Laurel tree at home ground. Growing laurel at home

Laurel - description

Genus laurel (lat. Laurus) belongs to the laurel family and has only 2 species. It grows in the Canary Islands and in the Mediterranean region. Up to forty types of laurel per this moment is found in today's taxonomy in English.

Laurel is an evergreen shrub or tree. Simple leaves are leathery to the touch, the edge of the leaf is whole and slightly wavy. The axillary inflorescences are umbrella-shaped.

If the plant is well looked after, then young specimens can grow at high temperatures and low humidity; adult specimens under such conditions will grow poorly.

Planting and caring for laurel

• Bloom: the plant is grown as an ornamental deciduous plant.
• Lighting: bright sunlight.
• Temperature: in spring and summer - 20-26 ºC, in autumn the temperature is gradually lowered to 12-15 ºC.
• Watering: during the growing season - regular and abundant, as soon as the top layer of the substrate dries. In the heat, water twice a day. With the onset of autumn, watering is reduced, and in winter they simply make sure that the substrate does not dry out completely.
• Air humidity: high: in the heat, the plant should be sprayed regularly and kept on a pallet with wet expanded clay.
• Top dressing: during the growing season - once a month with complex mineral fertilizer. In winter, the laurel is not fed.
• rest period: from October to March.
• Transfer: young plants - once every two years, adults - once every 3-4 years.
• Substrate: two parts of humus soil, two parts of leafy and one part of peat, soddy soil and sand.
• Pruning: pruning is carried out in mid-August.
• Reproduction: seeds, cuttings.
• Pests: scale insects, spider mites, mealybugs.
• Diseases: sooty mushroom.
• Properties: the plant is a popular spice and has medicinal properties.

Read more about growing laurel below.

Laurel - photo

Laurel care at home

Lighting

The laurel plant at home calmly tolerates direct sunlight, so it feels good on southern windows with bright lighting. In summer, laurel is best taken out into the fresh air. Despite the fact that laurel normally tolerates direct sunlight, after wintering or immediately after buying a plant, it is gradually accustomed to the sun to prevent sunburn. In winter, the plant is kept in a cool and bright place.

Temperature

The optimum temperature in summer is 20-26 °C. Starting in autumn, the temperature should be gradually reduced, and in winter, in order for wintering to be as painless as possible, the temperature should be in the range of 12-15 ° C.

Watering laurel

V summer period homemade laurel should be watered abundantly with soft water as soon as the topsoil dries. You can water a couple of times a day if the temperature is very high. Since autumn, watering is reduced, and in winter it is watered only 2-3 days after the topsoil has dried.

Spraying laurel

The laurel plant needs high humidity - it must be constantly sprayed with settled water. It will not be superfluous to put the pot with the plant on a pallet with moistened expanded clay or peat, making sure that the bottom of the pot is not immersed in water.

Top dressing laurel

Houseplant laurel during the growing season should be fed monthly with mineral fertilizers.

Laurel pruning

Room laurel can be trimmed - they tolerate a haircut well. You can give the plant any shape. You need to prune when growth stops, usually in mid-August. Those eyes that remain on the plant will develop well before winter, and when the plant begins to grow in spring, they will sprout. When cutting the laurel in the spring, you need to remove the strong eyes at the top, and the growth from the remaining weaker eyes will be small.

Laurel transplant

Laurel flower grows slowly. About once every two years, young plants need to be transplanted if the roots have filled the pot completely, and adult plants - once every 3-4 years. The earth mixture is made up of leafy, humus, soddy soil, sand and peat (2:2:1:1:1). The substrate must be neutral or slightly alkaline. Because houseplant laurel grows well in small pots, then it should be transplanted into a pot that is no more than 2 cm larger in diameter than the previous one. The size of the tub is increased by no more than 5 cm. Do not forget to build high-quality drainage at the bottom of the pot.

Laurel from seeds

Laurel seeds are sown in spring in pots, bowls or boxes with a soil mixture of two parts of leafy and soddy soil and one part of sand. When sowing, the soil temperature should be at least 18 °C. In the phase of one or two leaflets, seedlings dive at a distance of 2 cm from each other into the same substrate. When the laurel seedlings get stronger, they are transplanted one by one into individual pots 7 cm in diameter in a substrate of 4 parts of soddy soil, 2 parts of leaf, 1 part of peat and sand. Young plants should grow regularly by watering and spraying, at a temperature of 10 to 12 ° C in a lit area.

Reproduction of laurel cuttings

When propagated by cuttings, shoots are cut either in April or early summer. The cuttings should not be stiff, have 2-3 internodes and be up to 8 cm long. They are planted to a depth of 1.5 cm at a distance of 10 cm from each other after shortening the leaves. The soil mixture consists of two parts: 2-3 cm of sand is poured on top, and three to four centimeters of soddy land are poured from below. Laurel cuttings should root in about 30 days; the temperature should be kept at 16-20 ° C. After the cuttings take root, they are planted in 7 cm pots - the substrate and care are the same as when propagated by seeds.

The healing properties of laurel

The leaves have a stimulating effect and are a spice. Bay leaf stimulates the removal of fluids from the body, used for hysteria and colic. The leaves and fruits are also used for flatulence.

For localized tumors in folk medicine use extracts from any part of the plant as an anticancer agent. With the help of the same extracts, they take care of the skin of the face. The composition of ointments used for rheumatism includes bay oil.

You can make a tincture from dried bay leaves - crushed leaves are poured with 40% or 70% alcohol in a ratio of 1 to 5. The container is tightly closed and left to infuse for a week at room temperature. After that, filter and pour into a bottle, which is stored in a dark, cool place.

The highest level of essential oils in the bay leaf is found from November to December - it is at this time that it is worth collecting bay leaves to be used in cooking. The leaves are harvested from four to five year old plants.

Diseases and pests of laurel

Laurel turns yellow. Due to insufficient air humidity, laurel leaves may turn yellow and curl up. In this case, the humidity must be increased.

Laurel is beautiful, useful and rather unpretentious. It is not capricious, it develops well in the shade and in partial shade, and on a sunny windowsill. Will grow more or less luxuriantly in any soil. The leaves become more fragrant if the tree receives enough sunlight. Laurel is beautiful, useful and rather unpretentious. It is not capricious, it develops well in the shade and in partial shade, and on a sunny windowsill. Will grow more or less luxuriantly in any soil.

The leaves become more fragrant if the tree receives enough sunlight.
Lavra needs fresh air, while it is not afraid of drafts and sudden changes in temperature. In the summer, the plants are exposed to the street.

Indoor bay leaf care
Temperature regime

When kept indoors in winter, plants require fairly cold air. A temperature of 10 degrees is unacceptable for human habitation, but it is comfortable for laurel plants to winter in such conditions. If there is a cool place in the house for hibernation, at least 15 degrees, then with the onset of heat, the laurel will thank with violent growth. And in the coolness, the plant rests, gaining strength.
In the spring season, laurels are ready to migrate to the street already at the first positive temperatures, especially at night. In the spring season, they will like temperatures of 18-20 degrees.
But in summer - a little below 30 degrees, optimally 20-25. Closer to autumn, the temperature of the content is gradually reduced and the plant is prepared for a painless wintering.

Bay leaf care at home
Lighting

Laurel is steadfastly not afraid of direct sunlight at all and blissfully thrives on brightly lit southern windowsills. In summer, of course, he will like it more outdoors - in the garden or at least on the balcony, veranda. However, you should not abuse the sun's rays immediately after buying a seedling, as well as after a cool winter. Out of habit, laurel can get sunburn. Therefore, bright sunlight should be added gradually.

Watering

Lavra needs watering with soft water at room temperature. It should be watered every time the topsoil dries up - about once every three days. But if it is very hot and the earth dries, then you can water it several times a day.
Closer to autumn, when the air temperature drops, watering is reduced. In winter, once every few days is enough. You still need to focus on the drying of the soil surface.

Laurel home care
Humidity

Laurel just loves wet air. You can provide him with constant comfort by the following conditions:
warm shower;
spraying;
tray or stand with wet drainage material.

The pot itself should be above the surface of the water. The roots of the plant should not be blocked. It is necessary to spray in good faith so that moisture gets not only outside, but also inside the crown.

How to care for laurel
Feeding and transplanting

In the first year of life, a bay seedling will feel good without additional nutrition. But already in the second year it will need to be fed. A little mineral fertilizer will be enough to provide the plant. They are paid monthly.

Laurel does not particularly suffer from the scarcity of the soil. The only thing he does not tolerate is excess moisture in the ground.

The bay tree grows slowly. When kept in containers, trees need to be replanted periodically. Young growth is transplanted often - every couple of years. When transplanting, take a pot 2 cm wider than the old one. For older trees, the pot is changed after 3-4 years.

Laurel will respond gratefully not only to mineral, but also to organic top dressing. You can use diluted with water and infused pigeon droppings. Sometimes diluted slurry is also taken. Mineral and organic top dressings need to be alternated. Before fertilizing, the soil must be well wetted so as not to burn the roots.
After the transplantation of nutrients, the plant will last for a long time, for 4-5 months. Ideal for transplanting the same soil composition as before.
Containers and pots made from natural materials are ideal for planting and transplanting laurel plants.

Laurel at home care
Pest protection

In an apartment or inside a house, laurel develops beautifully if you provide it with moist soil (but without waterlogging!) And a regular shower. If the air is too dry, the plant begins to shed its leaves. Under normal conditions, some leaves fall off naturally, mostly old ones that are at least three years old.

Laurel care
pruning

Laurel can accelerate in growth and grow up to six meters. But uncontrolled growth will lead to a chaotic formation of the crown. laurel tree will look untidy and may even create inconvenience indoors. Timely pruning of the crown is needed not only to give the plant an aesthetic appearance, but also for better ventilation - as a prevention against diseases and pests.

They begin to deal with the crown when the tree reaches the age of two. The top of the main shoot is cut off, leaving 10-15 cm above the ground. When side shoots grow from the remaining stem and reach 15-20 cm, they need to be pinched. Thus, the laurel will branch magnificently.
Laurel easily tolerates a haircut, so it can be given any, even the most fantasy forms: a ball, a pyramid, a stem, an interesting sculpture, a composition, or even a whole hedge. If pruning is done after mid-August, when the growth of the plant stops, then the remaining growth buds will form well before the onset of winter and will grow in the spring.
Shearing does not contribute to the fruiting of the laurel. Domestic laurel trees that grow in tubs or in the garden do not bloom.
Growing laurel, due to its unpretentiousness and versatility, can be an exciting experience.

Please note that this website is for informational purposes only.

When using bay leaf, you should consult with a specialist (doctor).

There are contraindications when using bay leaf: pregnancy and lactation in women, acute form of kidney, liver and heart disease, gastric and duodenal ulcer, allergic reaction to bay leaf, severe diabetes mellitus, etc.

Very often in houses and apartments you can find a well-known plant, which is called laurel. This plant, due to its natural features, can be grown at home, both in the form of a small bush and a relatively compact tree.

It is customary to call it a "noble plant". This name was given to the flower in ancient times. It was often used to decorate wreaths that were worn on the heads of noble people in order to reveal their respect and gratitude to them.

Breeding a bay plant in the house is very simple. In addition, the plant will be able to complement not only the interior of the home, and will perform a large number of preventive functions. For example, if for cooking you need to add an unusual aroma, then it will be enough just to pick a few leaves from a tree and your dish will become much tastier and more aromatic!

If you are planning to breed indoor laurel, then it is very important to familiarize yourself with the information about this flower in advance. A large number of interesting facts will become your great helpers in the daily care of the plant.

Landing

In order for the laurel to take root in the house from the very beginning, it is very important to make its competent landing.

The best time for this process is spring. First of all, a small layer of drainage should be laid out on the bottom of the selected pot (usually it is 3 centimeters). Then a small amount of prepared soil is poured on top. You can cook it yourself, or purchase it at a flower shop.

Laurel is not whimsical, so it can easily grow in ordinary soil for domestic plants.

Location and lighting

An interesting feature of the laurel tree is its love for the cold. For this reason, it is best to place the plant in a cool room.

The plant will feel comfortable on the windowsill, both from the south and from the north side. It will be easy for him to tolerate both the bright sun and a small shade.

Most experts say that it is necessary to put laurel in the kitchen. Like, such a tree will always come in handy while cooking! But at the same time temperature regime in the kitchen during cooking does not at all correspond to the preferences of the plant. Therefore, in such situations, you must be extremely careful not to damage the flower.

As for lighting, the laurel is very good for the bright sun. Since it has fairly dense and tough leaves, it does not face any burns that sunlight can cause. It is important after wintering to gradually accustom the flower to the bright sun. After all, during the period of rest, he weaned from such conditions of existence.

Pot dimensions

Like most houseplants, the normal existence of a bay tree will largely depend on the right selected flower pot. Usually, when transplanting, experts advise replacing the pot with a larger one (2-3 times larger than what was used before).

If you know that the growth of the flower is quite intensive, then the pot will need to be purchased 4-5 centimeters more than the standard one.

When choosing housing for a laurel, it is also worth considering the material from which the pot is made and its stability.

The soil

In order for the laurel to grow well at home, when planting it, it is necessary to responsibly approach the issue of soil preparation.

By its nature, laurel is not capricious, therefore, for its cultivation, you can use soil that will be quite nutritious and perfectly permeable to liquid. It is best to pay attention to the soil that is intended for cacti. Soil "Universal" is also suitable for planting.

Land for a plant can be prepared on its own. To do this, you need to mix leafy soil, soddy soil, humus, coarse sand and peat. All ingredients must be in a ratio of 2:1:2:1:1. You can also add some charcoal to this mixture.

Remember, if a plant suddenly stops growing, then this indicates that the soil is not suitable for it, or the flower lacks fertilizer and top dressing.

Transfer

If the plant is young, then it should definitely be replanted every year. Because root system bay tree does not develop too quickly, most often the pot is not replaced. In a transplant situation, the issue of changing the tank should be decided on the spot.

When the decision is made to leave the flower in the same pot, then care for it should become more diligent.

When the plant is 5 years old, the transplant procedure can be reduced and the transplant can be done every 2-4 years.

In order for the plant to receive nutrients, it is necessary to carry out a partial replacement of the soil. To do this, you need to remove the top layer of earth (5 centimeters) and cover the flower with new soil.

Rare transplants very often become the reason that in a few years, the laurel can grow very strongly. In such situations, the transplantation procedure can cause a lot of difficulties and questions!

At the end of the transplant, do not forget that the plant needs to be watered. After that, it is also important to observe the transplanted flower for several days. If negative changes are not noticed within a few days, it means that the laurel has adapted to the new growth conditions!

Fertilizer and top dressing

Laurel must be fertilized throughout most of the year. Basically, the feeding procedure is carried out in the period from March to October.
Laurel quite well perceives fertilizers of mineral and organic origin. For a better effect, you can use liquid fertilizers, which must first be diluted in a small amount of purified water before use.
Fertilization is carried out once every few weeks.

Watering

Indoor laurel is a lover of abundant watering. But in this situation, this does not mean that the plant must be poured daily with a large volume of liquid. Most often, it is necessary to water the flower in the summer and spring. If the moisture in the pot does not evaporate in a timely manner, then this can provoke the process of rotting of the root system. Which in turn will lead to the death of the flower.

With the onset of the first cold weather, the frequency of watering decreases significantly. In winter, it is very important to stop feeding. After all, it is during this period of time that the plant is preparing for fruiting.

If your laurel does not need dormancy and blooms all year round, then its watering occurs without any changes!

Temperature regime

Laurel room comes from subtropical countries. For this reason, most often the plant is equal to the corresponding temperature conditions of these regions. The plant will survive warm summers and cold winters without any problems. Temperature drops for a laurel plant do not pose any danger. Therefore, these qualities can be considered the most important in the process of growing a flower.

In hot weather, the temperature in the room can range from 20 to 26 degrees.

In winter, the mark on the thermometer can drop to 5 with a + indicator.

With the onset of severe frosts and sub-zero temperatures, the laurel will also be able to survive. This applies to those flowers that were previously planted in open soil. In such cases, the roots of plants are much stronger and more protected from negative external influences. When the flower grows in an ordinary pot, sub-zero temperatures can lead to death of the laurel.

Air humidity

In order for the laurel to actively grow and bloom, it is very important to provide it with high level room humidity. To implement these requirements at home, the plant will simply need to be sprayed more often, bathed in small jets of water (you can use a shower), and also put moistened expanded clay or moss under the pallet.

If the air is too dry, the flower becomes very weak, thus it is an easy prey for pests of various types.

pruning

Laurel is by nature very beautiful plant With unusual shapes. That is why the flower can not be cut.

In the case of pruning, the crown of the plant can be changed beyond recognition. It can be given a variety of shapes: cone-shaped, oval, square, etc.

When the plant stops actively growing (usually this happens at the end of August), then it is necessary to prune the ripened leaves. Once dried, they make a great seasoning for any dish.

The places that remain on the plant after pruning (they are called "eyes") are restored during the winter. And already with the onset of spring, the flower can please you with a large number of new shoots. During pruning, it is necessary to get rid of areas that are located in the upper part of the plant.

Dangerous diseases and possible pests

First of all, you need to remove the plant from its "neighbors". This will prevent damage to other flowers.

Shchitovka, in turn, has a negative impact on the condition of the leaves and trunk of the laurel. At the same time, the leaves change their color to yellow and begin to fall off quickly.

In case of infection of the plant, the pest must be eliminated with a cotton swab. It is also recommended to spray with insecticidal solutions. For this, Actellik 0.15% or Carboforce is perfect. In case of severe damage to the plant, the procedure is repeated 7-10 days after the first treatment.

Bloom

Most often, laurel blooms in the spring. At this time, flowers are formed on it, which settle in the axils of the leaves themselves. That is why they are compared with the shape of an umbrella. Since the plant during this period very much resembles a “rain protection agent”.

The flowers are quite small and do not differ in any unusual characteristics. More often they acquire white, yellow or cream shades. On plants of the female gender, fruits that are colored blue can also form. These berries are not edible. Most likely, they serve as an additional decoration of the laurel.

reproduction

V home breeding laurel can be propagated by cuttings and seeds.

Rooting of cuttings lasts approximately 3 months. It will take the same amount of time for the seeds to germinate.

For propagation by seeds, it is necessary to prepare them in autumn time. They should be stored in a cool place (refrigerator). It is recommended to sow seeds in February. A prerequisite for climbing is regular soil moisture and maintaining high humidity in the room.

When using cuttings, rooting must be done in the month of March. For this, processes of 10 centimeters in size are cut off. After that, the stalk is placed in the ground, most of which is made up of sand. Fertilizers can be used to quickly strengthen the horses. Planted cuttings must be covered with a plastic bag or a regular jar. During propagation by cuttings, the temperature in the room should be at least 24-25 degrees.

rest period

The dormant period of indoor laurel falls on the winter period. Although there are cases when the plant continues to actively grow and bloom all year round.

If in winter all the rules of elementary plant care were not followed, then the flower may shed its leaves. Do not be afraid of this and get rid of it in advance. With the onset of spring, the plant will gain strength and very quickly restore its appearance. In this case, it is also necessary to spray the laurel.

Plant toxicity and beneficial properties

The phytoncides included in the laurel make the plant very useful for human body. They help kill various disease-causing microbes and bacteria.

A decoction based on laurel leaves stabilizes the appetite and has a beneficial effect on the digestion process. Also, the use of such a decoction will help to cope with kidney disease (especially when stones are detected).

Most of the healing properties of laurel allow it to be used in modern medicine and cosmetology. It has a positive effect on immunity and can be an excellent seasoning for food.

Room laurel is not poisonous. It poses a danger only if it has been previously treated with disinfecting solutions.

Having made the decision to breed laurel in your home, you find a faithful assistant. Both in life and in the kitchen!

Houses are decorated with many indoor flowers. But why plant laurel? Under what conditions can it grow? evergreen? 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 thickness of the trunk 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:

1. Noble.
2. 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. 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. high temperature it is forbidden to install, 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 apply 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:

1. The bush can reach 10-15 meters in height.
2. At home, its length is 1.5-2 meters.
3. Small yellowish flowers bloom with the onset of spring, on some plants - only staminate, and on others - pistillate.
4. Flowering at home is considered a rarity.
5. After pollination, fruits ripen - blue berries.

Diseases and their treatment

V 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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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:

1. A leaf in a plate indicates the fulfillment of desires.
2. It is believed that the laurel branch placed above the door will not let bad man and trouble.
3. The leaves in the wallet attract money if a special ceremony is performed.
4. Laurel leaf is placed in the pocket for a successful interview.
5. 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.

The laurel plant (Laurus) is a member of the Laurel family. This genus combines only two species. In nature, they are found in the Mediterranean region and the Canary Islands. In today's taxonomy in English, there are about 40 species of laurel.

Laurel is evergreen tree or shrub. Leathery to the touch, simple sheet plates have a solid, slightly wavy edge. During flowering, axillary umbellate inflorescences are formed. If young bushes are given good care, then they will grow and develop normally in the heat with low humidity. However, growing an adult plant in such conditions is highly undesirable.

Brief description of cultivation

1. Bloom. Laurel is grown as an ornamental leafy plant.
2. illumination. Needs a lot of bright light.
3. Temperature regime. During the spring-summer period - from 20 to 26 degrees, and in autumn - from 12 to 15 degrees.
4. . During the growing season, it is necessary to water abundantly and systematically, do this immediately after the top layer of the soil mixture in the pot dries out. V hot days watering is carried out twice a day. With the onset of autumn, watering is reduced, while in winter it should be rare and scarce, but it is impossible to allow the clod of earth to dry out in a pot.
5. Air humidity. It must be elevated. In the heat, the bush is systematically moistened with a spray bottle, and wet expanded clay is poured into the pan.
6. Fertilizer. During the growing season, top dressing is carried out once every 4 weeks, using a mineral complex fertilizer for this. In winter, fertilizer is not applied to the soil mixture.
7. rest period. Observed in October-March.
8. Transfer. Young bushes are transplanted 1 time in a couple of years, and adults - 1 time in 3 or 4 years.
9. soil mixture. It should include sand, peat, soddy, humus and leafy soil (1:1:1:2:2).
10. . Cut the bush in mid-August.
11. reproduction. Cuttings and seed method.
12. Harmful insects. Scale insects, spider mites and mealybugs.
13. Diseases. Sooty mushroom.
14. Properties. Laurel is different medicinal properties and is widely used as a spice.

illumination

Laurel needs a lot of bright light, while the direct rays of the sun do not cause any harm to it. In this regard, it is recommended to grow it on a south-facing window. If possible, in the warm season, the bush can be taken out into the street. Despite the fact that it perfectly tolerates the direct rays of the sun, a plant that has just been bought or after wintering should be accustomed to bright light gradually, otherwise sunburn may appear on the surface of the foliage. In winter, the bush is transferred to a cool, but well-lit place.

Temperature regime

In the warm season, the Lavra is recommended the following air temperature - from 20 to 26 degrees. With the onset of the autumn weeks, the temperature in the room is gradually lowered. And in winter, in order for the plant to suffer as little as possible, the temperature in the room should be from 12 to 15 degrees.

In the spring and summer, the bush should be watered abundantly, using soft water for this. The soil mixture in the pot is moistened immediately after its top layer dries out. If the room is too hot, then watering can be done twice a day. With the onset of autumn, watering is reduced, and in winter months it is carried out only when two or three days have passed since the top layer of the substrate has dried.

spraying

Laurel grows normally and develops only at high humidity, in this regard, it must be regularly moistened from a spray bottle with well-settled water. And experts also advise to pour wet peat or expanded clay into the pan and put a pot on it, but at the same time its bottom should not come into contact with the liquid.

Fertilizer

During active growth, homemade laurel should be fed with mineral fertilizers once every four weeks.

Laurel perfectly tolerates pruning, so it can be done regularly. During this procedure, the bush can be given any shape that you like best. Pruning is carried out only when the intensive growth of the bush stops, as a rule, this time falls on mid-August. The eyes remaining on the plant after the shearing will develop well before the onset of winter, and in the spring, after the start of the growing season, they will give young shoots.

If pruning is carried out in the spring, then you should cut off the strong eyes at the top. And from the remaining weaker eyes, the increase will not be very large.

Laurel is one of the slow growing plants. Therefore, its transplantation is carried out only if necessary, after the root system becomes very crowded in a pot. As a rule, young bushes are transplanted 1 time in 2 years, and adults - 1 time in 3 or 4 years. A suitable soil mixture for transplanting should consist of peat, sand, humus, soddy and leafy soil (1: 1: 2: 1: 2). Please note that the earth mixture should be slightly alkaline or neutral.

Laurel at home grows well and develops in small pots, therefore, for transplantation, you need to use a container that is only 20 mm larger in diameter than the old one. When transplanting an adult bush, the size of the tub is increased by no more than 50 mm. A good drainage layer must be made at the bottom of the container.

Diseases and pests

If the humidity level in the room is too low, yellowing and folding of the sheet plates may begin. In this case, accept all necessary measures to increase humidity.

Of the pests, mealybugs, scale insects and spider mites most often settle on the bush.

Reproduction of laurel

Sowing of laurel seeds is carried out in the spring, for this they use bowls, pots or boxes filled with an earth mixture consisting of sand, soddy and leafy soil (1: 2: 2). During sowing, make sure that the temperature of the substrate is at least 18 degrees.

When 1–2 true leaf plates are formed on the seedlings that appear, they pick into a larger box filled with the same soil mixture, while maintaining a distance of at least 20 mm between the bushes. Strengthened seedlings are planted in separate pots, reaching a diameter of 70 mm, while using a soil mixture consisting of sand, leafy, soddy and peat soil (1:2:4:1).

Young bushes should be grown in a well-lit, cool (10-12 degrees) place, while they need to be watered and moistened in a timely manner with a spray bottle.

Laurel cuttings are harvested either in April or in the first summer weeks. Good cuttings should not be lignified, reach a length of about 80 mm, and also have two or three internodes. Pour a layer of soddy soil 30–40 mm thick at the bottom of the tank, and cover it with sand on top (20–30 mm thick). Shorten the sheet plates on them and deepen them into the substrate by 15 mm, while the distance between them should be about 10 centimeters. Rooting cuttings will take about 1 month, at which time the air temperature in the room should be from 16 to 20 degrees. Rooted cuttings should be planted in separate pots, reaching a diameter of 70 mm, and they provide the same soil mixture and care as when growing laurel from seeds.

Laurel leaves are widely used as a spice, and they also have a stimulating effect. Laurel leaf is recommended for colic and hysteria, and it also helps to stimulate the removal of excess fluid from the body. And the fruits and foliage are used for flatulence. In alternative medicine, in the presence of localized tumors, an extract of any part of the laurel is used as an anticancer agent. These extracts are also used for facial skin care. Laurel oil is added to ointments that are used for rheumatism.

The dried leaves are used to make a tincture. To do this, crushed leaf plates are poured with forty or seventy percent alcohol in a ratio of 1: 5. Seal the bottle tightly and leave it for 7 days at room temperature. The strained product is poured into a bottle and stored in a cool and warm place.

In November-December, the foliage contains the largest amount of essential oils. Therefore, during this period, experts advise collecting leaves, which are then used in cooking. Bushes that are 4–5 years old are suitable for collecting foliage.

The main types of laurel

Azores laurel (Laurus azorica), or Canarian laurel (Laurus canariensis)

In nature, the species is found on the island of Madeira, and also on the Canary and Azores in the lower part of the mountains. The height of the trees is about 15 meters, there is pubescence on the surface of their stems. The length of the greenish ovoid leaf plates is about 12 centimeters, and their width is no more than 6 centimeters. During flowering, several umbellate inflorescences consisting of yellowish flowers grow from the leaf sinuses. Flowering occurs in the second half of spring.

Laurel noble (Laurus nobilis)

Under natural conditions, such a plant can be found in the west of Transcaucasia, and also in the Mediterranean at an altitude of up to 300 meters above sea level. The height of the bush varies from 4 to 8 meters. The shoots are bare, they grow leathery to the touch simple leaf plates with a lanceolate shape, their length is about 20 centimeters, and their width is up to 8 centimeters. The short-leaved foliage is pointed. From each leaf sinus grows one or two umbrellas, which consists of yellow flowers. There are several forms differing among themselves in the shape and size of foliage. Flowering is observed in the second half of the spring.