

The cuttings are planted in coarse sand to a depth of 1-2 cm according to the scheme 10x10 cm. To maintain air humidity, a plastic bag is pulled from above.

So that it does not touch the cuttings, pegs are installed - it turns out a mini greenhouse.

A month later, when the cuttings take root, they are planted in pots with a diameter of 7-9 cm, using the same soil mixture as for the seedlings.

Healing properties of noble laurel

Laurel noble is used not only as an extremely popular seasoning. It also has healing properties.

In particular, in the house laurel cleans the air . Its aroma is useful for intestinal spasms, inflammation of the respiratory and biliary tract.

To make the aroma stronger, the laurel is placed near the window, watered twice a week with the addition of a glucose solution (5 ml per 5 liters of water) or aspirin (5 g per 1 liter).

At high humidity, the aromaticity of plants increases, so a vessel with water is placed between the plants.

Be sure to remove dead leaves.

Laurel is used not only as a spice, but also for treatment rheumatoid arthritis, gout, flaccid paralysis , with spastic pains, as well as with diabetes mellitus .

Growing noble laurel at home, you will get a useful plant, very fragrant, beautiful and healing.

It is always present at home - as part of our culinary arsenal. Sending a prosaic "laurel" to the pan, few people think about its origin. Meanwhile, dried leaves are a gift from a tree that was considered sacred by the ancient civilizations of the Mediterranean.

Laurus nobilis, noble laurel, does not bear the title in vain. At home, this is a stately handsome man of almost twenty meters in height, living for over three hundred years. In addition to the exquisite aroma, its leaves have a number of healing properties. Having settled the cult tree of the Hellenes at home, we will gain, in addition to the freshest seasoning, a fraction of health. And at the same time - an interesting detail of the interior: a laurel, properly groomed, looks very stylish.

The inexhaustible patrician

Contrary to the noble status, the laurel is not distinguished by excessive claims to living conditions. Compared to, for example, citrus fruits, caring for it is quite simple.

Laurel is a plastic plant. The tree form, as it moves into the mountains, turns into a squat shrub and, instead of rich soils, is content with rocky soil. But since the room conditions themselves are an uncharacteristic environment for a space-loving tree, it would not be bad to bring all other parameters closer to the comfort zone.

Light for the tree of the world

Under natural conditions, the laurels are open to all winds and receive a full dose of insolation. Home laurel will willingly settle near the south window and will not object to direct rays. Western and eastern exposure is also acceptable, except that the branching of the tree will become somewhat weaker.

Is laurel shade tolerant? Many sources say yes. And in a way it is:

• A young laurel is more shade-tolerant than an adult.
• When the plant is at rest, it can be placed to the north windows.

The laurel can spend the entire warm period in the open air. When moving a seedling to a brighter light, you should take care of a light screen, otherwise the leaves and even the bark will get burned.

You should not rotate the laurel pot, trying to ensure that all parts of the crown receive their dose of light: the trees are oriented relative to the magnetic poles of the planet and the displacement is perceived as stress.

Temperature

A seasonal schedule is more natural and preferable than keeping in flat room conditions. Daily fluctuations are also welcome. In general, the temperature regime is as follows:

• winter - from 7 to 10 degrees Celsius;
• spring-summer period - 17 ° C at night and 25 ° C or slightly higher during the day (that is, the usual range of the middle band).

If possible, in the spring, the laurel is placed on the terrace, balcony, or taken out into the garden. They return it under the roof when night temperatures drop below plus three.

Even the subtropics occasionally, but are severe. Especially in the mountains. Laurels easily tolerate small, up to minus five degrees, negative temperatures for quite a long time. In regions with a mild climate, they overwinter in unheated greenhouses. They can withstand a short-term drop to minus ten and below. The main thing is that the wind, which brings dehydration and death, does not join the cold: dormant roots do not drive moisture up, and the leaves continue to evaporate, at least a little.

Soil and fertilizer

The main condition is that the soil should be light, well-drained. For laurel, any universal primer from those found on sale is suitable. To make your own soil mix, you will need:

• leafy earth - one part;
• sod land - one part;
• quartz sand - two parts;
• humus or compost - one part.

Recipe for the occasion::

The reaction of the substrate must be neutral. If peat is used as a baking powder, then the pH should be balanced by adding a little wood ash.

Laurel is not so easy to root rot, but it is still better to disinfect the soil by warming up for about twenty minutes in the oven. The temperature is close to the boiling point, but not higher, so as not to destroy all the beneficial microflora.

When choosing a container, take into account that its size directly affects the growth rate of the tree. The larger it is, the higher the annual growth. If you plan to keep the laurel miniature, there is no need for extra space for the roots.

Transplanted when the roots completely fill the available volume and are shown in the drainage holes. The next pot is taken with a diameter of only two centimeters wider than the previous one.

The frequency of transplants depends on age:

• from one to three years - annually, in early spring or at the end of the growing season;
• from three to five years - once every two years, at the same time.

The root ball is cut from below, removing about a third. For laurel, the loss of the lower part of the root system is not particularly noticeable, since its bulk is based in the upper horizons. Without forgetting about drainage, fill the remaining space with fresh soil. It is useful to immediately enrich it with organic matter - for example, add a tablespoon of fish bone meal.

Please note: the roots of the laurel are shallow. Loosening is carried out carefully, and it is even better to cover the trunk circle with mulch. For some reason, pots with laurel especially attract cats. Colored pebbles will serve as an additional decoration, and at the same time protect from four-legged "diggers".

Laurel is a slow growing tree. Starting from the sixth year of life, it can not be transplanted at all, but only replace the upper (2–3 cm) layer of soil.

An indication for an extraordinary transplant is the loss of a pleasant leathery gloss by the leaves - a sign that the substrate is “tired”.

Depletion will not occur if the strength of the tree is maintained in a timely manner with fertilizers. During intensive vegetation, universal complexes for deciduous plants are used according to the instructions. A laurel seedling is fed once every two weeks, an adult tree - once a month.

In laurel, the growing season has a pause, which initially fell on a summer drought. This time-out must be taken into account in all care operations, including fertilization.

Water

Drought-resistant laurel is not particularly picky about the irrigation regime. It must be assumed that the lack of water is tolerated more easily than its excess. If, having immersed a finger in the soil, they do not feel moisture, it's time to water. Seasonality is also important. In spring and early summer, young shoots consume more water, while in winter they only slightly moisten the earthen ball.

Stagnation at the roots should be completely eliminated.

Excess water from the pan is removed immediately. Or fill the pallet with gravel so that the bottom of the container rests on its layer.

Spraying will benefit the laurel - the leaves will be glossy, with a beautiful texture. Soft water is taken so that it does not leave a whitish coating of lime. You can diversify the "water procedures" - in the heat, along with sprinkling, pamper the tree with a shower at room temperature. The above is true if the plant receives plenty of sunlight. For those that are kept in the shade, the leaves are wiped with a damp cloth as they become dusty, and this is enough.

Where the air is too dry (in rooms with air conditioning), it is desirable to provide a minimum “water mirror” for the laurel. Whether it will be an aquarium or a pallet filled with wet pebbles depends on the taste and ingenuity of the owner.

Reproduction: one laurel is good ...

... And two, if weave their stems into a spiral, turn into a fashionable topiary.

There are several ways to get laurel planting material:

• cuttings;
• dividing the bush;
• air layers;
• seeds;
• vaccination.

Laurel cuttings

The most effective way is cuttings. The material can be parts of branches removed during the pruning process. Or fatty shoots (tops, or in English "suckers"), which periodically form at the base of the bole. Semi-woody shoots are cut obliquely so that each has 2-3 healthy buds. The lower leaves are removed, the upper leaf blades are cut in half.

Root in wet sand, sphagnum or calcined soil. Perlite, vermiculite and other artificial substrates can be used. An acidic environment is undesirable - roots will appear, but will develop sluggishly. Peat is recommended to be pre-soaked. A good idea is fertile soil under a layer of sand. Roots, having grown stronger in a safe environment, will penetrate into a more nutritious area.

Planted at an angle, after dusting the cut with a root formation stimulator. Without the use of heteroauxin, root or zircon, you will have to wait three to four months. Preparations will save a third of the time, or even half.

Keep the cuttings warm and diffused light, protected from drafts and evenly moistened. Best of all - covered with a mini-greenhouse. Six months later, young plants are ready to occupy personal flowerpots.

Division of the bush and layering

The division of the bush is carried out in autumn or early spring, when the plant is in the sleep phase. Divide fairly - so that each of the branches gets a part of the viable roots.

An interesting way is air layering. On a healthy shoot, several notches are made and, dusted with growth hormone, wrapped in sphagnum. As an option, a plastic bag with a substrate is fixed on the stem. Roots will appear in the area of ​​​​the incisions. When the substrate is penetrated by them, the cutting is separated from the main stem.

Laurel from seeds

Homemade laurel can bloom, but it is unlikely to give seeds. He is a dioecious plant, and it is not a fact that a copy of the opposite sex will be nearby. Nevertheless, the seeds of the noble laurel (fresh, after two or three months they lose their germination capacity) can be brought back from the trip. They germinate, as they say, painfully long. From half a year or more. However, patience will be rewarded. Laurel of seed origin is durable (fifty years of life versus twenty for those obtained by vegetative means). In addition, having appeared from a seed in a room environment, it is maximally adapted to it.

When is vaccination needed?

Reproduction of laurel by grafting is used when replicating its decorative forms. There are not many of them, but they are:

• Laurus nobilis f. Aurea - young leaves are painted in a pale golden color;
• Angustifolia - with narrow long leaves resembling willow or willow-herb;
• Undulata - with grooved leaf edges.

There is another type of laurel, Laurus azorica (Azores, or Canarian). Its leaves are somewhat smaller, and the shoots are pubescent. For enthusiasts, you can try to graft L. azorica on a less whimsical Mediterranean counterpart.

Pests and diseases

There is little threat to a healthy laurel - its fresh leaves are so saturated with essential oils that there are no hunters to taste them. On the contrary, they themselves serve as a repellant.

Shchitovka settles where there is insufficient moisture. The colonies of scale insects are cleaned, the plant is washed with infusion of garlic. They normalize the conditions, feed the laurel, and then he will cope on his own. Do the same when whiteflies are found.

Infected specimens are subject to mandatory isolation!

Fungal infections in the form of various spots affect the laurel with a lack of sunlight and fresh air, in an excessively humid environment. And also if the soil is acidic. It is recommended to remove the affected leaves (it's not scary if the tree is completely bare), change the substrate and optimize the conditions.

Noble, stylish and useful

Laurel is a true decoration of the interior. Organically, as it should, fits into the Mediterranean style.

With the help of pruning, and its laurel endures stoically, a young tree can be given any shape you like. Spherical and cone-shaped are considered classic. The laurel in the form of a ball, on a high trunk, looks especially elegant.

Laurel pruning should start from a young age - then its crown will be thick and symmetrical. The terms are not strictly limited, but it is best to work with pruners in the spring, before the buds awaken. Or at the end of the current growth.

It is easier for the plant to tolerate more frequent, but less intense pruning.

The stem can be formed both straight (for this it is tied to a peg) and spiral. The second is achieved with a special wire. Through weaving, you can turn a jacket of several laurels into an art object.

He will set the tone in the "garden of aromas". It is enough to plant rosemary, lavender and oregano (that is, oregano) nearby. Its dark green foliage makes a great backdrop for other plants.

Laurel is a powerful source of phytoncides. Moreover, the characteristic aroma is not detected in a normal environment - for this, the seasoning needs to be dried. If you rub a living leaf, then it will exude a delicate smell, slightly sweet and with a nutmeg tint. In Western Europe, laurel is often called "sweet".

We take care of him, and he, in return, takes care of us. The presence of laurel in the house will reduce the likelihood of migraines. And - it is not for nothing that talent is associated with a laurel wreath - it will improve the blood supply to the brain, gently affecting the vessels through the same phytoncides. Its infusion will soothe joint pain, and crushed fresh leaves will heal the wound better than plantain. There are hundreds of folk recipes based on laurel.

But the most interesting thing is that this laconic tree, having neither fanciful leaves nor exquisite flowers, in itself creates a good mood.

***
Bay leaf from the store and the one that is grown with their own hands - as they say, heaven and earth. Leaves dried within 48 hours should be used to remove excess bitterness. The older the leaf, the richer its bouquet.

Laurel is the most famous evergreen tree or shrub that came to us from the Mediterranean. In ancient Greece, this beautiful plant was called daphne, in honor of the nymph Daphne. Overwhelmed by love for her, Apollo wove a wreath of laurel, which became his indispensable accessory, and from here came the glory of the laurel as a symbol of triumph and victory.

We have the same plant is the best and favorite kitchen spice. Indeed, without laurel, it will not be possible to cook delicious homemade soup, fish soup or borscht and, of course, fragrant main courses. It has become a familiar ingredient in the preparation of vegetables for the winter and pickles.

This indispensable plant can be quite simply grown at home. Laurel is very unpretentious to grow, and for its normal growth it will take very little effort. If we can grow laurel at home from seeds or in any other way, then it will not only be useful as a spice, but will be a spectacular home ornamental plant..

Laurel: description of a spicy plant

In nature, laurel can be both a tree and a very tall shrub, 9-11 m high. The thickness of its trunk can reach 40-45 cm. When growing laurel at home, it grows only up to 2 m. Its bark and shoots are smooth, mostly brown. .

The leaves of the laurel are whole, straight, bare, short-leaved and entire, reaching a length of up to 20 cm, and a width of up to 5 cm. They are dark green above and lighter below. They have a very pleasant spicy aroma. Laurel flowers are small, yellowish and unisexual, appear in inflorescences at the ends of branches 6-12-staminate and 2-3-pistil.

Did you know? If you grow a laurel at home, it may not bloom at all, and if it blooms, then in the late spring.

Under natural conditions, the laurel grows for more than 100 years, when growing it at home, the life expectancy of a laurel tree can be up to 15 years.

Is it possible to grow laurel indoors

Laurel when grown at home is a noble plant, it is very hardy and unpretentious in care. Therefore, absolutely anyone can grow it at home.

But still, you should not start development, care for indoor laurel, although minimal, is extremely necessary. When grown properly, you will have a great plant that will thank you for the effort you put into developing it with lush, healthy foliage.

Prerequisites for bay tree

In room conditions, Laurus Noble is best suited for planting. For the healthy development of a bay tree, in addition to standard care, you will need timely pruning and spraying to make the laurel feel comfortable. Laurel, like any houseplant, requires attention to disease and pest control.

Location and light

Bay tree needs a well-lit place with diffused light. Since this plant is shade-tolerant, it can also be kept in a shaded place, but when grown in diffused light conditions, the laurel may bloom, and the bush itself will be more dense than when grown in a shaded place.

During the hot season, direct sunlight should be avoided. In summer, the laurel can be safely taken out into the garden or onto the balcony. In an apartment, pots can be placed on the floor near windows, in a corridor or a hall. The plant should be regularly ventilated, but you should not create constant drafts.

Temperature and humidity

In summer, the plant will feel great on the street, it is unpretentious, but fresh air will not be superfluous to it. The most comfortable temperature for laurel is 15-20 ° C. In summer, the bush needs to be sprayed with leaves twice a week to maintain a subtropical climate.

Starting in autumn, the plant needs rest. The dormant period for laurel at home is artificially created from October to March. Laurel should be placed in a place with low light and humidity. The temperature should not be higher than +10 °C and not lower than -5 °C.

Did you know? A dormant period is created to prevent the growth of weak, unwanted shoots that weaken the bay tree.

In the spring, if the frosts are over, then from April the plant can already be taken out into the garden. If it is still cold at this time, then it is better to keep it until the warm period in the house and do not forget to spray at least 1 time per week.

Soil requirements for successful growth

Bay leaf seedlings, after we can grow them from seed, will need to be transplanted. When transplanting a seedling into a pot, it is imperative to fill in a good drainage layer of expanded clay. Laurel loves moist soil, but stagnant water should not be allowed, this can lead to the death of the plant.

The soil should be light; for laurel, any version of the universal soil found on sale is suitable. On your own, the soil for planting laurel can be prepared from two parts of soddy soil, one part of leafy soil, and half a part of fine, well-washed river sand. Before planting the seedling, the soil can be heated in an oven at a sufficient temperature to disinfect. Too high a temperature during heating should be avoided so as not to destroy all the beneficial microflora.

How to plant a laurel, propagation methods of a laurel tree

Bay leaf is an indispensable ingredient in the kitchen of any housewife. It belongs to inexpensive spices, but it is much more pleasant when hand-grown and dried leaves of this plant are used in the dish. Consider how you can grow lavrushka from seeds, cuttings and dividing the bush at home.

Sowing seeds

In order to grow a laurel tree as best and as possible, it should be planted from seeds brought from the south. The best time to start sowing is mid-February, early March. Laurel seeds should be planted 1 cm deep in the prepared soil. Soil temperature should be around 20°C. In this case, the seeds will sprout in 3-4 months.

Before planting laurel from seeds into the ground, the seeds can be kept in a solution of potassium permanganate for 3-5 days, this will speed up the process of their germination. After planting the seeds in the soil, the pot should be placed in a warm place, moistened well and covered with polyethylene or glass.

Before sprouts appear, polyethylene will need to be removed from the pot in order to ventilate it for at least half an hour a day. It is also necessary to monitor the moisture content of the soil, it should be moderate, do not allow stagnant water. In dry soil, the seeds will die, and in too wet soil they will rot.

Important! Watering seeds and sprouts of laurel should be carried out with separated and warm water. The water temperature should be 4-5 °C higher than room temperature.

When the first green shoots appear, the cover from the pot must be removed, but still continue to monitor soil moisture. When the first pair of leaves forms on the sprouts, the seedlings must be transplanted into a larger container; 1 part of humus and ½ part of peat can be added to the previously prepared soil.

After transplanting the seedling, the plant must be placed for 2-3 weeks in a dark place, not forgetting to maintain soil moisture. After 2-3 weeks, the seedling is moved to the light to start its active growth.

How to plant a laurel by dividing a bush

It is necessary to divide the bay bush very carefully, on each branch separated from the main plant, part of the viable roots should remain. The division should be carried out only at a time when the laurel is in a dormant period, and this is from October to March. Laurel is divided after 3-5 years of its growth. It is worth the first time to divide the bush into a small number of parts. Separating 2-3 branches from a three-year-old laurel will be enough.

Important! It is categorically not recommended to divide the laurel bush during its development, a weak, not strengthened plant may die.

Laurel cuttings

Laurel can be propagated by both seeds and cuttings, but this is much more difficult to do than growing laurel from seeds. Laurel cuttings are carried out in late spring and early summer. As cuttings, annual and mature shoots of laurel are used.

Cuttings 7-9 cm long are cut from the middle or lower part of the bush at an oblique angle. The lower sheets from the handle must be removed, and the upper ones cut in half. Then the cuttings are planted in the substrate. The substrate is prepared from the same parts of leafy soil and marsh moss, it is also recommended to add half of the sand.

Expanded clay drainage should be placed at the bottom of the pot, covered with a substrate and thoroughly moistened. The cuttings are planted 2 cm deep and covered with polyethylene or an ordinary glass jar.

The seedling must be sprayed and aired every day. You should also make sure that the soil is constantly moist. With proper care, the stalk will take root in 1-2 months.

How to properly care for a laurel tree

After planting the laurel, the work does not end, because when growing, you need to regularly take care of its condition, water and fertilize the soil. And to form a decorative look, it needs to be cut off.

Watering and feeding the plant

Watering the laurel is important at any stage of its development. When planting seeds and for the development of roots in cuttings, you need to use warm, soft and settled water. Watering an adult plant should also be carried out with settled water, but seasonal intensity of watering a tree should be distinguished.

In spring and summer, the laurel needs constant watering to avoid drying out the soil. Reduce watering in autumn. In winter, it must be strictly limited, and if the laurel is in a room with a temperature below 6 ° C, then watering should be stopped altogether.

Young plants need to be sprayed on the leaves for better growth, adult plants are sprayed to eliminate dust on the leaves and crown of the tree. Laurel needs top dressing not only at the time of its transplantation, but also throughout its entire life span. An adult laurel is a slow growing tree, so in order to avoid depletion of the plant, you need to change the top 3-4 cm of the soil in which it grows.

Since time immemorial, laurel has been famous for its decorative, healing and culinary properties. In ancient Greece and Rome, a wreath of this plant was considered an indispensable attribute of the god Apollo, the Roman emperors. It was a symbol of success, triumph, which was awarded to the winners of military battles and sports. Laurel has become a real decoration of the southern gardens and estates, and the bay leaf is used in the preparation of many dishes. Although the plant belongs to the genus of subtropical shrubs and trees, the culture is quite unpretentious, able to withstand slight frosts, which allows it to be grown in summer cottages, as well as indoors.

Description of culture

Laurel belongs to the evergreen subtropical plants of the Laurel family. The main area of ​​growth of culture is the coast of the Mediterranean and Black Seas, Transcaucasia, Canary, Azores. The genus of culture consists of two species - noble and Azores (Canarian) laurel.

There are many popular names for the noble laurel - real, Greek, sweet, bay tree. Decorative cultivation of this plant began in the middle of the 16th century. It is an evergreen tall shrub or tree that can reach 6 m in height. Elongated oval leaves 4 to 8 cm wide and up to 20 cm long have a matte surface. Black fruits with a blue or brown tint reach up to 2 cm in length. Rarely blooms under indoor growing conditions.

The main habitat of the Azorean laurel is the Canary and Azores, from where the name of the species came from. Trees can grow up to 15 m high. Leaves 6-8 cm wide, up to 15 cm long.

Regardless of the type of culture, the bay leaf has a dark green color, a dense leathery structure. They grow in the form of an elongated ellipse with wavy edges and a narrow border of a light shade. The foliage is characterized by a high content of essential oils, the largest amount of which falls on the 5th-6th year of development of a laurel bush or tree.

Important! In the spring, an adult plant may fall off about a third of the old leaves.

The plant blooms once a year - in the second half of spring. The flowers are inconspicuous, yellow in color, collected in an umbrella-shaped inflorescence. The fruits are single-seeded berries of a small size, blue-black.

For growth, the plant needs warm weather up to + 26 ° C, bright but diffused sunlight. Laurel tolerates shade well. Exposure to direct rays adversely affects the development of foliage. The culture is unpretentious to growing conditions, able to tolerate short-term frosts down to -15°C. The plant is resistant to high humidity, in summer it requires abundant, and in winter - minimal watering. At home, it can live up to 15 years. For the normal development of young seedlings, it will be necessary to transplant in the first two years, for adult plants - every 4 years. If necessary, formative pruning is carried out in March.

Camphor laurel (tree)

One of the popular varieties of laurel plants that are grown at home or in household plots is camphor laurel (another name is camphor tree). Strictly speaking, in the scientific classification, this plant belongs to the species of the genus Cinnamon. However, its belonging to the Lavrov family gives reason to amateur gardeners to attribute the culture to varieties of laurel.

The origin of camphor laurel is considered to be the regions of Southeast Asia - Taiwan, southwestern China, some islands of Japan, Korea, Indonesia. Subsequently, this subtropical evergreen has spread to many countries with a warm, humid climate. In the second half of the 18th century, the camphor tree appeared on the Caucasian coast of the Black Sea. It was originally grown as an ornamental plant in gardens, parks and estates. In the 19th century, the use of culture for industrial purposes began.

The main useful quality of the plant is the content of essential oil, more than 90% of which is camphor. This substance has medicinal properties and is used in the manufacture of various medicines. Camphor ointments, tinctures are used to cure rheumatism, arthritis, diseases of the heart, blood vessels, disorders of the central nervous system. The largest amount of camphor is found in the woody parts of the laurel - the trunk, branches. However, essential camphor oils are also found in the foliage, flowers, and fruits of the plant.

Important! The leaves of the culture are also used as spicy seasonings in the preparation of various dishes.

The camphor tree is characterized by intensive growth, it can reach a height of 20-50 m with a massive trunk up to 5 m in diameter. Such plants love heat, moisture, develop well in subtropical regions. In addition to the extraction of camphor, they are used to create park and garden decorative compositions, hedges. However, powerful root systems can cause the destruction of various sewer, drainage, communication systems. In addition, the foliage of the tree contains substances that degrade the quality of fresh water, soils and reservoirs.

There are decorative forms of camphor tree that can be grown indoors or in a summer cottage. The technique of growing such a crop is generally similar to breeding a noble or Azorean laurel, but it requires more fresh air. For propagation, methods of planting seeds and semi-lignified cuttings or layering are equally successful. The optimal composition of the soil for camphor laurel is a mixture of two parts of turf and one part of earth, sand, peat, humus. The plant usually blooms in late May, early summer, bears fruit in November.

General requirements for growing laurel

To grow a bay tree or bush in an apartment or in a country house, you can use both shaded and sunny places. In summer, an open balcony, a personal plot is suitable. For wintering, you can use a glazed loggia, a greenhouse, a well-lit room. At the same time, the main condition for the normal development of seedlings is to maintain the optimum ambient temperature. During the active growing season - from +18 to +22°, in winter - in the range of 10-12° above zero.

Laurel does not have well-defined periods of winter dormancy. The intensity of growth is determined by the surrounding temperature conditions and the degree of illumination. However, a certain dormant period is necessary for the plant.

Important! In winter, laurel can be kept on an insulated balcony, during severe colds it can be brought into a well-ventilated room.

Usually the plant is able to withstand short-term frosts down to -10 °, cold-resistant varieties - up to -15 °, but it is better not to keep the seedlings in frozen soil. It is possible to grow a crop in open ground only in areas with a warm climate, at positive temperatures throughout the year. In temperate climatic latitudes, a bay tree or bush can be planted in tubs, kept indoors or in a greenhouse in winter. During the period of intensive growth, the laurel is most vulnerable to frost, so in the spring you should not rush to take it out into the fresh air.

Carrying out laurel transplants

The root system of laurel bushes and trees is quite vulnerable to damage. At the same time, the roots gradually grow, and the plant must be replanted periodically. This should be done by the transshipment method - carefully remove the laurel from the flowerpot along with clods of earth, then move it to a larger container.

It is possible to single out such requirements for transplanting laurel seedlings at home.

After all the procedures carried out, the plant is planted in a new container. Laurel is unpretentious to the characteristics of the soil, but humus can be added for better growth. A little sand is added to the earth saturated with clay to improve air permeability and moisture absorption. On the contrary, a little clay can be added to the sandy soil so that the water is retained in it longer.

The optimal ratio of soil components for growing at home is two parts of turf and one part of sand mixed with earth humus. In the first year, it is not necessary to fertilize the soil, then you can apply any complex fertilizer 3-4 times during the season. In the year when the plant is not transplanted, it is necessary to add earth to the flowerpot and renew the soil.

Important! The soil near the bay bush or tree trunk must be periodically loosened.

Pruning and crown shaping

Usually pruning of branches and formation of the crown of the plant is carried out in March, if by this time the young shoots managed to grow up. Some gardeners recommend performing this operation in August so that new branches grow next spring.

To improve the development of the laurel, old lignified branches are cut off by about 20 cm. A sufficient number of buds should remain below the cut so that the shoots that grow from them subsequently form a voluminous crown.

With the help of pruning, laurel crowns can be given a wide variety of decorative shapes - a ball, a cone, a pyramid. It is necessary to start such a procedure from an early age of seedlings.

Important! To give the desired shape, you need to trim the branches a little, but often.

Frequency and abundance of watering

In the wild, laurel grows in coastal areas, respectively, it tolerates high humidity well. The surface of the leaves should be periodically wiped with a damp sponge or cloth. At home, once a month, the plant must be poured from a hose with a jet of warm water under pressure, while covering the soil with polyethylene.

To maintain the required level of humidity, a flowerpot with laurel must have a drainage layer and holes. The container with the plant should be placed in a tray with pebbles and moss at the bottom, which should be regularly moistened.

Laurel is watered once a day with a moderate volume of settled water at room temperature, in the morning or evening. In dry periods, during the heat, watering can be carried out more often. In winter, for the normal development of the crop, it is necessary to maintain the dormant mode of the plant, high humidity during this period can disrupt its life cycle, so the frequency and abundance of watering in the winter months should be reduced.

Important! For plants, it will be useful to add baking soda to the water at the rate of 7 teaspoons per liter.

Seed propagation of laurel

Using the seed method of propagating laurel at home, gardeners often face certain difficulties. The fact is that the seeds of the culture quickly lose a large percentage of germination, within 3-5 months. In addition, the high content of oils significantly slows down their germination, which can last up to six months. For these reasons, it is necessary to use as fresh seeds as possible, and it will take a long time to wait for the results of sowing.

Planting material is usually planted in the first months of winter. In order to accelerate germination, the seeds can be pre-treated with a special growth-stimulating solution. The laying depth should be about 1.5 cm. Before this, the soil must be loosened and moistened. Then the soil is covered with plastic wrap. Containers with planted seeds are kept in regularly ventilated rooms at a temperature of about + 18 °, the soil is constantly moistened.

Important! Every week, seeds should be carefully removed and inspected to prevent mold. If a white coating is found, it must be carefully removed, the seed washed with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

When the shell cracks and the seeds begin to germinate, they must be transplanted into separate flowerpots. The germinated seed is planted to a depth of about 5 cm, the first shoots usually appear a month after that. Young shoots should be protected from direct sunlight and heat.

During seed propagation in open ground, ripened fruits are collected from laurel bushes and trees and seeds are extracted from them. This usually happens in late autumn. The collected seed is planted in the prepared area at a distance of about 8 cm from each other. The bookmark depth is about 5 cm. The first shoots are sometimes already in January, but usually these are weak shoots that die quickly. Usually shoots appear at a constant temperature of about + 22 ° from May to the end of summer.

Applications of the vegetative method of propagation by cuttings and layering

At home, laurel is propagated by cuttings in the first months of spring or in June-July. Cuttings in open areas are carried out only in the first half of summer.

The stalk is cut from a semi-lignified shoot located in the lower or middle part of a laurel bush or tree. The future seedling should be with three internodes about 8 cm long. In this case, the bottom sheet must be removed, and the rest shortened by half.

The stalk is planted in moistened sand at an ambient temperature of 16-20 °, deepening the seedling by about 1.5 cm. Then the planting is sprayed and covered with plastic wrap. The cuttings take root and begin to grow within a month. As soon as they grow by 2-3 cm, they must be transplanted into separate containers.

Important! Another way of the vegetative propagation method involves planting layering - lateral processes with a root system starting to develop. Such shoots are carefully separated from the laurel, the cut points are treated with powdered charcoal, then planted in the same way as the cuttings.

Calendar of the main work on the cultivation of laurel

When growing and caring for laurel in the open field, you can focus on such a schedule for the main work.

Season	Recommendations
Spring	In March and April, sanitary pruning of bushes and trees is carried out, removing damaged, lignified and frostbitten shoots. In cool greenhouses, layering is rooted. Provide plant nutrition.
Summer	During the entire period, germination of seeds sown in autumn takes place. With this breeding option, it is necessary to regularly feed the soil with nutrient additives. In June and July, cuttings are planted. August is the time for crown-forming pruning of bushes and trees.
Autumn	In October and November, ripened fruits are collected, seeds are sown. At this time, leaves are collected from adult plants in order to harvest culinary or medicinal raw materials, cut off damaged, diseased shoots.
Winter	During this period, it is necessary to observe the rest mode, moderate the frequency and abundance of watering, keep the plants in cool, bright, well-ventilated areas.

Such seasonal work is carried out at home.

Season	Recommendations
Spring	Seeds are sown in March. In the first two months, reproduction is carried out by vegetative methods of planting cuttings or layering. Fertilize the soil regularly.
Summer	During the entire period, seeds germinate, carry out regular feeding. At the end of summer, formative pruning is produced.
Autumn	October and November are the time of harvesting fruits, raw materials from leaves. Feeding is rare.
Winter	The first two months - rest mode. In February, sowing of seeds can also be carried out.

Plantings are regularly irrigated throughout the year. In summer, the plants are watered more often and more abundantly. In winter, the intensity and volume of irrigation should be reduced.

Possible problems when growing and caring for laurel

Novice gardeners need to prepare in advance to overcome a number of problems that may arise in the process of growing laurel at home or at their summer cottage. For example, the following reasons can lead to the drying out of laurel trees and bushes:

• low humidity in the landing sites during the period of active growth of laurel;
• improper watering during the winter or growing season;
• an excess of moisture in the root system, which leads to rotting of the roots, the appearance of spots on the leaves, yellowing of the foliage;
• non-compliance with the temperature regime, a sharp temperature drop.

Shchitovki

Insects are white, sometimes with a yellowish tint. They are distinguished by the presence of a shell resembling a shield, because of which they got their name. They settle on the surface of foliage, feed on the juices of the plant. As a result of exposure to pests, white or yellow spots form on the leaves, which gradually cover the entire leaf. Then the foliage dries out, curls up and dies. Insects multiply rapidly and spread to all nearby plants, so it is important to immediately isolate the infected bush or tree from neighboring vegetation.

A dense shell protects the scutellum from insecticides, which makes pest control difficult. The surest way to get rid of insects is to collect them from the surface of the leaves by hand. The places affected by the pest must be treated with Ankara or a tincture of vodka and garlic. In pest control, a solution of a liter of water, 15 ml of liquid soap and 10 ml of alcohol is also suitable. With this composition, it is necessary to wipe the surface of the leaves.

Important! When scale insects appear, it is also necessary to change the top layer of soil near the plant, where insect larvae may be.

Spider mites

Small insects that are hard to see with the naked eye. A sign of the impact of the pest is the appearance of cobwebs and white plaque on the soil, the surface of the leaves, and the branches of the plant.

To protect the laurel from the tick, the culture will be treated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate diluted with water. Infected plants are treated with insecticides. The surface of the leaves and branches is also wiped with soapy water, followed by rinsing the plant with clean water.

Spores of the fungus are carried both by insects and through the air. A symptom of the disease is the appearance on the surface of the leaves of dark spots resembling soot. The fungus leads not only to damage to the appearance of the plant, but also to its death. To combat the disease, various fungicides are used, the most effective of which is Bordeaux mixture.

Healing properties of the plant

Laurel trees and shrubs have a number of healing properties. The foliage releases substances that reduce the content of staphylococcus bacteria and fungus spores in the air. This quality contributes to the normalization of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, blood circulation of the brain, and the removal of mental fatigue. In pharmacology, folk medicine, in the manufacture of raw materials for medicines, in addition to leaves, the bark, fruits, and seeds of the plant are used. Various preparations based on laurel are used to relieve nervous excitability and overwork, cure facial paralysis, colic, inflammation of the liver, spleen, joint pain.

Bay leaf infusions get rid of the pathologies of the bladder, uterus, and hearing organs. Decoctions from seeds and bark cure cholecystitis and urolithiasis. Extracted from the leaves, the oil reduces pain during childbirth, convulsions.

The use of bay leaves in cooking can increase appetite, improve digestion, and lower blood pressure. Due to the presence of tannins, tinctures and ointments based on laurel relieve puffiness, inflammation, reduce pain in rheumatism, arthritis, bruises, sprains.

Important! Laurel decoction is an effective tool that allows the body to quickly recover from serious illnesses.

Tinctures from leaves, flowers, fruits of laurel are used as diaphoretics, help in curing fever, stomatitis, remove gallstones, salts, and toxic substances from the body. The insecticidal properties of the plant components are used in the production of medicinal ointments, antibacterial soaps. Laurel decoction is useful for patients with diabetes. Taking such a remedy for three weeks will significantly reduce blood sugar, normalize the general condition of the body.

The use of laurel in cooking

Due to its special aroma and taste, bay leaf has become one of the most sought-after spices in the world. It is an indispensable ingredient in most soups, broths, cereals, gravies, sauces, pickles and marinades. The spice is used in the preparation of dishes from vegetables, cereals, fish, meat, and also as a component of various seasonings.

Mostly dried laurel leaves are used in cooking. However, there are many recipes that use fresh leaves and seeds of the crop. The essential oils contained in the laurel are also used in the confectionery industry, the manufacture of alcoholic beverages.

Important! Most canned vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, eggplant, squash, peppers, various cabbage salads, carrots, onions cannot do without bay leaves.

To give a unique aroma and a peculiar taste, dried laurel leaves must be added at the final stage of cooking, otherwise the seasoning will make the dish too bitter and spoil its taste. You can put the leaves in freshly cooked food, hold them for a while, then remove the spice. This method will also give the dish an appetizing smell, improve its taste.

Selection and storage of bay leaves

One of the advantages of laurel is that it is equally useful both fresh and dried. For medicinal or culinary purposes, you can use leaves that have just been picked from a bush or tree grown at home, or dry blanks from them, which will then be stored for a long time.

Important! At the same time, dried leaves also contain essential oils, have disinfectant, antibacterial and medicinal properties.

When choosing bay leaves, you must carefully examine their surface. They should not have spots, any plaque. The maximum amount of oils and nutrients is found in the foliage of adult plants that have reached the age of 4-5 years, therefore it is from such leaves that it is better to dry blanks for seasonings or medicinal tinctures, ointments, decoctions. To do this, branches with leaves are carefully cut from the laurel, dried in a dark place for 10 days. Then the leaves are separated and transferred to a separate container.

Store dried leafy material in airtight containers. To do this, you can use glass jars with tight-fitting lids. Transparent containers are best kept in a dark place. Usually, the shelf life of dried bay leaves is one year, but if the package is sealed, the laurel can be stored longer. However, it must be taken into account that over time, the taste of such a seasoning deteriorates, the leaf begins to taste bitter in dishes.

Video - Laurel noble

Laurel is a plant known to all. In our time, it is difficult to imagine a dish prepared without giving food a specific taste and aroma. Even 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, care for which even novice gardeners can take care of. Under natural growing conditions, this tree is able to reach a height of 18 meters. By the way, in the Sochi region you can find specimens with a height of 15 meters.

Despite the fact that 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. Care at home should be carried out so that he does not experience stress due to lack of water, or, conversely, does not suffer from waterlogging of the soil. Laurel is resistant to diseases and pests, it can be cut into various shapes. Many gardeners manage to grow large trees with an openwork intertwined trunk.

Varieties of indoor laurel

This plant has only two types:

• noble laurel;
• Canarian laurel.

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

Several varieties of trees are known. A houseplant, 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 being a fragrant, well-known seasoning, laurel also has a number of healing properties. This applies not only to leaves, but also to fruits. They contain fragrant essential oils and tannins. So, inhalation of vapors of tinctures prepared from plant components helps to fight cancer.

Experts also argue that laurel, which is properly cared for at home, can prevent the development of a disease such as coronary heart disease.

Features of care

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

Temperature

For good growth, it is desirable for each plant to create the conditions to which it is accustomed in its native places. This also applies to such a flower as room laurel. Leaving in the winter 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, 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, is fairly easy to propagate by cuttings. It can also be grown from seeds, but the shoots and basal 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 the special soil and keep in mind that slightly different conditions are needed for good seedlings.

For greater efficiency, experienced flower growers recommend soaking the material for sowing in warm water for several hours. Seeds should not be placed deep in the soil, it is advisable to sprinkle them with a layer of earth and cover with a film.

If you plant laurel with cuttings, then they should be cut off from the shoots of this year, which have not yet had time to fully lignify. The preparation of future seedlings is carried out in the spring - in March or April. Cropped shoots are planted in moist 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. It will take about a month for young seedlings to take root.

Transfer

Transplantation should not be done frequently. You should not choose a large capacity for a small tree. The plant does best in a small pot. When it becomes crowded, the new container should be 4 centimeters larger. Transplantation should be done by transshipment of an earthen coma, adding the necessary soil to a new pot. After planting, the laurel must be watered. Transplantation 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 this 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 laurel foliage, it is advisable to place it on a bright, 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 thin out.

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

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

Before planting or transplanting, do not forget to drain. Try to refrain from transplanting a one-year-old laurel. The only thing this tree does not like very much is frequent transplants, its roots are very sensitive.

If you plant a flower with cuttings, then when cutting, try not to cut the process from a large tree to the end, try to gently tear it. The resulting "heel" will contribute to the more rapid development of the root system of a young seedling.

Do not forget about humidity and spray the plant daily in hot weather. Try to do this in the evening hours, 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 in winter during the dormant period, otherwise, in the natural time for active growth, the laurel will not be able to develop normally, because it will not have time to gain strength. In winter, watering is also desirable to reduce.