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 antiquity, wreaths from bay leaf, put on the heads of the 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 it, apart from decorative ornament apartments, owns and useful features. 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 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 glass jar or plastic bag to maintain 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 when 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 seeds can germinate in January, but with severe frosts 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 it can be used as a top dressing. mineral fertilizers in small doses. Laurel will tolerate any soil, except waterlogged. If you grow laurel in your home, you will get beautiful forever green plant, which will delight the eye every day.
Laurel tree care
By itself, the laurel plant is quite unpretentious, loves light and Fresh air, 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 warm spring and summer period once a month. For this, it is best to use a liquid or complete mineral fertilizer. IN winter time years, 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 develop 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.
Most pleasantly, the laurel lives in the fresh air - on the balcony, in the courtyard or in the country, including throughout the year - if winter temperatures keep at the level of + 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 period can be grown on windows on 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. Best time- border 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, mealybug and spider mites.
As you can see at proper care at home, you can grow a bay tree.
Today we’ll talk about spices, which are probably present in the arsenal of any housewife, and strong half humanity, preparing their favorite dumplings, rarely does without it.
We are talking about bay leaf, the cultivation of which at home will be the topic of our conversation today.
About the conditions for growing bay leaves
If you are going to grow a bay leaf at home, first you need to understand that the noble laurel gives us leaves for seasoning - evergreen tree, less commonly a shrub growing in the tropical zone of our planet. So, for example, in Russia, this plant is found in nature only in the Crimea or the Krasnodar Territory. In other regions, cultivation of laurel in open ground is not practiced.
Therefore, the conditions for growing bay leaves at home should be truly tropical:
- temperature not lower than 20 degrees, optimally +25;
- high humidity air;
- short daylight hours with bright lighting.
This is achieved by placing plants on the southern windowsills with regular spraying or the use of artificial humidifiers.
Attention! Laurel will also grow well on northern windowsills, only it will be less lush with a rarer crown.
Growing on the windowsill in the summer can be combined with taking plants to the balcony or loggia, and if you have Vacation home or country cottage area, then you can take the plant with you, as they say, into the fresh air. Naturally, when returning from the site in the fall, you should not forget the plant in the country, but you need to take it with you to the winter apartment.
Reproduction of laurel
To get your bay tree, you can go two ways:
- Growing bay leaves from seeds.
- Growing by rooting cuttings.
- Horizontal strips.
- Buying ready seedlings.
Let's consider all the methods in more detail.
Seed propagation of bay leaf
Laurel seeds can be obtained in two ways:
- buy in a specialized store;
- collect from branches of laurel, sold in the markets as spices.
Sowing seeds in the ground is best in early spring or in autumn, in summer, the embryonic processes in the seeds slow down a little and you can simply not wait for seedlings. Seeds are sown in small seedling containers.
The soil before sowing is moistened and slightly compacted so that the seed lies on a moist and dense bed. After that, it is sprinkled with a layer of nutrient soil one centimeter thick and moistened again. Having covered the container with a suitable lid, put in warm place with a temperature of 25-27 degrees, for example, to a radiator or a hanging kitchen cabinet.
Seeds germinate for a very long time, sometimes it can take several months. All this time, the container with crops must be periodically ventilated and, if necessary, moistened.
The soil for growing laurel does not have to be very fatty and nutritious, but great attention should be paid to its mechanical composition. The best mixture for growing lavrushka is a mixture of the following components:
- forest sod land;
- sand;
- peat.
To add airiness and friability, you can use coconut substrate or soil baking powders that are popular today, such as perlite or vermiculite.
It is very important that the roots receive free access to air, this is one of the conditions successful cultivation this useful plant.
Attention! Laurel does not tolerate waterlogging of the soil, so be sure to put some kind of drainage material on the bottom of the tank.
After the appearance of true leaves, the plants dive into a more spacious dish and take care, like other plants, making timely watering, fertilizing and transplanting.
Bay leaf cuttings
The cutting of a noble laurel is no different from that of a currant or gooseberry. Here's how it's done:
- We cut non-lignified green cuttings 6-10 centimeters long. At the same time, we make the lower cut under the kidney oblique, the upper one - a centimeter above the kidney - straight.
- We leave two upper leaves on the handle, and we shorten them by half for less evaporation of moisture.
- We deepen the cutting into the soil of the pot by 1-2 centimeters.
- We cover the pot with a film with holes.
- Ventilate regularly.
Rooting will occur in about a month. After that, you can transplant the finished seedling into a permanent container.
Bay leaf cuttings
If you have mature plant, then you can get a new plant by pinning one of the side shoots to the soil. In this case, an additional container with soil is used. The sequence of actions is as follows:
- Near a laurel plant growing in a pot, a container filled with nutrient soil is placed nearby.
- The young branch is bent so that the lowest point of the bend is placed in a new container to a depth of 10-15 centimeters.
- In this place, the branches make an incision about 4-5 centimeters long.
- The branch is placed in a pot with soil and pinned. The end of the layer is tied to a vertical support.
- Cover the incision site with soil to the top of the container and water.
After some time, depending on the conditions environment, a new sprout will appear from under the ground. After that, the rooted branch can be separated from the mother plant.
Purchased seedlings of laurel
Everything is very simple here. The purchased plant must be transplanted into a large container with its own soil and grown as usual.
Laurel Care
Laurel care is easy. It is necessary to water the bush on time and spray warm water. Twice a year, you can feed the plant with some organic matter.
Advice! Top dressing is best given no earlier than three months after transplantation.
As it grows, it is necessary to transplant the bush into a new large container. At first, this is done every year, after 4-5 years of vegetation, the laurel slows down its growth, and it is transshipped every four years.
Important work is decorative pruning bush. Laurel is very responsive to pruning, and you can shape its crown as you wish.
Attention! Regularly picking off the leaves for spices begins in the fourth year of the laurel vegetation.
At home, diseases rarely appear in a noble laurel, but, nevertheless, they occur. This is due to low temperatures or waterlogging of the soil coma. In any case, you need to consult with experts or read the relevant literature.
Video - how to grow a bay tree at home
Today we learned how to plant a bay leaf and grow it at home. Good luck with your gardening endeavors.
Laurel trees are cultivated in subtropical latitudes, and they grow there with pleasure. In Russia, laurels can be found in nature in the southwest of the Krasnodar Territory. However, like many other heat-loving plants, noble laurel can be grown at home. You just need to pay attention to the needs of this Mediterranean miracle and take care of it in the same way as we take care of fish, parrots and other pets. Laurel trees are cultivated in subtropical latitudes, and they grow there with pleasure.
In Russia, laurels can be found in nature in the southwest of the Krasnodar Territory. However, like many other heat-loving plants, noble laurel can be grown at home. You just need to pay attention to the needs of this Mediterranean miracle and take care of it in the same way as we take care of fish, parrots and other pets.
Laurel - indoor plant
Fresh laurel leaves have a calm pleasant green color that will brighten up any interior. Fragrant leaves will refresh and purify the air in the house, thanks to their ability to release phytoncides that prevent the development of bacteria and fungi.
Laurel is a rather unpretentious plant. It is not as demanding on growing conditions as, for example, lemon. And if you plant a bay leaf at home, it will develop perfectly even in the northern part of the house in conditions of less lighting. But still, with sufficient illumination, the plant will turn out much more magnificent and thicker.
The full-fledged bay leaves that are used will appear on your personal bay tree in two years. It is at this age that the leaves acquire a rich aroma. IN room conditions laurel grows up to two meters, and especially good care and higher. So you can generously share with friends own harvest bay leaf.
For laurel, propagation by seeds, layering, cuttings and seedlings is acceptable.
The method of growing laurel from seeds is the most reliable, since the development of young plants from the very beginning takes place under the same conditions, and therefore they are not subjected to special stresses.
Bay tree seeds can be found in flower shops or ordered online. big luck and almost one hundred percent guarantee - freshly harvested seeds. But in any case, until the time of sowing, the seeds must be stored in the refrigerator. This is the guarantee of their best germination. In addition, laurel seeds have a thick skin, and to facilitate the emergence of a sprout into the world, the seeds are soaked for several days. To accelerate germination and stimulate growth, you can soak in a special activating solution. For example, the growth preparation "Epin" proved to be excellent.
Any fertile soil is prepared for sowing seeds, but the top layer in a container 2-3 cm thick must necessarily be steamed or calcined sand. This is the best environment for the development of laurel seeds.
Seed peas are planted to a depth of 1 cm and covered with a film to retain moisture in the soil. Seeds germinate for quite a long time, up to several months. If you have patience and treat this process with love, they will definitely hatch.
The optimal time for sowing seeds is in winter months(January February). Then, even if the seeds are late and lie in the ground for six months before germination, they will begin to develop in a favorable period both in temperature and in light.
And when this happens, the film is removed from the greenhouse and waiting for the formation of the first leaves. Small laurels with two leaves can already be transplanted into a separate pot.
The site has detailed instructions on .
Growing laurel from cuttings
Growing a plant from cuttings is a more time-consuming process than sowing seeds. Laurel cuttings are harvested from an adult plant in the spring, when the trees wake up after winter, or in the first half of summer. Very successful cuttings are obtained from annual shoots, which did not have time to lignify. The branches are cut into pieces of 6-8 cm.
Each cutting should have three internodes, that is, three free plots between leaf attachment points. For cuttings, it is better to use the lower or middle part of the branch. Each cutting should have an oblique cut from below. Then the first leaves must be removed, and the upper ones should be cut off, leaving half of the sheet in order to minimize the evaporation of moisture.
Any land is suitable for bay leaves, but for planting cuttings it is better to prepare a nutrient substrate of your choice:
mixture of 1 part of leafy soil with 1 part of marsh moss;
mixture of 1 part of sod land and 1 part of sand;
mixture of 1 part of sand and 1 part of moss;
simple coarse sand.
Laurel plants are very tolerant of any soil. The only thing they do not tolerate is excessive waterlogging. So almost the main condition for the successful cultivation of laurel is good drainage.
It is desirable to steam the prepared soil in order to avoid damage to the cuttings by pathogenic bacteria. Sand can be ignited. Any suitable drainage is placed at the bottom of the container.
For better rooting, you can use special stimulants that promote root formation. Kornevin powder is suitable for this purpose. lower part the cutting should be dipped in the powder of the growth preparation. And you can withstand the base of the cuttings (immersed by 2-3 cm) for a day in a special solution of heteroauxin. The roots from this procedure will turn out to be well branched and strong. Some gardeners use phytohormones for better rooting, and also arrange bottom heating for cuttings.
The cuttings are buried in the ground by 1.5 cm. They need to be watered and the temperature is at least 22 degrees. For supporting temperature regime cuttings are covered with a suitable transparent material: film, glass or jar. Every day, the shelter should be briefly removed or slightly opened for ventilation. Cuttings are useful not only to water, but also to spray with water. The first three weeks - this should be done 4-5 times a day. Then gradually reduce the number of sprays.
Rooting will take approximately one month. As soon as the plants take root, you can transplant them into another container. For the substrate, garden or sod land, leafy soil and sand are taken. You can add a little peat and lime (5-10g).
Bay tree can be grown from cuttings, as they do with grapes. They take one of the lower branches, lay it in a groove, pin it to the ground and sprinkle it with soil. In the place where the earth will cover the branch, you need to make an incision or at least a scratch on the bark.
A prerequisite for successful germination is a sufficient amount of moisture.
As soon as a green sprout appears from under the ground, you can dig up layers and cut off from the main branch. Then plant a young plant in a separate container.
Buying ready-made seedlings of noble laurel is no longer a problem. And their prices are very affordable.
As soon as pets appear in the house, they need to be placed where there is diffused lighting or partial shade. At least they do not need direct sunlight for the period of acclimatization.
It should also be the coolest place in the house, since laurel is not an amateur. high temperatures. A pleasant thermal regime for laurel is 15-20 degrees in summer and 10-12 in winter.
Laurel loves wet air. Therefore, moisturizing can be arranged for him different ways: spraying, water containers next to the potty, shower.
When it's time to pinch and trim the bay trees, they need to be moved to a more lit area for better branching.
Laurel responds well to organic fertilizers. It can be, for example, pigeon droppings. It is diluted with water, preferably settled. For one part of the litter take 20 parts of water. Laurel will also accept mineral fertilizers well. You can feed him once every three weeks.
Laurel loves water very much, so at least once a month he needs to arrange a warm refreshing shower. The plant should also be watered with warm settled water. In the cold season, this is done once every five days, and in the warm season more often - once every three days.
Laurel trees need to be replanted periodically. IN young age transplantation is done after two years, and older trees need to be disturbed less often - once every five years. After transplanting, the laurel does not need to be fertilized for about six months. But he does not interfere with fresh air. As long as temperatures allow, laurel can be kept on the balcony or in the garden, and brought indoors before winter.
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.
Laurel noble, a plant whose name speaks for itself. In our everyday life, it is perceived as a fragrant additive to various dishes. But, this is not even, secondly, and not thirdly ... Laurel is the oldest and truly noble tree. After all, heroes were crowned with wreaths of laurel leaves, the laurel branch is a symbol of peace. And this is only a few of its true purpose. Names laurel, Lawrence, Laura owe their appearance also to this tree.
It will take a lot of time and letters to retell the legends, myths and various beliefs associated with this plant. But we, as amateur flower growers, are more interested in how to grow a noble laurel at home. There is nothing difficult in this. Caring for indoor laurel is very simple, it is quite unpretentious and hardy plant.
Laurel noble: care
Lighting and temperature content
The plant is light-loving and requires as much light as possible. Here is and choose for him such a place. Unlike no less, which can withstand direct sunlight, create protection against them for laurel.
The air temperature in the warm season does not matter to him. Even strong heat he endures easily. It is very desirable to take your indoor noble laurel to fresh air for the summer. This will be for him best place. Daily fluctuations in temperature will not cause any harm to him. In fact, laurel is a rather cold-resistant plant, despite its tropical origin. In the southern regions, where winters are mild and the air is dry, it is successfully grown outdoors. Under such conditions, it can withstand even a short-term frost of -15 degrees, and a temperature drop to minus five degrees for a laurel is mere trifles. At home, in winter, try to create for him, approximately in the range from +12 to +15 degrees.
Watering and fertilizing
In the spring and summer, when it is warm, it is necessary to water the laurel often and plentifully. Closer to cold weather, watering is reduced, and when kept in cool conditions, room laurel is watered moderately. Special attention allocate water for irrigation. It should never be cold. Use only water at room temperature, and preferably 2-3 degrees higher. If you keep it at normal room temperature in winter and the air in the room is dry, spray it regularly. Yes, and in the warm season, periodically do this. Spraying the laurel will only benefit.
Be careful with feeds! A high concentration of fertilizers can lead to the opposite of the desired result. It is better for beginner gardeners to use specialized fertilizers. If you use a complete mineral complex, then reduce its concentration in the solution by about three times from that recommended in the instructions.
Transfer
Although it is recommended to repot young plants annually, and adults every other year, repot Laurel as needed (growth). Yes, and the transplant itself should consist in transshipment into a larger pot and the addition of fresh earth. There are no special requirements for indoor laurel. It can also grow in garden soil from the site. But if desired, you can add a mixture of two parts of sod land and one part of leafy land, humus, peat and sand . It is advisable to add a little charcoal or ash to the mixture for.
Reproduction of indoor laurel
Laurel can be propagated in two ways: by seeds and cuttings. But I must warn you that both of these methods are quite long in time and can take up to three months.
Seeds suitable for propagation are collected at the very end of autumn and placed in the refrigerator until spring. Before boarding experienced growers carry out the stratification of seeds, to accelerate germination. Anyway, it is advisable to prepare the laurel seeds for planting. This preparation is no different from, as well as the whole process of growing. What I especially want to pay attention to is that you constantly maintain soil moisture with seeds. Otherwise, seedlings can not wait.
To propagate the laurel with a cutting, in the spring (in March), take a semi-lignified cutting from a tree, 10-12 centimeters long. For planting, you can use a light universal mixture (there are a lot of them on sale) or take the land recommended for transplantation, but with twice the amount of sand. Before planting, dip the cut of the cutting in Kornevin to speed up the rooting process. For the same purpose, then, in the process of rooting, pour it two or three times with root solution. If there is a mini-greenhouse on the farm, put a container with a cutting there. If not, then cover with a cap from a PE bag or a regular glass jar. Periodically moisten the ground, spray the stalk, ventilate. In order for the rooting of the cuttings of the noble laurel to be successful, it is recommended to maintain the temperature within + 23-25 degrees.
That's all there is to it, how to care for laurel noble at home. Follow these rules and soon you will be able to crown a distinguished family member with a laurel wreath, or add a bay leaf from your own tree to the soup.
Good luck growing!
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Most often, Canarian laurel is used for these purposes, since this culture is particularly unpretentious and responsive to decent care. The plant needs high humidity and regular transplants.
Description of the plant laurel
A subtropical tree or shrub, a species of the genus Laurel of the Laurel family.
Its leaves are used as a spice. Long time the plant was considered sacred tree, his wreaths adorned the heads of the winners in Ancient Greece. Widely cultivated in the subtropics.
Evergreen tree or tall shrub reaches 10-15 m in height with brown smooth bark and bare shoots. The crown is densely leafy, mostly pyramidal in shape.
The leaves are alternate, short-leaved, entire, glabrous, simple, with a peculiar spicy smell; leaf blade oblong, lanceolate or elliptical, narrowed towards the base, dark green above, lighter below.
Inflorescences are umbellate, numerous, collected mainly at the ends of the branches in the axils of the leaves. Umbrellas before flowering are enclosed in spherical wrappers, consisting of four elliptical scales. Flowers - small, yellowish, unisexual, staminate, collected in inflorescence, pistillate.
IN vivo this tall tree. The description of a home-grown laurel plant differs from wild plants compact dimensions: maximum height is one and a half to two meters.
As you can see in the photo, at home, laurel lends itself well decorative processing- it can be cut as you like and create any shape you like:
The plant is native to the Mediterranean. Despite this fact, the bush turned out to be hardy and quite unpretentious. The plant grows well in open soil in colder latitudes and in warm and dry domestic climates. Of course, the second option is more difficult for him, because in order for the laurel to be healthy and beautiful, you need to properly care for it.
How to care for Canarian laurel at home
The genus includes several species that can be grown at home. Most often as ornamental plant Canarian laurel is found.
In nature, the species grows in moist laurel forests in the lower mountain belt of the Canary, Azores and Madeira Islands. Trees up to 15 m tall, shoots hairy pubescent. Leaves ovate, up to 10-12 cm long and 2-6 cm wide, dull green. The flowers are collected in umbellate inflorescences, located in the axils of the leaves, several, light yellow. Blooms in April - May. decorative look thrives well at home.
In its natural environment, a tree grows under the sun, blown by cold winds, watered by rain, covered with snow. Therefore, when caring for laurel at home, the plant needs bright lighting - its dense leaves are not threatened with burns. Direct sunlight is better than shady place. However, if in nature the plant gradually gets used to the sun, then home plant after wintering, it is necessary to accustom it to it - it should be placed in the sun gradually.
The laurel tree at home adapts itself to the natural cycle of the subtropics. He needs warm summer and cool winters. The plant is quite resistant and easily tolerates temperature changes. In summer optimal temperature for growth is 20-26 degrees, in winter - 5 degrees of heat. It can survive light frosts, but sub-zero temperature more likely to be preserved in a planted plant open ground- its root system is more developed and protected.
The roots of a plant growing in a pot can freeze completely and the plant will die, so it is most often grown indoors.
In the process of caring for laurel at home, do not forget that the plant needs high humidity, then it turns green and grows well. At home, you need to spray the bush more often, bathe it in the shower, put it in the heat on a pallet with wet pebbles. Dry air weakens the plant, makes it susceptible to diseases and pests, spoils its appearance.
In the warm season, abundant watering is required, the soil should not dry out. But this does not mean that you can arrange a swamp in a pot - the moisture must evaporate, be completely consumed by the roots, otherwise it will lead to rot of the root system. With a decrease in temperature, watering is also reduced, in winter they are watered so that the soil does not completely dry out.
If the plant grows all year round at room temperature, watering should always be plentiful. For proper growth need a periodic change of climate and watering. In winter, the plant rests and prepares for a new cycle. Constant heat can exhaust the plant.
You can see a photo of caring for a laurel at home below:
Soil for laurel and transplanting at home
The soil for laurel at home needs a neutral, moderately nutritious, well-absorbing water. From ready-made mixtures, universal substrates or for cacti are suitable. You can also make a substrate yourself, for this you need to take two parts of leafy soil, one part of soddy land, two parts of humus, one part of coarse river sand and one part of peat. A little crushed charcoal can be added to the earth mixture. If the tree does not grow quickly or is completely frozen in growth, the soil may not be suitable for it - there are not enough nutrients.
A young plant needs an annual transplant. root system It doesn't grow very fast, so changing the pot is not necessary. If the roots have completely or almost completely mastered the pot, it is necessary to transplant it into a larger container. If the root is poorly developed, the plant is left in the same pot and its care is adjusted.
After 5 years, the frequency of laurel transplants at home can be reduced to 1 time in 2-4 years. To feed the plant, you can make a top soil change in a pot. Rare transplants are also associated with the fact that by this age the laurel grows to an impressive size and it becomes not so easy to transplant it.
When transplanting, it is necessary to make drainage. The less often transplants take place, the larger the drainage layer should be.
Fertilize with complex mineral or organic fertilizer in standard dosage from March to October. Fertilizer is applied every 2-3 weeks.
Growing laurel from seeds at home
Reproduction of laurel at home is carried out by seeds, cuttings, dividing the bush, branches and grafting.
At home, it rarely blooms and it is difficult to get seeds. Seeds for propagation are collected in November, kept in a slightly damp place so that they do not dry out, and the skin is removed from them before planting. Landing is carried out in late autumn-early winter or early spring.
When growing laurel from seeds at home, for starters, the seed is placed in small boxes. The soil in these containers should consist of a turf, leaf mixture, mixed with sand (1: 1: 0.5). Before planting, the seeds are freed from the pulp surrounding them, and at the end of the procedure they are covered with glass (you can use polyethylene film).
When the third leaf appears on the seedlings, the seedlings swoop down and are seated in separate containers - pots, disposable cups, dishes for yogurt and others.
After planting the laurel at home, grown and strengthened plants are transplanted into ceramic pots until further growth.
Propagation of laurel by cuttings and pruning at home (with video)
The process of preparing cuttings should begin no earlier than March-April. Use shoots only from a healthy bush, which have already matured, but have not yet crusted over.
The cuttings are cut into small segments of 6-8 cm, following some rules: when cutting off the cutting, you do not need to completely cut it with a knife. Make an incision, and then carefully tear off the segment to grab some of the crust. The cutting should turn out with a “heel” starting below the first node. The pouring at the bottom of the cutting is removed.
When propagating laurel by cuttings at home, remember that the plant takes root poorly, therefore it is recommended to use preparations that stimulate the root formation process to form the root system. Before lowering the cuttings into the composition, they should be wetted. It is not required to remove excess drug with something special - just shake off the cuttings.
The stalk prepared in this way is planted in a kind of greenhouse - under a plastic film supported by pegs, in clean sand, about 2 cm. in depth. Wait for the rooting of the cuttings should not be earlier than a month. After which they can be planted in the ground or a permanent pot.
Watch a video of propagation of laurel by cuttings at home in order to properly root the plant:
The crown of a home tree can be given any shape. Laurel pruning at home is best done at the end of summer or autumn, when the plant slows down its growth.
Laurel diseases at home
Laurel diseases at home indicate insufficient care for the plant.
The plant does not tolerate dry air. If the humidity is low, it can be affected, which is removed by spraying with a special insecticide.
Pale laurel leaves may indicate starvation. Or this happens in the summer, with strong heat - the leaves simply burn out.
If a dry border appears on the leaves, then the air is too dry. Or watering is not enough. For the same reason, the leaves can curl up into tubules.
wilted leaves they talk about too dense soil, insufficient watering, directed heat, for example, from a battery.
If the tree shed its leaves in winter, the time of rest has come. Just move the plant to a cool place.