Lavrushka home care. Purchased seedlings of laurel
18.09.2017
To grow a bay leaf at home, you will need to know its needs and growing conditions - all of which you will find in this guide. It is one of the most commonly used and well-known spices, and you will be able to get fresh leaves at any time of the year if you plant this plant. Learn all about how to grow a bay leaf in a pot on your windowsill and see for yourself all its benefits.
General information
The leaves of the bay tree give off an intense flavor that complements most Mediterranean dishes.
Bay leaves have a variety of uses, from decorative to culinary and medicinal.
Although this plant in its native Mediterranean - evergreen shrub or a tree, its growth is easily restrained by pruning or planting in a container.
Laurel grows very slowly, which makes it even more suitable for growing in a pot at home.
Propagated by seeds and cuttings (twigs).
soil and pot
Laurel has no special requirements for the soil: it grows in any, with the exception of heavy and clay, which causes waterlogging. Like many other plants, it prefers well-drained soil.
Drainage is very important, so choose a pot with large drain holes.
Start growing bay leaves in a small pot and transplant into a larger container when you see roots coming out of the pot's drainage holes. Do not rush to plant this plant immediately in a large container. The bay tree thrives well when it's a little cramped.
Species and varieties
If you plan to use bay leaf for cooking, it is very important that you grow a plant called Laurus nobilis. Other species of this plant, which are also called "laurel", are not all edible.
There are some ornamental varieties noble laurel:
- Angustifolia - narrow green leaves.
- Aurea - yellow foliage.
- Sweet Bay, also called Bay Laurel, is a bright green coloration.
- Undulata - the edges of the leaves are wavy.
How to grow bay leaves from seeds
Laurel seeds are very difficult and slow to germinate, so many prefer to purchase a ready-made plant in a pot. If you want to grow bay leaves from seeds, here's what you need to do:
- Fill a small, flat container with moist loose soil.
- Sow the seeds and cover with a layer of earth 1-2 cm.
- cover the container plastic wrap, leaving an air outlet on the side.
- The required temperature for germination is 20 C. Be prepared to wait 5-12 months before the seeds hatch.
This is the most hard way, since germination takes a long time, and attempts to grow bay trees from seeds sometimes end in failure.
How to grow a bay leaf from cuttings (twigs)
Ideally, if you have the opportunity to get twigs of at least 15 cm from an adult healthy plant and plant them. The cuttings should be slightly firm, flexible and green. Such material is well suited for growing a new bay leaf at home.
The more cuttings you take, the greater your chances of successfully rooting a new plant.
Step-by-step instruction:
- Mix equal parts earth, sand and vermiculite and fill a small container with this mixture.
- Remove the leaves from the cuttings, except for the top two. Cut the top leaves in half horizontally.
- Dip a bay leaf in liquid root growth stimulator and hold it in according to package directions. right amount time.
- Stick the bottom of the laurel stalk into soil mix to a depth of 5-6 cm.
- Firm the soil around the cuttings and water to loosen the soil near the stems.
- Cover the container with transparent plastic bag to create a moist environment for rooting cuttings.
- Place the cuttings in a warm, well-lit area, but not in direct sunlight. sunlight. The air temperature should be up to 22 C.
- Monitor plantings daily, discard rotten or wilted cuttings. Water when the soil layer is 1-2 cm dry.
- Check the roots once a month to see if they are growing. Gently pull the branches up to feel if there is resistance.
- As soon as the roots reach 2-3 cm, transplant the new plants into separate pots.
Propagation of laurel by cuttings can take several months. This time is necessary for the development of normal root system fit for landing. Yet sometimes the branches never take root.
If you are not a fan of problems and experiments, then it is best to just buy a small bay tree at the garden store. Thus, you will be able to enjoy it without frustration or effort.
How to care
To ensure fresh seasoning is available at any time of the year, here are a few tips on how to care for a bay tree at home.
Watering
Bay leaf is drought tolerant but appreciates regular watering. Always let the soil dry out between waterings so the roots don't rot, but don't let the plant go long without water.
Laurel responds well to room temperature showers. At the same time, the pot with soil is covered with a plastic bag.
Lighting
Laurel prefers a bright location, but can grow in shade. Not afraid of drafts.
Spring and summer on windowsills south sides sun protection is required.
Fertilizer
Laurel tree needs to be fed universal fertilizer twice a year: in spring and summer. Suitable liquid fertilizer for cacti or palm trees.
Diseases and pests
Bay leaves are rarely exposed to diseases and insects. In fact, it itself is often used to control pests of other plants.
- Laurel can be damaged by scale insects, scale insects, on the secretions of which a sooty fungus settles. Well-visible clusters of worms are removed with cotton swabs dipped in soapy water.
- If the leaves of the laurel turn yellow and fall off, then it can be caused by excessive or insufficient watering of the plants.
- Leaf spots are often caused by waterlogged roots and excess moisture.
- Yellowed leaves can also be caused by a deficiency. nutrients in the ground. To eliminate this problem, transplant your plant into fresh, well-drained soil.
Transfer
Bay tree does not develop very quickly in pots, so repot it no more than every two to three years.
Transplantation is best done in the spring. Use fertile soil and good drainage, as the plant does not like stagnant water.
pruning
Pruning is an important part of bay tree care to keep a big increase and give it decorative form.
It is usually carried out in the spring, when the growth of new shoots begins.
Remove dried, damaged, or diseased leaves regularly if they appear.
How to plant, propagate and care for a bay tree at home - video
Harvesting
If you grew your plant yourself, from cuttings or seeds, then start harvesting from the second or third year of its life.
For seasoning use, pick the largest leaves: the older the leaf, the stronger the flavor will be.
The collected leaves must be dried, as fresh bay leaves are quite bitter. From the moment of cutting, 48 to 72 hours should pass. Of course, the store sells bay leaves that have dried much longer, but freshly dried ones have a more pleasant aroma.
There are many reasons to plant a bay tree on your windowsill. This is an attractive, shiny foliage that stays green indoors. all year round. It is a sweet aroma with a touch of spicy nutmeg. Be sure to grow bay leaves and become the owner of an evergreen, glossy decoration for your home, the leaves of which are used in in large numbers recipes.
Perhaps one of the most popular evergreens grown in houses and apartments is laurel (bay leaf). This noble representative of room flora can be small bush, and a compact tree. In addition, laurel is one of the noble plants, because it is not for nothing that wreaths from its branches adorned the heads of talented people and honorary winners. Growing it at home is very convenient, as the laurel performs not only a decorative, but also a practical function. If you need a fragrant seasoning, just simply pick a leaf from a tree. And in this article you will find the information you need that will allow you to grow laurel at home, take care of it without any problems, and also propagate shrubs.
Known to everyone, the bay leaf, without which the preparation of almost a single dish and marinade, can be grown at home, as the most common indoor plant. Moreover, the undemanding nature of the plant and simple care are not difficult even for young growers.
IN natural environment growth laurel is able to grow, reaching from 10 to 18 meters in height. At home conditions noble laurel The new bush can grow only to a height of 1.5 to 2 meters, becoming, first of all, a decorative addition to the interior. The genus of these plants consists of only two representatives - Canary and Noble.
And most often in houses and apartments the second type is found. As you can see, the Noble Laurel is a shrub with bare branches on which foliage grows. Each leaf is about 10 cm long, 3 to 4 cm wide, and has an oblong shape and a glossy surface.
This plant blooms at home, usually in the middle of spring (April or May) with small yellowish flowers.
Indoor laurel tree is not demanding. But this does not mean at all that he does not need care at all. Laurel Noble, growing in apartments and houses, in addition to standard procedures, loves spraying and pruning, which is most often carried out to give a decorative shape to the crown. It is also important to notice the signs of the disease and the presence of pests in order to take timely measures to treat the plant.
Laurel is able to adapt to both abundant sunlight and partial shade. In the summer, you can safely take out the bay bush on the balcony or on the veranda. And if you perform banal laurel care with him, then he will be able to live with you for about 15 years. And what kind of conditions are necessary for this tree to grow, we suggest that you read further.
Landing
In general, laurel home care requires starting with a proper fit.
As a rule, this procedure is performed in the spring. Initially, a drainage layer is laid out at the bottom of the pot, for example, small gravel, expanded clay, after which soil can be filled. For growing decorative laurel at home, the most common flower soil, which can be purchased in specialized stores. Many flower growers prepare their own soil mixture using:
- 1 hour leaf land;
- 1 hour sod land;
- 1 hour humus;
- 2 hours of sand.
Transfer
Indoor Noble laurel bush does not need frequent transplants. As a rule, transplants are made as needed, when it becomes crowded in the plant growing container, then it's time for a transplant. But at the same time, the new pot should be only a couple of centimeters more spacious than the previous pot.
It is best to apply the transshipment method for this procedure. Thus, it is possible, with minimal risk of damage to the root system of the plant, to move it to a new container. It is advised to replant the bay bush in the spring, in extreme cases - until mid-summer.
An essential role in the cultivation of such a household "pet" is played by care in terms of its location in the room. Laurel is not whimsical to lighting, but, like other indoor plants, it does not like drafts very much. However, it is necessary to ventilate the room with the laurel growing in it regularly.
For those who wish to achieve this a rare occurrence, like flowering laurel at home, it is advised to take care of the tree, trying to bring its surrounding conditions closer to natural ones as much as possible. So, for example, it is better to place it in a well-lit place. A lot of scattered sunlight will positively affect the development and appearance plants - each leaf will become more decorative. And in general, the bush will be thick, which is difficult to achieve when the bay bush grows in shaded places.
Watering
In spring and summer, watering must be regular. On hot days even more plentiful than usual. But it’s not worth it to overfill, because the most common cause of the death of such indoor plants is just prolonged waterlogging and stagnation of water in the soil. For winter, the watering schedule will be different. During this period of time, it will be necessary to moisten the substrate in a pot with laurel only as the top layer dries. Use soft or settled water at room temperature for irrigation.
As previously mentioned, the Noble Laurel loves spraying and high humidity. On hot days, you can spray the plant with water twice - in the morning and in the evening. You can also place wide vessels with water near the pots with laurel. More experienced growers another method is used - they pour pebbles into the pan and fill it with water, placing a pot with a bay tree on top.
top dressing
Caring for indoor Noble Laurel in terms of top dressing will also not complicate the owner. As a rule, procedures for fertilizing a plant are carried out once every 14 days during its active growth. Both mineral and organic complex fertilizers are suitable for these purposes.
pruning
Laurel Noble does not treat “haircuts” and pruning badly and quite calmly endures such procedures. With the help of pruning, the tree can be given an interesting decorative shape so that, like a plant, the bay leaf looks as impressive as possible in home environment. The end of summer is best for the formation of a bush. After all, August coincides with the end growing season plants.
How to propagate a plant
At home, reproduction of laurel can be carried out:
- with the help of seeds;
- dividing the bush;
- cuttings.
The seed method among plant growers is used less frequently than others. This is all due to the fact that, growing a bay leaf from a seed to an adult bush, you can spend quite a lot of time. Although care with this method of reproduction is not considered difficult.
Reproduction of laurel by cuttings is more common. It is necessary to carry out such a procedure either in the spring or in the summer. As cuttings, you can use ripe, but not yet lignified, shoots from 6 to 8 cm long, about the same. It is necessary that each such cutting has at least 2 internodes. The substrate for planting shoots is best used from two components that need to be laid out in a pot in layers: 1 lower - about 4 cm of soddy soil, 2 upper - 2-3 cm of sand.
To root the cuttings, they need to create a mini-greenhouse and withstand a temperature of approximately +16 to +20 degrees. During the entire period of rooting of shoots, they need the most minimal care, including watering and airing. Under correctly created conditions, the bay leaf will “take root” in a month, after which the shoots will need to be dived into a larger container.
Potential Growing Problems
Of the diseases, fungal infections are most often encountered. As a rule, the causes of the manifestation of such a disease can be excessive watering, as mentioned earlier. When the first signs appear (the bay leaf becomes affected by brown spots), the damaged areas must be removed, and the plant itself, if possible, should be transplanted, pouring fresh substrate into a new container.
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 - evergreen 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 put on open air slightly shaded 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.
At proper care only those leaves that have been growing for more than three years fall off.
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 useful plant very fragrant, beautiful and healing.
The article will tell you about the intricacies of growing and caring for a bay bush at home.
Bay leaf is a well-known spice all over the world, which is usually added to first and second courses, marinades, sauces and even desserts. Dried laurel leaf has a strong spicy aroma with a slight pleasant bitterness. In addition to cooking, the leaf is actively used in traditional medicine as a diuretic, antiseptic and antimicrobial agent.
On the basis of the bay leaf, decoctions and infusions, baths and lotions are prepared. Bay leaves are simply added to tea and hot drinks, fresh leaves are chewed to get rid of bad smell in the mouth or get a bactericidal effect. special attention deserves a laurel bush esoteric symbol. This plant is credited with protective properties for humans and homes from negative influences from the environment.
How home plant, bay "tree" or bush is useful in any home. Laurel will not only decorate your home, but also make the atmosphere in your home more favorable, friendly and kind. In addition, the leaves of the plant secrete special essential oils, which, as aromatherapy, have a positive effect on the moral and physical health person.
The easiest way to grow a laurel bush is from seeds. It is grown in a pot and only from fresh seeds, which can be quite difficult to get (they are taken only from an adult plant). After you get the seeds, you should definitely soak them. This is done in ordinary and warm water.
Instead of water, you can also use special remedy "Epin", which is specially invented in order to regulate the growth of plants. Before placing the seeds in water, you should first carefully remove the scales (the shell that protects the inside) from them. The scales will interfere with the growth of the shoot and therefore its removal will accelerate germination.
Seeds are kept in water until they swell (this is noticeable visually). Then they should be planted in a plastic cup with wet sand, cover the neck of the cup cling film and leave at room temperature with enough light. Shooting may take approximately 3-4 weeks. All this time, the sand should be moistened so that it does not dry out.
After the seed sprouts, remove the film from the cup and grow the plant until 2-4 small leaves will appear. The field of this plant is planted in the ground. Laurel loves soil with sand content, “soil for succulents” is ideal.
How to grow a bay bush in a pot from seeds at home?
What kind of land is needed for a bay leaf, what kind of pot?
“Correctly” selected soil for a plant is the key to its health and good development. Great importance for laurel it has drainage, so be sure to put a layer of drainage on the bottom of the pot (a special breed in the form of small pebbles, sold in flower shops).
Laurel pot is best to choose from natural material, be it clay or ceramics. Such material, unlike plastic, will not allow the roots to “suffocate”. The bottom of the pot should have a sufficient number of holes so that the water leaves well and does not stagnate, provoking fungus, as well as rotting of the roots.
The soil for the bay bush is universal, any that you can find in a professional store. You can also prepare the mixture yourself, for this you will need:
- Part of the leafy ground
- Part of the sod land
- Part of quartz sand
- Part of the humus (can be replaced with compost)
IMPORTANT: All soil components are taken in an equal one-to-one ratio.
The reaction of the soil to acidity must necessarily be neutral, if you need to balance the acidity (this often happens when peat is present in the soil), add a little wood ash. The size of the pot depends on how you plan to grow the laurel, the more you pick up the pot, the stronger the root system will grow, and hence the bush itself.
Young laurel bush grown at home
How to transplant a bay tree into a pot?
Transplanting a plant should only be done when you see that the plant is not comfortable in a too small pot. Choose a new pot that will be 1-2 cm larger in diameter than the old one. The frequency of laurel transplants is closely related to its age. For example, if the bush is young (up to 3 years old), it should be replanted every year, preferably in the spring. If the bush is an adult, then transplantation can occur every 2 years.
During transplantation, attention should be paid to the root coma, it must be reduced by about a third each time. This is not noticeable to the plant, but is good for the health of the bush. After transplanting or planting a bay bush in a pot, be sure to feed the bush with organic fertilizer. Loosen the ground very carefully, because the root system of the laurel is not deep, but best of all - cover upper layer mulch.
IMPORTANT: You should know that laurel grows very slowly. When the plant becomes “adult”, it can not be transplanted at all, but only change the top layer of soil to fresh soil.
There are cases when a bay bush may require an unscheduled transplant. Determining this is very simple - you will notice that the plant loses leaves, which become not so bright, glossy and resilient. This happens because the soil "gets tired", i.e. loses all important and nutritional qualities for the plant.
Proper transplant bay leaf at home
How to properly care for bay leaf seedlings?
Laurel seedlings are young shoots grown from seeds. Properly caring for seedlings, you can ensure that your plant is strong and healthy. You can grow seedlings in a greenhouse, or you can grow them at home on a windowsill.
The main thing that you need to provide seedlings is heat and humidity. Make sure that the temperature does not drop below minus 12-9 degrees, otherwise you risk "losing" the plants. Seeds for seedlings should be grown in carbonate soil.
Give your seedlings enough light by placing the pots on windowsills or by installing grow lights. In the ground (garden, vegetable garden, on the site) should be planted only the plant that has already grown roots, not earlier than 2-3 years.
Self-planting bay bush
How to propagate a bay leaf at home with a process, cuttings: instructions
The division of the bush into cuttings is the simplest, most popular and effective method propagate the plant. In addition, pruning of an adult bush should occur regularly so that the laurel can fully develop. Cut "trimmings" can be used for cuttings.
IMPORTANT: For this method the reproduction of the bush is also suitable for those “fat” shoots that from time to time appear on the basis of the trunk.
Each petiole that you cut for planting should have at least 2-3 buds. The shoot should be cut obliquely, if there are lower leaves, they are cut off, the upper ones are simply reduced (by a third or half). The petiole should be rooted in:
- wet sand
- Sphagnum
- calcined soil
- Perlite
- Vermiculite
IMPORTANT: Any specially prepared germination substrate will do. Be sure to check the acidity of the soil so that it is not "acidic". In an acidic environment, the plant will develop poorly or die altogether.
It is important to plant the petiole strictly at an angle, it is good if you have dusted the place where the petiole was cut in advance with a special stimulant for the formation of roots. In order for the petiole to give roots, you will have to wait approximately 3 to 4 months. Keep the plant warm, avoid frost and drafts, and provide regular but diffused light. Six months later, you can safely plant petioles in pots or flowerpots.
IMPORTANT: If you divide a bush, do it either in autumn or in early spring. At this time, the laurel "sleeps" and such a process will not be traumatic for him. Divide so that each branch has viable roots.
Proper reproduction laurel at home
How to feed a bay leaf in a pot?
After you deepen the seedling into the ground (from a seed or a cutting - it doesn’t matter), it should not be fed with anything during the entire first year. Complete nutrition with organic organic fertilizers) occurs from the second year of life of the laurel.
In professional flower shop you should buy a universal mineral fertilizer, which is applied to the soil, based on the instructions and proportions on the package, once a month. If you do not regularly fertilize the soil of the bay bush, the plant will survive this quite normally.
Much worse for a laurel is to regularly “feel” an excess of moisture in the soil. Do not worry if the bush grows slowly - this is quite normal for laurel. Every year after transplanting, listen to the instructions for caring for the plant and you will notice its development.
Comprehensive care for laurel bush
Why does the bay leaf dry at home, what to do?
If the bay bush began to dry and began to appear yellow leaves, which also lose their luster, the plant may have a number of reasons for this condition:
- Waterlogged soil, resulting in root rot.
- "Tired" soil that does not provide the plant with an important amount of nutrients.
- There are pests in the root system or on the plant
- Not observed temperature regime: too cold, plenty of drafts.
- The plant suffers from direct sunlight
- The plant needs a transplant or a larger pot
Video: "How to grow laurel at home?"
One of the most popular evergreens grown at home is the laurel flower. He may be a small bush or a miniature tree.
In ancient times, bay leaf wreaths were worn on the heads of the victors and famous people. This plant is very convenient to grow at home, because it, apart from decorative ornament apartments, and has useful features. No need to run to the store for a bay leaf, you just need to pick it from a tree.
Characteristics
Laurel is an indoor plant that is easy to care for. This can be done even by a beginner in flower breeding. In nature bay tree grows very tall. There are specimens exceeding 18 meters. Today, in the forests of Sochi, you can see the laurel, reaching 15 meters in height.
Although this plant is not very pretentious, but for its good growth requires the creation of a favorable environment. This houseplant is very fond of the sun's rays, but is able to grow well in a shaded place.
Laurel does not react to drafts, he is not afraid of drought. Laurel tree at home does not require much care, it is necessary that there is always enough water, without waterlogging the soil.
Home laurel perfectly copes with diseases, is not afraid of pests. To give a certain shape, laurel bushes can be trimmed. FROM Modern gardeners manage to grow tall laurel trees, differing from their counterparts in an openwork, intricately intertwined trunk.
Types of room laurel
This plant is divided into two groups:
- Noble;
- Canarian.
The Canarian laurel has wide large leaves, the edges of which look somewhat wrinkled. This species loses to the noble laurel in terms of the strength of its aroma.
Main botanical variety laurel is divided into three types:
- narrow-leaved;
- Golden;
- Wrinkly.
Each variety is characterized by the shape of the leaf and its color.
How laurel is planted
Noble laurel should be planted in early spring. If you have already grown laurel before, then you need to pick up a pot whose diameter is a couple of centimeters larger than the previous one.
First, a drainage layer is laid in the pot. To do this, you can use expanded clay or broken brick. Substrate is placed on this layer. For a noble laurel, the soil should consist of sand, turf and leafy soil.. Such a composition is sold in a store as land intended for breeding cacti.
home laurel care
This houseplant is not very capricious. But, it must be constantly sprayed and trimmed so that the crown has a decorative shape. It is also necessary to monitor the appearance of pests or diseases in order to prevent their development.
For good growth, the laurel does not interfere with a lot of sunlight at all. It can grow well in partial shade. In summer, when the temperature is more than 25 degrees, the bay bush can be left on the balcony. With proper care, indoor laurel can live for more than 15 years.
To obtain good growth indoor noble laurel, it is necessary to create conditions for him that resemble his native places. With the onset of cold weather optimal temperature, in which room laurel can safely be, is considered 18 degrees.
Where should the laurel bushes be in the apartment?
To grow nice flower laurel, it is very important to find the right location for it. It is desirable that the plant does not fall into drafts, the laurel does not like them. But you need to ventilate the room with laurel regularly.
It is not required to create special lighting for the noble laurel. Normal is enough room light. In order to achieve flowering of laurel at home, it is necessary to take care of it, trying to bring the conditions of its location closer to real ones.
For example, a pot with a tree should be placed where there is a lot of light. So, with a large amount of scattered sunlight, laurel leaves will become more decorative look. The bush will be very bushy, which rarely happens if the bay tree grows in more shaded areas.
How to water laurel bushes
In spring and summer, you need to water the bushes regularly. When it is very hot outside, watering should be more vigorous. But, prolonged waterlogging should not be allowed, because stagnation of water in the soil can lead to rotting of the roots and death of the plant.
watering schedule for winter time very different from summer period. The substrate needs to be watered only after the top layer of soil in the pot begins to dry out. You need to water with well-settled water at room temperature.
With the onset of heat, the noble laurel should be sprayed in the morning and evening hours. Can also be installed around laurel pot, container with water.
Experienced flower growers use another method. Pebbles are poured into the pan, then it is filled with water, a pot of laurel is placed on top.
How Laurel Reproduces
Usually the reproduction of this unpretentious plant carried out by cuttings, but laurel and seeds can be propagated.
To grow laurel from seeds, you need to have special soil. To obtain rapid growth, it is recommended to pre-soak the seeds in heated water and hold for a couple of hours.
Seeds do not need to be buried deep in the soil. It is enough to sprinkle them with earth and cover with a film.
When propagating laurel by cuttings, they must be cut from shoots that have not had time to completely lignify.
With the onset of spring, the cut shoots are planted in slightly moistened soil. It is desirable to remove all leaves from the trunk, leaving two or three. The length of the handle should not exceed 8 cm. In order for the plant to take root faster, it is worth using wet sand. Usually young seedlings take root well within one month.
How is a transplant done?
This operation does not need to be done very often. A small tree should not be transplanted into a large pot. Laurel will do great in a small pot.
When he grows up and the pot becomes cramped for him, another container is taken, with a larger diameter of about 4 cm.
Transplantation is performed by rearranging an earthen coma. The missing soil is filled into the pot. Then the transplanted laurel is well watered. Interchange work usually done in spring or summer.
Problems that may arise when growing
- Shchitovka;
- Spider mite;
Laurel bush is usually affected fungal diseases. This may be due to over watering. At this time on bay leaf brown spots appear.
It is necessary to fight such diseases removal of damaged areas and transplanting the plant, with the addition of a new fresh substrate.
If you follow all the rules for growing laurel at home, you can always have a beautiful, fragrant and healthy plant in the room.
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