Bay leaf - a plant with excellent decorative properties, able to bring considerable benefits. It can be placed not only on the plot, but also indoors, because with the right pruning it makes excellent bonsai. It is easy to grow your plant even from seeds, it is enough to follow simple technology.

Useful companion
Trees and shrubs of noble laurel are distinguished by enviable longevity. Some representatives easily step over the 400 year-old frontier. This was made possible thanks to the special qualities of the plant and the huge mass of nutrients in it. Decoctions and tinctures can help with:
- weakened immunity
- sweating feet,
- help fight skin problems
- contribute to the improvement of the hair and other similar.
Excellent soothing and antiseptic properties help to create a special, relaxing atmosphere in the house. In addition, self-grown representative of this kind will be a real decoration of any interior.

Main problem
An adult laurel is a rather unpretentious plant, but in order to reach this state from seed, it needs help. The most common problem faced by gardeners who have decided to see the treasured trees or bushes on their site is the search for suitable seeds. Possessing a strong protective sheath, they can remain viable for a long time, but experienced specialists do not advise using those that have been stored for a year or more.

To ensure more favorable conditions for germination, existing material should be prepared. To do this, soak the seeds in warm water. It is also recommended to break the integrity of the outer hard shell or to remove it altogether. If this is not done, germination can be delayed for 5 months or more.
Sprouting and planting
After a short soak, the laurel grain should be placed in a wet sandy soil. The surface of the soil in which the seeds are located must be isolated from the external environment. Best for these purposes are suitable small plastic cups filled with coarse sand. From above they can be covered with plastic wrap. The substrate must be kept wet.
On average, the sprout appears after 25-30 days. Since it is small and brittle, it should be handled very carefully.

Transplantation takes place in a slightly larger container filled with a mixture of light soil and sand.
There is a method of cultivation, in which bypass the stage of germination of grain. Seeding is done immediately in prepared soil. It must also be kept wet. In this case, the need to transplant the fragile germ is eliminated, but the process of spitting can be delayed for 2 months.
The most optimal landing time is the end of January and the beginning of February. It is best to use the material, shortly before that, taken from the tree. The fruits of laurel become ready for reproduction at the end of November. At the germination stage, you can use special stimulants that reduce the waiting time and strengthen the plant.
Transplant and cultivation
For the normal growth of the laurel in the initial stages, you need to create optimal conditions:
- enough moisture
- suitable air temperature
- good lighting,
- no likelihood of air drying.
Since laurel loves water, you need to make sure that the substrate in which it develops is always wet. The ambient temperature can be kept not too high, and watering should be made with water of the same temperature. For sprouts it is necessary to choose places rich in the sun. Also, it does not hurt, especially in winter, to install a humidifier next to the plant.
Transplantation into another container is carried out after the laurel stage has reached the stage of two true leaves. Ordinary clay or plastic pots are suitable for keeping the plant. At the bottom you need to arrange a small drainage and fill it with sand. The soil for planting should consist of two parts of ordinary soil and one part of sand. You can also add a little peat, manure or other natural fertilizer.

It should be noted that after transplantation and before rooting, young shoots must be protected from direct sunlight. Usually, the process of normal rooting in a new place lasts about 14 days, after which you can re-set the pots in a sunny place.
Inside and outside
Laurel tree can successfully grow, both inside and outside the room. It can be planted outside after successful sprout development. Some breeders prefer to keep the plant for a year in mild conditions at home and only then plant it.

When cultivating it indoors, you should pay close attention to timely pruning. Otherwise, the bush can quickly and seriously grow.
Transplanting into a larger tank is rarely done. You can initially settle the plant in a spacious house and change its land every few years. Regardless of the landing site, laurel tree responds well to natural fertilizers. The best of all is considered to be pigeon droppings.
With a little effort, you can get a beautiful and useful plant. Hedges, beautifully designed shrubs and other similar elements look particularly impressive.
How to grow laurel from seed
- The main difficulty in growing laurel is to get fresh
seeds.
- If there are good seeds, soak them in warm water or Epin (plant growth regulator). It is recommended to clean the seeds from the scales - the pericarp, this shell protects the core from environmental influences, but slows the growth of the shoot (as a result, untreated seeds make their way up to five months).
- Shoots weak, inconspicuous, sprout for at least a month. For rooting sprouts use wet sand. You can germinate in a plastic cup - bury the cleaned and swollen grain in wet sand, cover it with a film. Do not allow sand to dry.
- Soil for laurel must also contain sand. There are recommendations to use the mixture for citrus, and some lavoluby planted in the mixture for succulents.
Laurel care
The laurel needs spraying and abundant watering, tolerates a haircut well - in the off-season, August-September. In the hottest period, you need to water twice a day, there are recommendations to water it plentifully, all the earthy lump.
Lavra needs fertilizer, tolerates a sunny place. He doesn’t need a big pot, which is very convenient, but every three years it is advisable to replant it in a bigger pot with a thick layer of expanded clay.
Worst of all, laurel carries dry air (yes, it is not useful to anyone), in which case irrigation is necessary. You can put in the room a container with water, decorated with rose petals or glass stones. This will be useful not only to all the plants in the house, but also to you. Laurel is used extensively in medicine, especially laurel essential oil.
By autumn, watering should be reduced, and in winter it is advisable to provide a small bay of 10-15 degrees. Be sure to cut your tree, it can blow a real giant, and the bush will be much better. From laurel can get gorgeous bonsai.
The chemical composition of laurel gives it many useful properties. Laurel bush in the house - a real natural decoration. I will definitely get one.
How to plant a bay leaf of seeds
It is easiest to grow homemade laurel from seed. They are ordered in gardening online stores or brought from the south. Before planting, you need to pay attention to the freshness of the seeds, since they do not last long enough to germinate - just a few months. It is better to sow seeds in winter or in early spring - from December to March.
Seed preparation
How to plant a bay leaf of seeds The laurel seeds are protected by a dense black shell, through which it is difficult to make a sprout. Therefore, before sowing, it is recommended to clean the seed from the pericarp. The healthy nucleus inside the pericarp is usually yellowish-white and dense, not crushing it with your fingers. To speed up seed germination, it is possible to soak them for three days before planting in a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
Soil preparation
For laurel is good soil in which enough nutrients. The optimal composition:
Garden land - part 1
Leafy ground - part 1
Peat - ½ part
Sand - ½ parts
Lime - it can be added to the mixture quite a bit, since the acidic soil for laurel is destructive.
You can prepare a less saturated mixture for seeding. To do this, take an equal amount of leaf and sod land (1 part) and add 2 parts of sand. Such soil must be well compacted and moistened.
Preparing the container for planting
For the cultivation of laurel is perfect clay pot. At the bottom you need to arrange the drainage - expanded clay balls or any shards. About 2 cm of pure sand is poured on the drainage layer. Then the pot is filled with prepared soil, and then another 2 cm of pure sand. Soil temperature should be 20 degrees.
Planting and care
Seeds are buried in the sand by 1 cm. The soil should be watered well, cover the surface of the pot with glass or film and leave in a warm place. For airing shelter must be removed every day for half an hour. In this case, the soil should not be allowed to dry out, otherwise the seeds may die. Usually with a favorable temperature (18-25 ° C) shoots appear within a month and a half, but they can germinate even longer, even up to three months. As soon as the first shoots hatch, the film from the pot should be removed and watered regularly. During this period, to accelerate growth, it is better to put the pot in a well-lit place. After the appearance of the first pair of leaflets in saplings, they need to dive (transplant).
Transplanting laurel seedlings
When the seedlings grow to 5-8 cm, they are planted in small pots with a diameter of 10 cm. Before transplanting, seedlings must be watered well so that the earth becomes wet and soft. This is done in order not to damage the stem roots of the shoots. For picking prepare a soil mixture with a richer content:
Sodland - 2 parts,
Dead manure - 2 parts
Sand - 1 part,
Peat - ½ part.
For the drainage layer in this case, you can take charcoal.
Transplanted plants are placed in a shaded place. In the sun, it is better not to exhibit them for two weeks. Water for watering needs to be defended. Its temperature should be 2-3 degrees above room temperature. After two weeks, the laurel can be put up on the sunny window sill, where it will gain strength, will quickly grow and begin to branch well. It is only necessary to monitor the formation of the crown and time to pinch the tips of the shoots.Laurel seedlings
It is difficult to find a person who has not heard of the seasoning bay leaf. The native area of spicy culture is subtropics. In the Russian Federation, its cultivation in open ground is possible only in the south. In other regions, the plant is cultivated in normal indoor conditions. Experts share experiences on how to get fragrant homemade lavushka without problems: to grow it from seeds, to prevent diseases and to correctly trim the leaves. For clarity, the tips illustrated photo.
Laurel tree: description of the plant. Cultivation features
Excellent seasoning for the first and second courses, sauces and marinades with a strong and unique aroma - this is bay leaf. And it also has disinfecting and diuretic properties, therefore it is also used in traditional medicine. The leaves are rich in nutrients, acids and essential oils. In ancient mythology, laurel branches were the guardian of the house from all the bad.
Attention! Scientifically proven: the tree cleans the air in the room, prevents the formation of fungus and the development of bacteria.
Another property of the home form of laurel tree - decorative. Always fresh greens can decorate any corner of the room. Even the north side, because to the abundance of sunlight, the plant is unpretentious, although the bush at the southern window will be denser and more magnificent.
Laurel - a useful and ornamental plant
Seeds of a Mediterranean guest are easy to purchase on the Internet or to find in flower shops. The fresher the seeds will be, the higher will be the indicators of its germination. The only true planting dates are spring (end of winter) or autumn.
Step-by-step laurel landing technology
The process consists of the following steps:
- Before starting work, store the seeds in the refrigerator.
- Soak the material for 2-3 days. This will help the germ to break through the thick cover of the seed. Pop up seeds are not suitable for reproduction.
- Soak the seeds in a growth stimulator for a few hours. For example, in Épinay.
- Disembark in ordinary volume pots or containers with a good drainage system. Use any neutral fertile soil as a base. However, the top layer 2-3 cm thick should consist of decontaminated sand.
- Deepen the seeds by 1 cm and cover the planting film. The greenhouse is designed to maintain a high level of moisture in the soil.
Be prepared that even under ideal conditions and proper care of the seedlings, you will see not earlier than in 3-6 months. Therefore, growers recommend sowing laurel in January or February. In this case, even with the slowest development, shoots will appear in summer, and this is the best time for their active development and growth. Favorable temperature for germination - not below +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.
Caring for a laurel tree in 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, complete with a water tank. Place it on the windowsill next door. Mini-lake can be decorated and made an element of room decor.
- Feed laurel with fertilizer about once every 3 weeks. From the second season, focus on organic matter (pigeon droppings have worked well). Throughout the life of the plant, mineral supplements work effectively.
- Water the tree only with separated water at room temperature. From May to September - once every 3 days, the rest of the time - once every 5 days. Watering can be increased on the hottest summer days. However, beware of excess moisture in the soil.
- Young bushes up to 3 years old need to be transplanted once every 2 years to a larger pot. The best time is spring. Older trees are transplanted no more than 1 time in 5 years. Sometimes the old laurels are not transplanted, but simply change the top layer of soil new. After the procedure, apply organic fertilizer and stop feeding for six months.
Spray the plant regularly
- In the summer, the laurel will benefit from fresh air. Take the plant to a balcony, veranda or even to the garden. But beware of cool drafts.
- Cut the tree. The best time is the turn of summer and autumn. This will stimulate the laurel to grow in breadth, not up. Starting with the 2-year-old tree, form a crown in the form of a ball or any other shape with garden scissors.
- Loosening is also necessary for this plant. Work carefully - the roots lie shallow.
Council In winter, during the rest period, it is desirable for a laurel tree to provide a cool atmosphere with a temperature within + 10 ... 15 ° C.
Alternative ways to breed laurel tree
Get a new copy of the laurel can also be horizontal layering and cuttings. The first method is relevant only for open ground, and the second is suitable for room culture. Procurement of cuttings should be made in March or April:
- only shoots of a healthy plant are suitable, which have not yet been crusted, but have already matured,
- get sections of 6-8 cm: make an incision in half the thickness of the branch, tear off the rest with a small piece of bark,
- the stalk must have a heel that is below the first knot,
- remove the leaves in the lower part of the segment.
Laurel can be propagated by cuttings
Be prepared for difficulties, because the cuttings are poorly rooted. To increase the chances of success, soak the segment first in water, then in any root-forming stimulator. Dip the stalk 2 cm into the cleaned sand and cover with foil. Spray the ground to maintain high humidity in the greenhouse. Under normal conditions of development, the twig will take root in about 1 month. After that, it can be planted in open ground.
The laurel tree has a specific aroma and antimicrobial substances in its juice, therefore, it is sufficiently resistant to pests and fungal infections. A plant can become infected only if it is strongly activated. In this case, use the standard methods against specific ailments. The external sign of poor health trees - yellowing leaves. In general, care for the laurel is simple. He can grow on the windowsill even a beginner.
Growing laurel on the windowsill: video
Laurel tree: description of the plant. Cultivation features
Excellent seasoning for the first and second courses, sauces and marinades with a strong and unique aroma - this is bay leaf. А ещё он обладает обеззараживающим и мочегонным свойствами, поэтому применяется также и в народной медицине. Листики богаты полезными веществами, кислотами и эфирными маслами. В древней мифологии лавровые ветви были оберегом дома от всего плохого.
Attention! Scientifically proven: the tree cleans the air in the room, prevents the formation of fungus and the development of bacteria.
Another property of the home form of laurel tree - decorative. Always fresh greens can decorate any corner of the room. Even the north side, because to the abundance of sunlight, the plant is unpretentious, although the bush at the southern window will be denser and more magnificent.
Seeds of a Mediterranean guest are easy to purchase on the Internet or to find in flower shops. The fresher the seeds will be, the higher will be the indicators of its germination. The only true planting dates are spring (end of winter) or autumn.
Step-by-step laurel landing technology
The process consists of the following steps:
- Before starting work, store the seeds in the refrigerator.
- Soak the material for 2-3 days. This will help the germ to break through the thick cover of the seed. Pop up seeds are not suitable for reproduction.
- Soak the seeds in a growth stimulator for a few hours. For example, in Épinay.
- Disembark in ordinary volume pots or containers with a good drainage system. Use any neutral fertile soil as a base. However, the top layer 2-3 cm thick should consist of decontaminated sand.
- Deepen the seeds by 1 cm and cover the planting film. The greenhouse is designed to maintain a high level of moisture in the soil.
Be prepared that even under ideal conditions and proper care of the seedlings, you will see not earlier than in 3-6 months. Therefore, growers recommend sowing laurel in January or February. In this case, even with the slowest development, shoots will appear in summer, and this is the best time for their active development and growth. Favorable temperature for germination - not below +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.
Caring for a laurel tree in 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:
- In the summer, the laurel will benefit from fresh air. Take the plant to a balcony, veranda or even to the garden. But beware of cool drafts.
- Cut the tree. The best time is the turn of summer and autumn. This will stimulate the laurel to grow in breadth, not up. Starting with the 2-year-old tree, form a crown in the form of a ball or any other shape with garden scissors.
- Loosening is also necessary for this plant. Work carefully - the roots lie shallow.
Alternative ways to breed laurel tree
Get a new copy of the laurel can also be horizontal layering and cuttings. The first method is relevant only for open ground, and the second is suitable for room culture. Procurement of cuttings should be made in March or April:
- only shoots of a healthy plant are suitable, which have not yet been crusted, but have already matured,
- get sections of 6-8 cm: make an incision in half the thickness of the branch, tear off the rest with a small piece of bark,
- the stalk must have a heel that is below the first knot,
- remove the leaves in the lower part of the segment.
Be prepared for difficulties, because the cuttings are poorly rooted. To increase the chances of success, soak the segment first in water, then in any root-forming stimulator. Dip the stalk 2 cm into the cleaned sand and cover with foil. Spray the ground to maintain high humidity in the greenhouse. Under normal conditions of development, the twig will take root in about 1 month. After that, it can be planted in open ground.
The laurel tree has a specific aroma and antimicrobial substances in its juice, therefore, it is sufficiently resistant to pests and fungal infections. A plant can become infected only if it is strongly activated. In this case, use the standard methods against specific ailments. The external sign of poor health trees - yellowing leaves. In general, care for the laurel is simple. He can grow on the windowsill even a beginner.
Dates of sowing laurel
Noble laurel can breed in several ways, but most often practiced growing plants from seed or by grafting. The latter option is preferable, as it takes less time, but many gardeners still practice seed propagation.

In such conditions, the seeds of bay leaf can be safely stored for 2-3 months, although in this case it will be difficult to guarantee 100% germination.
Laurel of seeds: how to choose a quality planting material
It is good if you have the opportunity to independently harvest laurel berries or purchase plant seeds from proven people, but in most cases they have to be bought from strangers.
Therefore, it is important not only to know what laurel seeds look like (large, oval, up to 2 cm in length, with a thin and fleshy shell), but also to take into account their shelf life (from the time of packaging), especially when buying purified material, as untreated seeds stored 2-4 times longer peeled.
By themselves, the seeds of laurel and so it is very difficult to germinate, but if you buy copies that are more than one year old, their germination will take twice as long.
Climatic conditions for the reproduction of laurel
The noble laurel belongs to subtropical plants, and this means that it is excellent for growing in those climatic zones where temperature indicators do not fall below -12 ... -9.5 ° С. In addition, in some cases, such plants can successfully tolerate short-term frosts and down to -15 ° C.
Nevertheless, one compliance with the climatic zone is not enough to guarantee the well-being of the laurel in the circle of other trees in your garden. The success of the cultivation is also influenced by other features of the territory, which, above all, include soil composition and light.
In nature, the laurel tree survives well both in the sun and in partial shade, as well as in the undergrowth of deciduous forests. However, the full saturation of leaves with essential oils is possible only with good sunlight throughout the spring-summer period.
Only in this case, by the end of November - the beginning of December, you will be able to get the most ripe seasoning for culinary purposes or excellent raw materials for medicinal use.
How to prepare the ground for planting laurel tree

A nutrient and loose substrate is ideal for growing laurel, but he does not like acidic soils, which is why experts recommend adding wood ash to the soil.
Before planting seeds directly, the following soil mixture can be prepared: Two parts of leafy ground should be mixed with a similar amount of humus soil and add one part of sod soil, as well as one part of peat and sand.
A good option is considered to be a mixture of equal parts of turf and leaf land, to which 20% of sand is added.
The resulting substrate is scattered in separate pots with a diameter of at least 10 cm and a little ash is added to it.
Scheme of sowing laurel
Planting laurel seeds is a relatively simple process. Having prepared the soil in one of the above schemes, you need to put seeds into it at a depth of 1-2 cm and, after fixing them, wet the earthen ball well.

When the first shoots of the “cape” appear, they clean up and continue to monitor the soil moisture, since even a small drying can significantly slow down the growth of seedlings.
As soon as the plants have the first two leaves, they should be transplanted according to the 2 x 2 scheme in open ground or in separate small pots.
How to care for laurel tree seedlings
As you can see, growing laurel from seeds right at home is not such a difficult task, but the seedlings need proper care both before and after seed germination.
Glass or film, which covered with a container of seeds, must be removed daily for 15-20 minutes. Airing and maintaining constant humidity will not allow the seeds to dry out, and with the appearance of the first sheets in the shelter, there will be no need.
At this time, you should move the plants to a more lighted place (after about 30-40 days).
Once every two or three days, crops are watered with settled water at room temperature, and after the seedlings have 2-5 true leaves, they perform a pick.
Laurel seed: picking seedlings

As a substrate for seedlings, you can use a mixture of turf land, sand and rotted manure mixed with high-moor peat. Drainage is installed at the bottom of the pot or pot (small coals of deciduous trees can be used), and then the prepared mixture is poured and the plant itself is placed into it.
After transplantation, the earth lump is well watered with separated water, the temperature of which should be 2-3 ° C above room temperature. Thus, you can help better plant survival.
Over the next few weeks, avoid direct sunlight on the seedlings, and after the "quarantine" you can safely put the laurel in a well-lit place, which will only contribute to its further successful growth.
As fertilizer laurel use mineral and organic complex fertilizers, which are applied to the soil every month. This procedure becomes especially relevant during the growing season, although it is also not worthwhile for them to overfeed the plants.
