Laurel plant at home. We grow noble laurel at home

It is difficult to find a person who has not heard of seasoning Bay leaf. The native area of ​​​​spicy culture is the subtropics. In the Russian Federation, its cultivation in open ground is possible only in the south. In other regions, the plant is cultivated in conventional room conditions. Experts share their experience on how to get fragrant homemade lavrushka without problems: grow it from seeds, prevent diseases and properly prune the leaves. For clarity, the tips are illustrated with a photo.

Laurel tree: description of the plant. Features of cultivation

An excellent seasoning for first and second courses, sauces and marinades with a strong and unique aroma is bay leaf. And it also has disinfecting and diuretic properties, therefore it is also used in folk medicine. The leaves are rich in useful substances, acids and essential oils. In ancient mythology, laurel branches were a guardian of the house from everything bad.

Attention! Scientifically proven: the tree purifies the air in the room, prevents the formation of fungus and the development of bacteria.

Another property of the home form of the laurel tree is decorative. Always fresh greens can decorate any corner of the room. Even the north side, because to abundance sunlight the plant is unpretentious, although at the south window the bush will turn out denser and more magnificent.

Laurel - useful and ornamental plant

The seeds of the Mediterranean guest are easy to purchase on the Internet or find in flower shops. The fresher the seed, the higher its germination rates will be. The only correct planting dates: spring (end of winter) or autumn.

Laurel planting step by step technology

The process consists of the following steps:

1. Store the seeds in the refrigerator before starting work.
2. Soak the material for 2-3 days. This will help the sprout break through the thick covering of the seed. The floating seeds are unsuitable for propagation.
3. Soak the seeds for several hours in a growth stimulator. For example, in Epi.
4. Plant out in ordinary bulky pots or containers with good drainage system. Use any neutral fertile soil as a base. However upper layer 2-3 cm thick should consist of disinfected sand.
5. Deepen the seeds by 1 cm and cover the planting with a film. The greenhouse is designed to support high level moisture in the soil.

Be prepared that even if ideal conditions and proper care, you will see seedlings not earlier than in 3-6 months. Therefore, flower growers recommend sowing laurel in January or February. In this case, even with the slowest development, seedlings will appear in the summer, and this is the best time for their active development and growth. Favorable temperature for germination is not lower than +12 °C. After the seeds hatch, remove the film. At the stage of the appearance of a pair of true leaves, dive the seedlings into separate pots.

Laurel seeds

Laurel tree care at room conditions

Unlike other immigrant plants from the Mediterranean subtropics, laurel is unpretentious and hardy. In addition to the possibility of growing in the shade, it has the following features:

• The plant does not like dry air. Regular spraying and bathing once a month under a warm shower are supplemented by installing a container of water. Place it on the windowsill next door. A mini lake can be decorated and made an element of room decor.
• Feed the laurel with fertilizer about once every 3 weeks. From the second season, focus on organics (pigeon droppings have proven themselves well). Throughout the life of the plant, mineral supplements work effectively.
• Water the tree only with settled water at room temperature. From May to September - 1 time in 3 days, the rest of the time - 1 time in 5 days. On the hottest summer days, watering can be increased. However, beware of excess moisture in the soil.
• Young bushes up to 3 years of age need to be transplanted every 2 years into a larger pot. Best time- Spring. Older trees are transplanted no more than 1 time in 5 years. Sometimes old laurels are not transplanted, but simply the topsoil is replaced with a new one. After the procedure, apply organic fertilizer and stop feeding for six months.

Spray your plant regularly

• In summer, fresh air will be useful to the laurel. Take the plant to the balcony, veranda or even to the garden. But beware of cool drafts.
• Do tree trimming. The best time is the turn of summer and autumn. This will encourage the laurel to grow in breadth, not up. Starting from the age of 2, form a crown with garden shears in the form of a ball or any other shape.
• Loosening is also necessary for this plant. Work carefully - the roots do not lie deep.

Advice. In winter, during the dormant period, it is desirable for the laurel tree to provide a cool atmosphere with a temperature in the range of + 10 ... 15 ° C.

Alternative ways to propagate the bay tree

You can also get a new copy of the laurel with horizontal layering and cuttings. The first method is relevant only for open ground, and the second is suitable for room culture. Cuttings should be harvested in March or April:

• only shoots of a healthy plant are suitable, which have not yet crusted, but have already matured;
• get segments of 6-8 cm: make an incision half the thickness of the branch, tear off the rest with a small piece of bark;
• the stalk should have a heel, which is located below the first node;
• remove the leaves at the bottom of the segment.

Laurel can be propagated by cuttings

Be prepared for difficulties, because the cuttings take root poorly. To increase the chances of success, soak the cut first in water, then in any root-forming stimulant. Deepen the stalk 2 cm into the cleaned sand and cover with a film. Spray the ground to keep in a greenhouse high humidity. Under normal development conditions, the twig will sprout roots in about 1 month. After that, it can be planted in open ground.

laurel tree It has a specific aroma and antimicrobial substances in its juice, therefore it is quite resistant to pests and fungal infections. A plant can become infected only if it is strongly launched. In that case, apply standard methods against specific ailments. External sign poor health of the tree - yellowed leaves. In general, caring for a laurel is easy. Even a beginner can grow it on the windowsill.

In pursuit of beauty appearance you can stumble upon a beautiful Laurel tree. An additional effect of growing it indoors will be a pleasant aroma, and a bonus - protection from blood-sucking insects!

Laurel (from lat. Laurus) is a low evergreen plant of the laurel family. The most common and popular is the laurel variety Nobilis or Noble. The homeland of this tree is the Mediterranean region, from where it then spread throughout the subtropical part of Europe. In Russia, it is often found in the southern part Krasnodar Territory and in the Crimea.

Types of laurel

Noble (from lat. Laurus nobilis)

- in conditions of open air and soil grows up to 12 meters high. It has a pleasant and strong aroma of leaves.

Canarian, also Azorean (from Lat. Laurus azorica)

- the tree is even taller, reaching 15 meters in height. The leaves are larger than those of the noble, have a wavy edge, but the aroma is somewhat weaker than that of its brother.

How to care for noble laurel at home?

Lighting

First of all, choose a bright place, preferably with bright diffused light - an east or west window, a spacious ventilated balcony without direct sun rays. Then you need to pick up the soil and prepare the plant itself - germinate a seed, root a cutting or root layer, or take an already grown bush in a flower shop.

The soil

The tree is unpretentious to the soil, but it is better to choose a light soil for room laurel - for example, a mixture garden soil with sand in a ratio of 5:1. When buying soil in a store, pay attention to mixtures for indoor palms or cacti - they are also suitable in composition. It is better to grow homemade laurel nobilis in small pots, gradually changing them - it is recommended to replant a young plant regularly.

Temperature and watering

At home, caring for laurel is quite simple. After a small tree is rooted and green, it is important to provide it with comfortable conditions and regular watering. AT summer period laurel is watered with water at a temperature of 25–30 degrees. If a tap water in your area is too hard, it must first be filtered or boiled. The plant should not be flooded - too wet soil it harms much more than dried earth, and is even capable of killing a tree. On especially hot days, you can also spray the leaves from the spray bottle twice a day (morning and evening). This will help wash dust and dirt off the leaves and reduce the chance of pests.
AT winter period common laurel prefers special care for him: a relatively low temperature - +15 degrees at room humidity. Therefore, it is recommended to remove the pot with the plant away from the heaters, leaving it on a cool windowsill or insulated, but not heated loggia. Watering in winter is usually less intense - a couple of times a week is enough.

Fertilizer

Caring for a noble laurel at home includes top dressing during a period of rapid growth. For this purpose, ready-made mineral or organic fertilizers for domestic plants are used, both special "Laurel" and those intended for cacti and palm trees. The frequency of feeding - up to two times a month.

Transfer and transshipment

Laurel transplantation is carried out, depending on the age of the plant, once a year for a young tree and after a year or two for an older tree. It is better to perform it in the spring before the start of the active period. Laurel is usually grown in small pots, each new pot is chosen 5-6 centimeters larger in diameter. Laurel transplantation at home occurs in the following order: first, the root ball is removed from the old pot and gently shake off part of the earth; then transferred to a new pot with drainage laid on the bottom and half filled with soil; the roots are carefully straightened, covered with earth and compacted so that the tree holds firmly. It is important not to pour too much earth, keeping the same relative level as in the old pot. If everything is done correctly, the laurel will grow from new force, continuing to delight with its beauty and aroma.

reproduction

How to grow from seed?

Growing laurel from seeds at home is not a difficult process, but you need to be patient. Seeds can remain viable for up to a year after ripening on a tree, but this is possible only if right conditions storage, so most often they are recommended no later than 3 months. Before planting, you can remove the “shell” from the seeds - the pericarp, this will speed up the germination process. Laurel from the stone at home without pre-treatment sprouts rather slowly - sometimes the sprouts can remain in the ground for up to six months. Do not despair, it is only important to periodically water the soil. When the seedlings hatch and unfold two or three leaves, it is time for picking - the plants are dug up and the root is pinched 2/3 of the length. After this procedure, laurel seedlings are planted in a permanent "place of residence".

How to grow from a cutting?

If among your friends there is already a flower grower who grows laurel, a new seedling can be obtained from an old tree by cuttings. The most suitable time for propagation of indoor laurel by cuttings is spring, but if necessary, the cuttings can be rooted both in summer and in autumn. Twigs are cut 6-8 cm long (two or three internodes) from mature, but not yet lignified young shoots. Then, for a day, for better rooting, they are kept in a solution of heteroauxin or potassium permanganate, after which they are buried in the ground for half the length and looked after in the same way as in the case of growing laurel from the stone.

Visual design

The formation of a laurel at home is a simple and, one might say, optional process. Regular, careful pruning creates nice shape crowns and enhances branching, due to which even a small house tree make it look like tall street counterparts, giving the appropriate look - a ball, a pyramid or a classic standard one.

Pests

Among the pests of indoor laurel, scale insects, spider mites, mealybugs and aphids. At the first signs of an unhealthy tree: massively falling yellow or gray leaves, white cobwebs on leaves and branches, damage to the bark and sprouts of the plant, you should immediately begin to isolate it from healthy neighbors. Shchitovka damages almost the entire plant: both leaves and twigs and trunk. With a weak infection, pests can be removed with a cotton swab with soapy water, and with a strong one, Actellik or Karbofos insecticides will be needed (after such treatment, the leaves become unsuitable for human consumption). Spider mite appears on a tree in dry rooms with high air temperatures. The signal for tick damage is grey colour fallen leaves, the juice of which he feeds. Aphids pass to nobilis from other plants, including those brought from the garden. To combat it, it is recommended to use a tobacco decoction with soap, which is repeatedly sprayed on the plant.

Diseases

It does not lead to the deplorable state of the home laurel proper care at home. Excessive watering leads to leaf spots and root rot, and insufficient watering leads to yellowing of the leaves. AT winter time Without proper care, the leaves may fall off the tree.

Application

At home, some housewives grow noble laurel as a spice, fresh and affordable. The leaves of the plant have a pleasant aroma and a bitter taste that goes well with fish and meat. They are often found in soups, second courses, autumn preparations. The slight scent of wood essential oil freshens the air and helps to reduce the number of insects in the room - for example, mosquitoes do not like it. Homemade laurel is unpretentious in care and takes root without problems in the most different apartments. With proper care, this ornamental leafy plant will delight with its beauty and aroma for many years.

Grow overseas spice on your windowsill? There is nothing easier! Contents1 Description of the plant2 Where it grows3 Species4 Uses5 Useful properties and ...

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

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

The inexhaustible patrician

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

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

Light for the tree of the world

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

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

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

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

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

Temperature

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

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

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

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

Soil and fertilizer

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

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

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

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

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

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

The frequency of transplants depends on age:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Water

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

Stagnation at the roots should be completely eliminated.

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

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

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

Reproduction: one laurel is good ...

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

Get planting material laurel in several ways:

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

Laurel cuttings

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

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

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

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

Division of the bush and layering

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

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

Laurel from seeds

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

When is vaccination needed?

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

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

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

Pests and diseases

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

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

Infected specimens are subject to mandatory isolation!

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

Noble, stylish and useful

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Everyone has known this plant since childhood, despite the fact that its roots (literally and figuratively) are from the subtropics. We are talking about the noble laurel. Our mothers and grandmothers, great-grandmothers added and continue to add such a familiar “lavrushka” to soups and main dishes for flavor, to various preparations for the winter: what kind of crispy pickles and without bay leaf ?.

Perhaps this is one of the most famous spices in the vastness of Russia, and one of the most beloved and used in cooking. And who did not read, all in the same times of distant or recent youth, ancient Greek myths, myths of the country where noble laurel revered as a sacred tree? The heads of the victors were decorated with wreaths from it, laurel groves were also considered sacred, rituals were held in them, with the aim of appeasing the gods, asking for protection, glory, victory in battle, on the lists.

Since we do not have subtropics, we will try to grow this “sacred” tree at home, in an apartment, especially since the plant is quite unpretentious and it will greatly decorate your interior. In the wild, the tree reaches quite high heights (10-15 m), while in the conditions of apartment living it is much less, however, think in advance where it will live in your living room or in the kitchen, give it a fairly spacious and bright corner.

Temperature

He does not need too high a temperature in the winter, +15 degrees is enough, in the summer it is better to take the pot out to the balcony, to the veranda or to the street, if possible, arrange a vacation for him. fresh air.

Lighting

The subtropical guest loves the light, the sun, but not the heat - make an artificial penumbra, if direct rays cannot be avoided, water abundantly, preferably with warm water.

Watering

In the warm season, the laurel prefers abundant watering. The plant is watered immediately after the top layer of the earth dries out. For irrigation use warm and well-settled water. Reduce watering in winter. Laurel does not like to be flooded, but the earth in a pot should not dry out completely.

Transfer

The tree grows slowly, however, it requires an annual transplant while it is still young. Transplantation is a change in the pot, which has become too small for the laurel, to a larger pot, do it carefully and carefully, without damaging the root system.

When the laurel reaches the age of three or four, you can replant it every two years or as needed: add peat, sand, humus to the soil for planting, the composition should be light enough, “breathable” and, at the same time, nutritious. You can add a little wood ash - the plant does not like acidic soils, the ash compensates for excessive acidity, if any. By all means, as necessary, spray the plant with water, the dust accumulating on the leaves does not allow them to fully “breathe”.

Top dressings and fertilizers

Laurel tree needs both organic and mineral fertilizers. It is fed during the growing season. It is better to use specialized fertilizers or reduce the recommended concentration. Laurel can and should be fed with fertilizers, but do not overdo it in this noble impulse: an excess of fertilizers can have a depressing effect on the plant.

Reproduction of laurel

Perhaps the most time-consuming and little predictable process is reproduction. Laurel propagates in two ways - cuttings and seeds. This process is quite lengthy. The cuttings take root for a long time, and it will take about three months for the seeds to germinate.

seeds

Seeds stored in autumn may not sprout at the beginning of spring (this depends on storage conditions, they should not dry out or freeze), and cuttings are also very capricious material, they take root for a long time. Twigs 10–12 cm long should be planted in light (with a fairly high sand content) soil, covered with a film or glass bowl. We put the plant in heat, and wait until it takes root.

This can happen a few weeks after planting, so be patient and remember to water when the soil dries out. Do not rush to “pluck” (for culinary purposes) the tree, let it grow, and it will thank you with wonderful, delicious-smelling leaves that cannot be compared with those that we buy in the store, because they are fresh, have not lost their unique aroma during long transportation and storage and, most importantly, grown by your own hands.

cuttings

The most suitable time for propagation of laurel by cuttings is March. For this purpose, semi-lignified twigs are suitable, the length of which has reached about 10 cm. In order for the cuttings to take root better, they are treated with Kornevin or Heteroauxik. They are rooted in a pot in a mixture of sand and peat, placed in a mini-greenhouse or covered glass jar. The temperature in the room should be between 24-25 degrees.

Diseases and pests

The main enemy of the laurel is. When infected, the leaves become shiny and sticky, releasing essential oils. If the pest is fought with insecticides, laurel leaves should not be used as a seasoning.

Let's talk about an evergreen tree, whose homeland is the Mediterranean. It will be about the laurel tree. Let's figure out what a shrub is and how to grow a laurel in your area.

The laurel tree can reach a height of about 12 meters. For indoor cultivation, as a rule, noble laurel is used.

Description of home laurel tree

This tree is known all over the world. The ancient Greeks made wreaths from it, which decorated the heads of the winners. Currently Bay leaf is a very popular and versatile seasoning. for a wide variety of dishes. Essential oil This shrub is used in the manufacture of perfumes.

Laurel noble in Europe is still very popular, although it became famous there in the 16th century.

Many people quite successfully grow laurel at home, as well as in special greenhouses. If you provide the plant with proper care and create the necessary conditions, then it is quite possible to grow a beautiful tree.

A distinctive feature of the tree are its green, pointed leaves, brown shoots and peculiar smell of leaves. One has only to rub the leaf plate or tear off a piece, a bright aroma of the spice familiar to everyone will appear.

The flowers of the tree are white with a yellow tinge; after the fertilization process, dark-colored fruits are formed.

Bay leaf: growing at home

It is worth saying that the noble laurel is considered completely unpretentious plant, although he does not like it when he is "forgotten" and does not give him due attention. It grows well in the room.

Where to put a tree pot and how to ensure the right lighting? . It may well grow in the shade, but this process will be much slower. It is very important to provide the shrub with fresh air, while you should not be afraid of drafts, they will not affect the plant at all. The room in which the laurel grows should be ventilated often.

In the summer, a house tree can and even needs to be taken out to the street or to the balcony. In the open air, it will develop much better and faster.

As for the temperature, laurel perfectly tolerates any temperature It doesn't matter if it's low or high. It is best to grow a tree in moderate air parameters at a slightly lower temperature. Laurel feels great at an air temperature of 0 degrees Celsius. The plant also tolerates hot summers well. In winter, it is recommended to maintain a temperature of about 12 degrees Celsius in the room where the indoor tree is located.

If we talk about watering, then laurel does not welcome high soil moisture, so you should not be zealous with watering. But it is also not necessary to bring the soil to a significant drying. In winter, the tree should be watered moderately, so as not to lead to rotting of the rhizome.

The bush loves wet air , and therefore it must be occasionally sprayed with water from a spray bottle. This manipulation will clean the foliage of the tree from dust. It is recommended to occasionally wash the plant in the shower. Such a procedure will protect the shrub from many pests, such as, for example, spider mites.

Planting a plant

The tree should be planted in mixture:

• 1 part sand
• 1 part peat
• 2 parts of leaf land,
• 4 parts of sod land.

It is better to take a small pot and, as the plant develops, transplant it into a larger container. You can transplant noble laurel once every three years, since its growth is rather moderate.

An adult laurel is transplanted once every four years, and an annual renewal of the topsoil is necessary.

Reproduction at home

The bay tree propagates by cuttings, seeds and offspring.

For those people who like to experiment, wood provides many possibilities. There are three breeding methods available:

• roots,
• seeds,
• cuttings.

offspring must be separated when transplanting an adult plant and carefully planted in separate containers.

cuttings you need to take with three - four internodes. In order for the tree to take root well, it is necessary to lower it into Kornevin's solution before planting. Next, the cutting is lowered into a container of water and left there until the roots appear. You can plant it immediately in the sand or pour it, while covering it with a transparent container. We must not forget to ventilate the plant. active growth and successful breeding takes place in the spring.

seed method of reproduction It takes patience and some skill. They need to be sown in early spring in light soil, deepening the seeds by 1.5 centimeters. The first shoots will have to wait quite a long time, about two months.

It is important to know that bay tree seeds lose their germination very quickly, so when buying them in a store, you need to carefully look at the packaging date.

Cuttings take root not in one hundred percent of cases, but to increase this percentage, hormonal preparations can be used that accelerate the process of formation and formation of the root system.

Diseases and pests of indoor bay tree

Like many others houseplants, laurel can be attacked by insects, affected by fungi and bacteria.

Helps fight pests special preparation under the name "Actellik". It effectively infects various pests that attack the laurel.

Very often attacks a tree scab. The appearance of a sticky layer on the foliage and a specific shine will tell about its presence on the plant. Washing the leaves with soapy water and a shower with running water can help in the fight against the pest. Remains of the pest can be removed with a soft cloth or cotton swab.

Quite often, the laurel tree is affected spider mite. The insect loves dry air very much, so regular spraying of the tree will significantly reduce the chances of the pest spreading. In the event of an attack on the plant, you can use the same soapy shower and insecticides.

When washing the plant in the shower, the soil must be covered with a film so as not to overmoisten it.

As for diseases, this plant suffers from them quite rarely. The main problems are usually associated with improper care. Too much watering leads to rotting of the root system, this is especially true in winter. Dense soil will cause the leaves to fall and turn yellow.

Do not put a pot of bay tree next to radiators. too dry and warm air causes leaf fall and browning.

In winter, the tree is at rest, but if the room is very dry and hot, the leaves will curl and fall off. It is best in such a situation to rearrange the pot with the plant in a cool room, for example, on a loggia. Experienced gardeners - gardeners recommend putting a plastic bag on the plant in order to create additional moisture around it.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is worth saying that the bay tree is a wonderful plant that anyone can grow in their apartment. It is so unpretentious that even a beginner can handle it. But the owner of such a tree will always be provided with a very fragrant and beloved spice for cooking numerous dishes. Bay leaf will give the food a special aroma and aftertaste.

He looks beautiful in any interior. It has been proven that bay leaves are very effective in purifying the air of germs and harmful impurities.

Plant this beautiful tree at home, grow a homemade bay leaf, and you will definitely be satisfied!