Growing and caring for bay leaves at home. Planting and caring for laurel at home How to care for indoor laurel
Bay tree is an evergreen plant that can be grown in a pot at home. In the open field, majestic trees and bushes are found in the gardens of the south of Krasnodar, in the Crimea. However, flower growers can grow such a tree in their country house. Bush leaves have long been considered symbols of greatness and strength.
Origin
Laurel noble originated from the genus of evergreen plants of the Laurel family. Since ancient times, Lavrushka has been grown in most countries of the subtropics. Even then it was known what benefits the seed, leaves and fruits of the laurel brought.
Bay leaf, shrub
Important! Leaves and fruits are used in pharmacology. After the processing process, concentrated infusions and oils are obtained, which work as a strong diuretic. The plant helps not only in matters of flatulence and intestinal colic. It is considered one of the newer, younger tools that relieve prolonged depression.
The plant was brought from the Mediterranean. There are cases when the laurel lived for about a hundred years and had a height of ten meters.
plant description
There are three types:
- Camphor, from which camphor oil is obtained,
- Noble,
- Azores.
Laurel fruits
When the plant begins to bloom in the spring, it is covered with inflorescences in the form of small milky umbrellas. The fruits ripen in mid-autumn - these are blue-black drupes.
The lifespan of a laurel can exceed three hundred years. However, without proper care, he begins to run wild, dry and loses the ability to reproduce.
Note! If you take care of the tree poorly, then it will be attacked by a dangerous disease - soot fungus. This is a small red coating that can be easily washed off with water. Laurel can continue to grow, but loses its decorative appearance after the disease.
Growing at home
A shoot from a bay leaf at home, as a rule, is taken of a noble appearance. It works great with other houseplants. It can also be used as a seasoning in the preparation of soups, dumplings, main courses.
Laurel in a pot
Note! The fragrance of the leaves has a specific smell. Therefore, one has only to accidentally tear off a sheet plate or simply rub it, the room will be filled with a familiar bright aroma.
Laurel grows well in a room, is unpretentious and does not require much effort to care for, but can die if forgotten about.
Optimal location
Growing bay leaves at home should begin with finding the best place. Most of all, the plant loves sunlight, although it will grow in the shade. However, then the process of growth and development will go much more slowly.
Important! Be sure to give the bush an opportunity to be in the fresh air. He is not afraid of drafts, so you can safely allow open windows wide open. Laurel requires frequent ventilation. If possible, in the summer it is best to take the pot out to the balcony or outside.
The tree is not afraid of temperature fluctuations. It tolerates both low and high temperatures. It feels best with slightly lower air values, so the battery shutdown period is the most optimal for it. In winter, the pot should be placed on the windowsill, where there is access to light and a constant temperature of 12 degrees.
Landing
Laurel planting begins with the preparation of the mixture in which the plant will be planted.
You should take:
- One part of sand and peat,
- Two pieces of leafy land
- Four parts - turf.
The mixture is mixed until the components are completely homogeneous, then the plant can be planted. The soil is compacted and abundantly moistened after planting the laurel.
Indoor bay leaf in a pot loves sunlight
The pot should be taken small. In the process of growth and development, the laurel can be transplanted into a larger container.
Transplantation is carried out once every three years, since the noble laurel grows at a moderate pace.
Additional Information. An adult tree needs to be transplanted only once every four years. However, the topsoil should be renewed annually.
reproduction
Laurel tree can reproduce in the following ways:
- With the help of a sprout cutting,
- seeds,
- Roots.
There may also be offspring. When an adult laurel plant is transplanted, the offspring are separated and carefully planted in separate containers.
layering
The shoots of the plant are very flexible, they can also be propagated by layering. To propagate them in this way, cut the low branches of the parent plant in winter.
This is done with the aim of the emergence of new, younger, strong shoots in the spring. The soil from which layers will subsequently be taken should be prepared: earth, peat fertilizer and gravel for drainage are mixed in equal proportions. Shoots that are ripe are set aside for the summer.
Rooted cuttings of laurel noble
Each shoot is placed in a special groove of prepared soil, then it is covered and the earth is compacted. The bay leaf will strengthen over two to three months, so the soil should be moistened equally throughout this period.
As soon as the strengthening has occurred, it is necessary to rake the ground between the layer and the parent bush. A month later, pinch the cone of the growing layer and carefully remove it. The rhizome must be well developed. It is important to protect young animals from frost and dryness by covering them with straw or fabric material.
Additional Information. So that the layering does not die, they can be planted not in open ground, but in specially prepared soil: this is a mixture of earth, peat and crushed bark. Then the layers in pots are placed in the greenhouse until spring, where they are provided with careful cultivation and full care.
cuttings
Cuttings are strictly selected. They should have three or four internodes. Before planting, they should be fed by dipping them into the Kornevin solution, then they will take root well. After they are lowered into a container of water, where they are until the roots appear.
The addition of cuttings of laurel is carried out after the appearance of the roots immediately in a mixture of sand, peat and leafy soil. Then the soil is well moistened, and the plant is closed with a transparent cap.
Important! Be sure to ventilate the young after cuttings. Otherwise, the roots that have just appeared will begin to rot, the plant will die.
The most active breeding season for laurel is spring.
Growing from seed
To propagate laurel seeds, you need to be patient and acquire some skills.
Sowing begins in early spring in light soil, the seeds are laid out to a depth of one and a half centimeters. The first shoot of seeds, as a rule, occurs only after two months.
Additional Information. When buying seeds in a store, the date of their packaging should be carefully studied. Laurel seeds are distinguished by the fact that they lose their ability to germinate in a short time.
Sprouts that appear may not take root. Of 100 percent of cases, only half can survive. Often, special hormonal preparations are used to increase this percentage. With them, the process of formation and formation of the root system is accelerated.
Outdoor tree care
Laurel noble calmly endures dry times. However, in moments of heat, one should not forget about watering and spraying the tree.
Additional Information. It is necessary to limit the soaking of the soil in winter - this will negatively affect the plant, since the soil is well moistened with water from the snow. In summer, watering is plentiful, in spring and autumn - moderate.
Irrigation scheme by seasons:
- Summer - once a week,
- Winter - up to two times a month,
- If the young growth is in a greenhouse or a cold house (air temperature is up to +5 degrees), then spraying occurs only with warm water.
An important element in the care of a bay tree is its pruning. It takes place in autumn. Since the crown is incredibly dense, it can be given absolutely any shape during the shearing process.
Additional Information. The tree becomes an adult after a few years of its life. Therefore, cutting young plants too often does not make sense.
Laurel noble requires careful care from pests. Most often, it is the leaves that affect the scale insect that suffer. You can see a light sticky coating that glistens in the sun. At the same time, the tree seems to turn on the protective function and begins to release essential oils.
First, the lower part of the foliage is inspected, since it is precisely this that is inhabited by dangerous pests. When spraying a tree, it is slightly tilted to the side to prevent chemicals from entering the ground.
Diseases in laurel, as a rule, occur due to improper care for him. When the foliage begins to turn yellow and dry out, the air must have become too dry. Also, the foliage may begin to curl - this also indicates the cause of extreme heat and lack of moisture.
Watering mode
Laurel flowers are very fond of being sprayed with a spray bottle. The tree also welcomes the presence of moist air - it is easier for it to get rid of the dust that has covered the foliage. Once a week, it’s a good idea to rinse the plant in the shower - this helps protect the laurel from many small pests, such as spider mites.
Laurel tree in open field
As for watering, he should not be overzealous. The tree does not like too wet soil. But it should not be brought to the drying of the soil.
In winter, watering should be moderate - two to three times a week. If it is possible to reduce the heat flux in the batteries, do so. It is important to monitor that rhizomes do not start to rot.
top dressing
Before feeding, the following conditions are met:
- The earth should pass air and water well, so you can loosen it,
- Fertilizers must be organic, mineral. In spring and summer, the soil is fertilized 1 time in 2 weeks, in autumn, winter - 1 time per month.
It is necessary to feed the tree already in early February, when the laurel begins to grow actively. The moment of rest comes in October.
With a properly carried out fertilization procedure, the plant begins to actively bloom and multiply by seeds.
The leaves on the tree change once every four years. To make a spicy seasoning out of them, the collection begins in mid-autumn and continues until the first frost. The leaves are also stored for four years.
Blooming Laurus Nobilis (laurel nobilis)
If the tree froze over during the winter, then the foliage will not be as bright and colorful for the next season. The collection usually involves the leaves of mature trees, which are already three years old.
They are cut immediately with young shoots. The drying process takes place in a natural way in the shade: the branches are laid out close to each other. The leaves dry out fairly quickly, within one week. Then they are packed for further storage in paper bags or containers. A prerequisite is the collection of leaves only in dry weather.
Noble laurel - a tree of incredible beauty and benefit. If you learn how to properly care for it, then it will delight its owners all year round with bright green foliage, in summer it will be covered with beautiful flowers.
One of the most popular evergreens grown at home is the laurel flower. An added benefit of growing it indoors is a pleasant aroma, and a bonus of being protected from blood-sucking insects! It could be a small shrub or a miniature tree. In ancient times, bay leaf wreaths were worn on the heads of winners and famous people. In open air and soil conditions, it grows up to 12 meters high. This plant is very convenient to grow at home, because, in addition to decorative decoration of the apartment, it also has useful functions. No need to run to the store for a bay leaf, you just need to pick it from a tree. In our article, you will learn about caring for a bay tree at home.
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 noble laurel 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.
Soil for growing laurel trees
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.
Propagation of bay tree cuttings
Before the shoots begin to grow in April, cuttings are cut, about 10 cm long. Then they are rooted in heated leafy soil with the addition of sphagnum moss (1 + 1), covered with a glass jar or plastic bag to preserve moisture. It is desirable to maintain a constant temperature of + 22 ... + 28 ° C. With the advent of leaves, rooted cuttings are transplanted into the same soil mixture as when grown with seeds. Transplanted plants are constantly watered, preventing the soil from drying out, and sprayed with cool water.
Reproduction of bay tree seeds
Laurel seeds are large, oval-shaped and up to two centimeters long, with a thin shell that prevents the seeds from drying out and their premature germination.
Laurel seeds do not like drying and can germinate only in the first 3-5 months (and then only with proper storage). Before sowing, the seeds must be freed from the shell and sown in separate pots, or simply in a permanent place. Seeds usually germinate from April to August. It also happens that sometimes the seeds can germinate in January, but in severe frosts, the seedlings are likely to die. In the room, it is best to keep the plants at a temperature of 10 degrees Celsius, and in the spring it is advisable to take the plant outside. In the first year, feeding seedlings is optional, but from the second year, mineral fertilizers can be used as a supplement in small doses. Laurel will tolerate any soil, except waterlogged. If you grow laurel in your home, you will get a beautiful evergreen plant that will delight your eyes every day.
Laurel tree care
By itself, the laurel plant is quite unpretentious, loves light and fresh air, and is not afraid of drafts. When caring for a bay tree at home and in the open field, some points must be observed. Let's consider them in more detail.
Watering the bay tree
Laurel loves water very much, the plant needs a constant influx of soft water. In summer, during the dry period, the plant can be watered twice a day, in the morning and in the evening. However, it is necessary to water if the plant has completely absorbed water and to prevent waterlogging. During the dormant period, autumn-winter, watering is reduced, but the soil should not be allowed to dry out. Try to observe the temperature regime with the watering regime and then the plant will be able to gain strength and grow in the natural cycle.
Air humidity plays a very important role for the laurel. You need to spray the plant daily with soft, filtered water, avoiding moisture on the leaves at the peak of the heat, otherwise the leaves will get burned. In winter, you can replace spraying with wiping the leaves with a damp cloth. You can determine for yourself whether there is enough moisture in the air because the leaves turn yellow.
Bay tree nutrition
It is necessary to feed the bay tree only in the warm spring and summer once a month. For this, it is best to use a liquid or complete mineral fertilizer. In the winter season, the laurel does not need to be fed.
Lighting for growing laurel tree
Laurel is a quite hardy plant; it will be able to grow in moderate light, but it will grow best - and, moreover, actively branch - in bright, mostly diffused, light. It should be protected from excess scorching sunlight
Laurel prefers bright light, but grows very well in the shade. It is advisable to protect the tree from direct sunlight, otherwise it can dry out quickly.
A good place would be a balcony or loggia, slightly darkened with curtains or special reflective paper. It is necessary to regularly ventilate the room, but beware of drafts.
For successful crown growth, the tree periodically needs to be turned towards the light source.
Temperature for growing bay tree
Before growing laurel at home, you need to know that the best summer temperature range is from 18 to 20 degrees, and winter - from 10 to 15 degrees.
Lavra is most pleasant to live in the fresh air - on a balcony, in a courtyard or in a country house, including throughout the year - if winter temperatures are kept at + 5-6.
The best temperature during the growing season is 17-19 degrees.
In the spring, during a warm period, take the plant to fresh air. The bay tree is not afraid of wintering, so it easily tolerates even small frosts. In winter, you can grow on the windows from the cold side.
If you live in an area with a mild climate, laurel can be grown in a garden and used as a hedge.
Laurel pruning
Do tree trimming. The best time is the turn of summer and autumn. This will encourage the laurel to grow in breadth, not up. Pruning can form a plant and prevent it from growing strongly. Starting from the age of 2, form a crown with garden shears in the form of a ball or any other shape.
Diseases and pests of bay tree at home
Laurel species is very resistant to diseases. Very rarely, laurel can be affected by soot fungus. A reddish coating appears on the leaves, which is simply washed off with water. This disease does not affect the development of the plant, but the plant loses its decorative appearance. For treatment, you can use a weak solution of soda and green soap in water - enough for 5 g of each drug per liter of water.
Of the pests that most often settle on domestic plants, laurel can be threatened by scale insects, mealybugs and spider mites.
As you can see, with proper care at home, you can grow a bay tree.
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 dormant 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 specimen 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.
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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.
Houses are decorated with many indoor flowers. But why plant laurel? Under what conditions can this evergreen plant grow? In appearance, it can be a small bush or a miniature tree. Bay tree at home is grown very easily. It has decorative and useful functions. The nuances of its cultivation are described in the article.
Description
In nature, the laurel grows as a tree or a large shrub, the height of which can reach 9-11 m. The trunk thickness is 40-45 cm. When growing it at home, you can see how the laurel reaches two meters in height. The bark and shoots of the brown plant are particularly smooth.
Its leaflets are whole, straight, short-petiolate and entire, can be up to 20 cm long and up to 5 cm wide. Their upper part is dark green, and the lower part is light. Laurel has a special aroma. The flowers of the plant are small, yellowish and unisexual, formed in inflorescences at the tips of branches 6-12-staminate and 2-3-pistil.
When growing a tree at home, it may not bloom in a lifetime. And if there is flowering, then in late spring. In nature, laurel grows over 100 years, at home life expectancy can reach 15 years.
Laurel is considered a noble plant, it is hardy, unpretentious in care. Therefore, anyone can grow it. But development should not be started. Caring for a bay tree at home is quite simple, but it is necessary.
The benefits of laurel
Due to its aroma and pleasant bitterness, laurel has become a popular spice that stimulates appetite and aids digestion. The essential oil has a disinfectant and insecticidal effect.
To prevent intestinal diseases, inflammatory processes in the upper respiratory tract, you only need to grow a plant in a room and inhale its aroma. To enhance the smell will allow watering the plant twice a week with a solution of aspirin (5 g per 1 liter of water) or glucose (1 ml per 1 liter of water). You can make medicinal decoctions and infusions from the leaves.
Application in cooking
As a spice, dry and fresh leaves, fruits, powder made from a dried leaf are used. They also use briquettes into which the crushed plant is pressed. The leaves are used in canning. With them there is an ennoblement and aromatization of sour dishes - sauces, gravies.
Leaves are added to the first dishes - soups, cabbage soup, borscht. They make savory main courses of lamb, beef, pork, boiled and stewed fish. They are combined with vegetable side dishes: beans, peas, beans, cabbage, carrots.
Bay leaf is added 5-7 minutes before the end of cooking. It is enough to put from 1 to 4 leaves. When the spice is added, the lid must be closed. The spice is removed from the cooked dish before serving.
The leaf allows you to straighten the taste and smell of jelly and offal dishes. It is used in the food industry to create cheeses, sausages, pates, stews, sauces, marinades, for canning fish, making mayonnaise and ketchup. At home, the leaf is also used in canning. With other spices, it gives a pleasant taste and aroma.
Types of houseplant
The tree is:
- Noble.
- Canarian.
The second variety does not have such a strong aroma as the first, although it is considered the main botanical variety of laurel. Noble laurel is narrow-leaved, golden, wrinkled. The Canarian species has wide large leaves and also slightly wrinkled edges.
For the house it is better to choose a noble laurel. For the normal development of the tree, in addition to the usual care, regular pruning and spraying are needed. You also need to monitor diseases and fight pests.
Place and light
A noble laurel needs an illuminated area with diffused light. Since this plant is shade-tolerant, it is also kept in a shady place. However, growing it in diffused light conditions leads to flowering, and the bush itself becomes much thicker.
In the heat, do not allow constant direct sunlight. In the summer, the plant is taken out to the garden or balcony. In the apartment, the pots are placed on the floor near the windows, in the hallway or hallway. The plant needs regular ventilation, but constant drafts should not be created.
Temperature and Humidity
When growing a bay tree in a pot, it is necessary to maintain a suitable temperature and humidity. In the summer, the plant is taken out into the street, it is unpretentious. The best temperature is 15-20 0 C. In summer, the plant needs spraying of leaves twice a week to maintain subtropical climate conditions.
Since autumn, the laurel needs rest. This time period is from October to March. It is required to place the plant in a place with low light and humidity. The temperature should be no more than +10 0 C and not less than -5 0 C. The dormant period does not allow the growth of unwanted shoots, due to which the tree becomes weak.
In April, when frosts are no longer terrible, the laurel is taken out into the garden. If it is still cold during this period, then it is advisable to keep it in the house until warm, spraying once a week.
The soil
How to grow bay tree at home? Seedlings that emerged from seeds need a transplant. A drainage layer of expanded clay is poured into the pot. The land for the bay tree should be moist, but you should not bring the water to stagnation, because this is how the plant dies.
It is important that the soil is light. Any universal primer that is commercially available is suitable for laurel. You can also make it yourself: you need turf and leaf soil, fine washed river sand (in a ratio of 2: 1: 0.5). Before planting, the soil must be warmed up in the oven. It is forbidden to set a high temperature, because useful substances are destroyed.
Sowing seeds
How to grow laurel at home? To do this, you can choose to sow seeds. Laurel tree at home will be able to grow due to the observance of some rules. It is desirable that the seeds be southern, because then you get a high-quality laurel. Sowing is carried out in mid-February - early March. Seeds must be planted 1 cm deep in the soil. The temperature should be 20 0 C. The first shoots will appear after 3-4 months.
Before planting laurel in the ground, the seeds are kept in a solution of potassium permanganate for 3-5 days, as this accelerates germination. Upon completion of planting, the container with the plant must be placed in a warm place, moistened and covered with polyethylene. Before the appearance of sprouts, polyethylene is removed from the pot for ventilation at least 30 minutes a day. It is also necessary to control soil moisture, it should be moderate, liquid stagnation should not be allowed. In dry soil, the seeds die, and in a very humid environment, the plant rots.
Water the seeds and sprouts with settled warm water. The temperature of the liquid should be 4-5 0 C higher than room temperature. When the first shoots are formed, the cover from the pot must be removed, but the soil moisture should continue to be controlled. When the first pair of leaves appears on the sprouts, the seedlings are transplanted into a spacious container, and humus and peat (1: 1/2) are added to the prepared soil. After transplantation, the plant is placed for 2-3 weeks in a dark place, maintaining humidity. After 2-3 weeks, the seedlings are moved to the light for active growth.
Planting by dividing the bush
How to plant a bay tree at home? This can be done by dividing the bush. Bay tree at home in this case grows faster. It should be divided carefully, on each branch separated from the base of the plant, there must be viable roots. The division should be performed only at a time when the laurel is at rest - from October to March, and not earlier than he is three years old. For the first time, the bush is divided into small parts and 2-3 branches are taken. It is not worth dividing a bush before it reaches the age of three, since a young plant may die.
cuttings
How to grow a bay tree in a different way? This can be done by cuttings. In this case, it is very difficult for a laurel houseplant to develop. This procedure is performed at the end of spring or with the advent of summer. Cuttings can be annual and mature shoots of laurel. Cuttings 7-9 cm long should be cut from the middle or lower part of the bush at an oblique angle. The lower leaves are removed from the cutting, and the upper ones are cut in half.
Then the cuttings are planted in the substrate. It is prepared from leafy soil and marsh moss in equal proportions. It is advisable to add half of the sand. Expanded clay drainage is placed at the bottom of the container, covered with a substrate and moistened. Cuttings should be planted 2 cm deep and covered with polyethylene. Seedlings are sprayed and aired daily. It is important to ensure that the soil is always moist. With proper care, the cuttings appear roots after 1-2 months.
What to do after planting a bay tree? Home care is an important part. It is necessary to control the condition of the shrub, water it, fertilize the soil. And to get a decorative look, pruning is required.
Transfer
This procedure should not be performed frequently. A small tree should not be transplanted into a large pot. A small container is also suitable for a laurel. When it grows and the pot is cramped, you need other dishes, the diameter of which is 4 cm larger.
Transplantation is carried out by rearranging the earthen ball into another container. Fill the pot with the missing soil. Then the transplanted laurel is watered. Transplant manipulations can be carried out in spring or summer.
Watering and feeding
Watering is necessary at any stage of development. When planting seeds and for the development of roots in cuttings, warm, soft, settled water is required. An adult plant does not need warm water, it is enough that it be at room temperature.
It is important to distinguish between seasonal patterns of moisture. In spring and summer, this must be done constantly so that the soil does not dry out. In autumn, watering should be reduced. In winter, it is severely limited, and if the tree is located in a room with a temperature of less than 6 degrees, then these procedures are stopped. Young plants need foliar spraying to improve growth. Adults spray to eliminate dust on the leaves and crown.
Top dressing is necessary during transplantation and after it. Mature trees are slow growing. To prevent their depletion, it is required to change the top 3-4 cm of soil. Top dressing can be a substrate that includes soddy soil, leafy, peat, humus (1:1:0.5:0.5). Top dressing should be done 1-2 times a month during active growth, but this should not be done in winter. Laurel is suitable for organic top dressing, which is in garden stores. Mineral fertilizers are used no more than 1 time per month.
Cropping Features
When growing a bay tree at home, care involves pruning. Carry out this procedure with a decorative purpose. Since the plant is considered noble, it tolerates pruning well. The plant can be shaped like a ball or a pyramid.
The procedure must be performed at least 1 time in order for the bush to acquire the desired shape. Then the laurel is trimmed with secateurs to maintain external beauty. The bush calmly tolerates pruning, the plant grows slowly, so crown restoration and regrowth will take a long time. Pruning should be done in early spring.
Growth and flowering
In room conditions, the plant is able to live for about 15 years, and on a personal plot - up to 60. Laurel has the following features:
- The bush can reach 10-15 meters in height.
- At home, its length is 1.5-2 meters.
- Small yellowish flowers bloom with the onset of spring, on some plants - only staminate, and on others - pistillate.
- Flowering at home is considered a rarity.
- After pollination, fruits ripen - blue berries.
Diseases and their treatment
Under natural conditions, laurel is a disease-resistant plant. The presence of essential oils in the leaves scares pests. But diseases of the bay tree appear when grown at home. Therefore, it is important to regularly carry out the prevention of diseases and treat them in a timely manner.
If the bay leaves dry out, then spraying and watering should be done more often. When they turn pale, the direct rays of the sun should be excluded. Feeding is also added. If the bay leaves are sluggish, then this means that the temperature is high at its location or there is stagnation of water in the pot. Common pests include:
- Shchitovka. Leaves are damaged, brown-yellow dots remain. Affected trees must be isolated from others. Shield is eliminated with the help of Aktellik and Aktara. Of the folk methods, vodka and garlic juice are used, which are used to process the sheets. The bottom layer of soil is changed.
- Mealybug. This is a pest having a length of 5 mm. A symptom of its appearance is the formation of white sticky mucus. The affected areas are washed with a soapy solution, and the bush is treated with an insecticide.
- Spider mite. This pest is hard to spot. You can detect it by a white coating, a web formed between a branch and a leaf. As a preventive measure, regular spraying and moisturizing is required. If a weak lesion of the laurel is detected, it must be washed with soapy water, and with a strong one, insecticides are needed.
- Sooty fungus. It affects the sheets, a rusty coating appears. This does not affect the development of the laurel, it only spoils the view. Soot fungus can be eliminated by wiping the leaves with a weak insecticide solution with baking soda.
If any of these pests affects the laurel, isolation from other plants is necessary. Only then should measures be taken to eliminate diseases and pests. Plant prevention is also effective.
Signs
You can grow bay leaves not only for use in cooking and air improvement. Also, there are many different signs associated with it:
- A leaf in a plate indicates the fulfillment of desires.
- It is believed that a branch of laurel placed above the door will not let in a bad person and trouble.
- The leaves in the wallet attract money if a special ceremony is performed.
- Laurel leaf is placed in the pocket for a successful interview.
- If the leaf is caught in food, then this will lead to the receipt of money.
Even in gypsy magic, laurel leaves are used. They are placed around the house. With them, positive energy and well-being are attracted, negativity is eliminated and evil is driven away. This is such a beautiful tree that you can grow at home. The main thing is to follow all the rules of care. Then the plant will have a neat and healthy appearance.
What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you say "laurel" an evergreen shrub or a popular spice? Or maybe a solemn laurel crown, which honored the heroes of antiquity?
Once the ancient Greeks decided that it would be nice to combine the useful with the pleasant and began to grow laurel at home.
In addition to gardening and cooking, its leaves are widely used in folk medicine, and all virtues of laurel taken together, they become a strong argument to grow it on your windowsill.
Well, isn't it tempting to have a plant in your house, which was awarded in ancient times the most worthy of the worthy, winners of the Olympics, the best poets and musicians?
And, of course, the great ancient rulers adorned their heads with laurel crowns, believing that an evergreen branch would bring them immortality. No wonder the most famous species of this plant is called "noble laurel".
Types of laurel
Laurel noble (Laurus nobilis)- a dioecious evergreen shrub or large tree, reaching 18 m in height with a smooth brown or dark gray bark and a dense pyramidal crown.
Leaves entire, on short petioles, arranged alternately; glabrous, leathery, simple, up to 20 cm long and up to 8 cm wide, lanceolate or oblong, narrowed towards the base and sharp at the apex, glossy on the outside and lighter on the inside. Have peculiar spicy smell.
less known Azores laurel (Laurus azorica) decorative, tree up to 15 m tall and camphor laurel (cinnamomum camfora), the leaves of which contain 94% camphor - a means that excites the nervous system.
Features of care
In natural habitat laurel without problems endures a variety of whims of nature: rains, winds, snows, droughts. Therefore, at home, he can easily adapt to any, even the most unfavorable conditions.
Location and temperature
On which windowsill to place the laurel is not so important, it will withstand both the scorching midday rays and shading. And yet, if you choose between two extremes, then better for laurel sunbathe in the sun than be bored in the shade.
its dense, strong leaves are not afraid sunburn, they are resistant to drafts and are very fond of fresh air.
The vital activity of the laurel is tuned to the natural cycle subtropical belt, with warm summers and cool winters. In summer, the plant will be satisfied with the usual temperature for this season - from 20 to 27 ° C.
But in the winter season better send a pot of laurel on the loggia - to be in complete peace. The temperature in this case can vary from + 2 to 15 ° С (optimally - + 5 ° С).
Home laurel after wintering need to re-accustom to the sun, gradually exposing him under the rays - at first a little, son-in-law more and more.
Watering and spraying
During the growing season, in spring and summer, a homemade laurel bush requires regular and fairly plentiful watering. On hot summer days, it should be daily.
And yet, make sure that the substrate in the pot has time to dry out a little: after all, the most common cause of serious illness and even death of this plant is waterlogging and stagnant water on the ground.
For winter time the watering regimen should be different: 1 - a maximum of 2 times a week. Use only soft, settled water with a temperature of up to +20 degrees.
All types of laurel are very fond of spraying and high humidity. In the summer, do not be lazy to arrange a shower bush twice a day, in the morning and in the evening. You can solve the problem differently - put the pot in a tray with moistened pebbles or put a container of water next to it.
Landing, soil, transplant
Laurel planting carried out in the spring. First of all, you need to lay a good layer of drainage on the bottom of the pot, then fill the soil. You can use a substrate that is sold in stores, or you can cook it yourself. Soil composition:
- leaf ground - 1 part;
- sod land - 1 part;
- humus - 1 part;
- sand - 2 parts.
Until the laurel reaches the age of five it is transplanted every year, and then this procedure is done once every 2-3 years. When transplanting, be sure to use fertilizer.
Ideal top dressing for laurels - "Cactus".
Take a slightly alkaline or neutral substrate for transplantation. The plant will take better if you do not take dishes "for growth".
Prepare new pot slightly larger in diameter (2.2.5 cm) and as much deeper. If your laurel is an adult and grows in a tub, take a new one 5 cm more.
Watch the video below for a master class on transplanting laurel at home:
Reproduction of laurel
Propagate laurel mainly by seeds, less often by cuttings. In spring, seeds are sown in pots, boxes or bowls filled with a mixture of 2 parts of leafy earth and turf and one part of sand.
The soil should not be cold (from 18 ° C). In the phase of the first two leaves, the seedlings must be dived into another container at a distance of 2 cm from each other.
When they are properly and get stronger, you can start transplant each seedling in a separate dish 7 cm in diameter. Here you will need a different composition of the soil:
- 4 pieces of turf;
- 2 parts of leaf land;
- one part sand;
- one piece of peat.
young seedlings you need to constantly water, spray, keep at a cool temperature (up to 10-12 ° C) and in a well-lit place.
Shoots for propagation by cuttings are cut in mid-spring or early summer.
Choose non-lignified, with 2-3 internodes, up to 8 cm long. Lower leaves need to be removed, and then planted in a box at a distance of at least 10 cm from each other.
The soil mixture should be of 2 layers: 3-4 cm of turf on the bottom, and 2-3 cm of sand on top. Cuttings should grow at a temperature of 16-20 ° C, in a bright room.
Rooting will happen about a month later, then the seedlings are determined in a permanent dish - 7-centimeter pots. The soil can be taken the same as when planting seedlings.
Diseases and pests
Most often, homemade laurel bushes strike, greenhouse or leaf thrips, laurel psyllid, .
If the attack of insects has just begun, and there are not very many of them yet, you can use mechanical methods control (in other words, collect pests by hand).
And the spider mite does not care about this way of fighting, they will have to be hit immediately with chemicals - for example, "". If the moment is missed, then use the appropriate pesticides against other insects, without forgetting about safety.
Laurel is quite resistant to diseases. If troubles happen to him, then only the plants provoked by the owners themselves due to excessive watering.
leaf spot- dangerous, just is the result of stagnation of water on the surface of the soil due to excessive waterlogging.
Here it is, laurel - a noble plant of heroes and monarchs. In your homeland, in the Mediterranean, as well as in Abkhazia and Western Georgia, the laurel grows on limestone forest slopes.
It is grown as an ornamental plant in the Crimea, Krasnodar Territory and Azerbaijan.
Leaves and fruits of laurel – drupes- collected in winter. They contain a lot of useful elements: essential and fatty oils with triglycerides - lemon balm, lauric acid, hydrocarbons, resins and phytosterols.
From fruits (they are called "beans") get bean oil for the treatment of paralysis, rheumatism, tumors, heart diseases and as a sedative.
use in the form of infusions and decoctions. And, of course, what kind of soup without lavrushka!
Grow in your kitchen and pinch off the leaves - but only when necessary!