Reproduction and planting of laurel. Laurel is a noble tree-symbol. Secrets of care and reproduction at home

Noble laurel is a tree that has become a cult tree, which is primarily associated with ancient Greece, as well as with mythology and the image of the god Apollo, who is a symbol of male beauty.

For example, Ovid in Metamorphoses talks about how Apollo once fell madly in love with the beautiful Daphne, a forest nymph, and pursued her day and night.

One day, when he defeated the serpent Python, Apollo met Eros, the young god of love, and decided to play a trick on him. Apollo's mockery had an effect and he sent 2 arrows at Apollo. Both arrows hit their targets - Daphne and Apollo.

From that time on, Daphne always ran away from Apollo. Nothing could help him win the heart of the unapproachable beauty. The anguished Daphne decided to turn to Earth and Peneus so that they would take her image.

After her request was granted, she was turned into a laurel bush. Since then, Apollo, saddened for the rest of his life, wore a wreath of laurel bush leaves on his head.

In Greece, laurel tree leaves were used to decorate houses, thereby refreshing a boring interior.

In addition, bay leaves were placed in mattresses so that the dreams that a person sleeping on a mattress would have were prophetic. There was a belief that laurel could save from lightning.

It is also known that the Roman Emperor Tiberius wore a wreath of laurel leaves and hid under his bed during thunderclaps.

Noble laurel - subtropical tree (shrub), from the Laurel family.

Laurel branches and laurel wreaths are considered symbols of victory, peace, and glory.

From the name of this plant happened:

  • Names: Lavrenty, Laura, Lorenz, Laurus.
  • Word "laureate" which means "laurel crowned" ».
  • Phraseologism "Reap laurels" those. receive the fruits of your success.

The laurel has long been considered a sacred tree, and the heads of those who were awarded the title of winner were decorated with wreaths of laurel leaves. Nowadays bay leaves are used more as a spice.

Noble laurel - description

The homeland of laurel is the Mediterranean. But on the territory Modern Russia it grows in the area Krasnodar region, in the South-West.

Appearance

On the remaining trees, the flowers are only pistillate, even smaller, and are collected in several leaf axils.

Fruit the laurel has blue-black, juicy, fragrant drupes and all 2 cm in length, often elliptical or ovoid, with a large bone. The flowering period is March-April, and the fruits ripen in late October - early January.

Beneficial features

Bay leaves and their value cannot be overestimated, since they contain essential oils (almost 5%), cineole, valeric, acetic and caproic acids. The leaves contain geraniol, pinene, eugenol. The leaves and fruits contain tannins and bitterness.

  • It is also used to cure chronic cholecystitis, cholelithiasis.
  • A decoction of bay leaves improves digestion, is a natural appetite stimulant, and has a beneficial effect on general state body.
  • Essential oils are extracted from fruits, flowers and leaves for the food industry.
  • To some extent, they are also used in the field of soap making and perfumery.

Bay leaf and its uses

Bay leaf has a weak odor and bitter taste. In the form of a spice, it is used in dried form, powders and fruits, as well as briquettes, into which the powder can sometimes be pressed. Its use is widespread in canning and cooking.

Some people call bay leaf a spice because it is often used in cooking. It adds a noble aroma to dishes, especially gravies and sauces.

It is often added to first courses, when preparing broth, for example. It goes well with beans, beans, peas, and carrots.

Unlike most spices, Bay leaf You can add it 5 minutes before cooking, and at the beginning of cooking (the first 7-10 minutes). Usually one to four leaves are added.

Bay leaves are also indispensable in making jelly. It is also actively used in the production of sausages and sausages, stews, sauces, preserves and more. It is necessarily included in such mixtures as “ Khmeli-suneli».

When canning at home, bay leaves are also often used, especially for tomatoes, cucumbers, beets, beans, mushrooms, and squash. In combination with other spices, it gives a unique aroma and pleasant taste.

In the West, there is still a tradition of adding bay leaves to certain types of preserves when canning and to certain sweet dishes, desserts and drinks.

Bay leaves - grown at home

Noble laurel: cultivation

Noble laurel feels most comfortable in illuminated areas, but can also tolerate dark conditions.

It withstands short-term temperature changes of up to 12 degrees below zero. Tolerates drought well, not picky about soils different types. Fertilization with minerals and organic fertilizers. The laurel grows in one place for 60 years.

In industrial areas (plantations), laurel is grown in subtropical areas, where the sum of effective temperatures per year is equal to 3000 degrees Celsius, and the temperature minimum does not fall below 12 degrees.

Before sowing, the soil is plowed to a depth of half a meter. Next, organic and mineral fertilizers are applied, and then the area is harrowed and cultivated a couple of times. Disembarkation is carried out in early spring or autumn.

The spacing between rows is 1-2 meters, the spacing between plants is 1.5 meters.

In such areas, laurel care is carried out through weeding, watering, cultivation and control of harmful insects.

But laurel can also be grown at home.

From November to February, leaves are collected from trees that have reached the age of three and four years.

  1. The branches are cut with leaves and dried for 7-10 days.
  2. Next, the leaves are removed, sorted and placed in bags, which must be stored in dry rooms.
  3. For getting essential oil The leaves are used fresh - they are processed and oil is obtained.

Ways to propagate laurel

Laurel reproduces well in three ways:

  1. cuttings,
  2. seeds and
  3. bends.

Planting material is grown from seeds in special nurseries, or seeds are sown in the ground. Seeds harvested from certain mother trees lose their freshness very quickly, so after collection they are immediately sown to a depth of four to five centimeters. After emergence of seedlings, the borings are replanted.

Cuttings

The most common method is propagation by semi-lignified cuttings.

In the spring, from about March to April, laurel cuttings are carried out, but sometimes this is also done in the summer (from June to July). In order to prepare cuttings, annual shoots of the plant are used, since they have already matured, but have not become lignified.

Cuttings taken from the lower or middle part of the shoots of the bush are cut off under the third node. The lower leaf is removed, and the upper ones are cut off, but only by half.

It is used as a substrate to help the cuttings take root better. coarse sand.

You can make your own mixture of sand and moss (turf soil with sand):

  1. a drainage layer is poured into the pot,
  2. and then a layer of turf soil (4 cm),
  3. and a little sand on top,
  4. and the cuttings are planted 1.5 cm deep.

For better rooting The sprouts need to be ventilated and sprayed every day. At temperatures from sixteen to twenty degrees, rooting will take a month.

Growing laurel from seeds

Laurel seeds are large, oval-shaped and up to two centimeters in length, with a thin shell that prevents the seeds from drying out and premature germination.

Laurel seeds do not like drying out and can germinate only in the first 3-5 months (and then only with proper storage). Before sowing, the seeds must be freed from the shell and sown in separate pots, or simply on permanent place.

Seeds usually germinate from April to August. It also happens that sometimes seeds can germinate in January, but when severe frosts the seedlings will most likely die.

It is best to keep the plants in the room 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 not necessary, but from the second year, mineral fertilizers can be used as additional feeding. small doses. Laurel will tolerate any soil except waterlogged soil.

If you grow laurel in your home, you will get beauty forever green plant, which will delight the eye every day.

Laurel is a plant known to everyone. Nowadays, it is difficult to imagine a dish prepared without adding a specific taste and aroma to the food. Also in Ancient Rome We grew homemade laurel. Caring for the unpretentious plant is simple, and it takes root well on loggias and balconies.

Main characteristics

Laurel is a houseplant that even novice gardeners can care for. Under natural growing conditions, this tree can reach a height of 18 meters. By the way, in the Sochi area you can find specimens that are 15 meters high.

Despite the fact that the laurel special care does not require, it is still desirable to create the most favorable environment for the plant. Indoor culture prefers to be on sunny place, however, it will grow well in the shade. Also, a plant such as laurel is not afraid of drafts and drought. Care at home should be carried out so that it does not experience stress due to lack of water, or, conversely, does not suffer from waterlogging of the soil. Laurel is resistant to diseases and pests, it can be trimmed to give various shapes. Many gardeners manage to grow big trees, having an openwork intertwined trunk.

Varieties of indoor laurel

This plant has only two types:

  • laurel;
  • Canarian laurel.

Unlike its compatriot, the Canarian species has large, broad leaves, slightly wrinkled at the edges. But its aroma is somewhat weaker than that of its noble brother.

Several varieties of the tree 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.

Healing properties

In addition to the fact that it is a fragrant, well-known seasoning, laurel also has a number of healing properties. This applies not only to leaves, but also to fruits. They contain aromatic essential oils and tannins. Thus, inhaling the vapors of tinctures prepared from plant components helps fight cancer.

Experts also say that laurel, if cared for correctly at home, can prevent the development of diseases such as ischemic disease hearts.

Features of care

Despite the fact that there is no special hassle when growing laurel, it still needs to be looked after. Otherwise even this unpretentious plant may die. Possessing a lot of useful advantages, it can look very beautiful and decorative, but this requires care. Noble laurel loves to trim the crown and spray the foliage. It is advisable to constantly wipe the dark green fragrant leaves from the dust that collects on them.

Temperature

For good growth, it is advisable for each plant to create the conditions to which it is accustomed in its native places. This also applies to such a flower as indoor laurel. Care in winter time- this is first of all optimal temperature air (not higher than 18 degrees). And in January, experts generally recommend lowering it to 10 degrees. Therefore, especially in apartments with central heating, it is better to keep the plant away from heat sources.

Reproduction

A plant such as laurel, which is properly cared for at home, is quite easily propagated by cuttings. It can be grown from seeds, but the shoots and root cuttings take a very long time to take root.

If you decide to grow a plant from seeds, be sure to check the expiration date of the seed. Take care of special soil and keep in mind that to obtain good seedlings, slightly different conditions are required.

For greater efficiency, experienced gardeners recommend soaking the material for sowing in warm water for a few hours. The seeds should not be placed deep into the soil; it is advisable to sprinkle them with a layer of soil and cover them with film.

If you propagate laurel by cuttings, then they should be cut from this year’s shoots, which have not yet had time to completely lignify. The preparation of future seedlings is carried out in the spring - in March or April. The cut shoots are planted in moist soil. It is advisable to remove most of the leaves, leaving two or three, which are best shortened. Length planting material should be 6-8 cm. For better and faster rooting, it is advisable to use very wet sand. It will take about a month for young seedlings to take root.

Transfer

Replanting should not be done frequently. Don't choose for small tree large capacity. The plant feels best in a small pot. When it becomes crowded, the new container should be 4 centimeters larger. Replanting should be done by transferring an earthen clod, adding the necessary soil to new pot. After planting, the laurel must be watered. Transplantation can be done in spring and summer.

Top dressing

All plants need periodic feeding, even laurel. Care at home does not require feeding the tree often; it is enough to do it twice a month, during the active growth period, that is, from June to September. For fertilizing, saltpeter, potassium salt, and liquid superphosphate are used. All fertilizers are diluted in water.

Lighting

In order to preserve the decorativeness and beauty of the laurel foliage, it is advisable to place it on a light, warm, well-lit side. Despite the fact that the flower feels normal in the shade, its color may change slightly, the leaves will no longer have such a bright color, and the tree itself may stretch out and the foliage may thin out.

IN room conditions It is very difficult to get a plant like laurel to bloom. Care at home, consistent with natural factors, can help the tree bloom. True, his flowers are not very beautiful. Basically, these are small inflorescences of yellow flowers with pleasant aroma.

Laurel is a plant that even children will enjoy caring for, since it is basically proper watering and location. If you do not know how to properly water an ornamental tree, then do it when the top layer of soil dries slightly. Do not overwater the flower, because even an unpretentious laurel can rot its roots from the abundance of water.

Before planting or transplanting, do not forget to do drainage. Try to refrain from transplanting a one-year-old laurel. The only thing this tree doesn’t really like is frequent replanting; its roots are very sensitive.

If you propagate a flower using cuttings, then when cutting, try not to completely cut the shoot from a large tree, try to carefully tear it. The resulting “heel” will contribute to faster development of the root system of the young seedling.

Do not forget about humidity and spray the plant daily in hot weather. Try to do this in the evening hours, since drops of moisture on the sheets, when exposed to sunlight, turn into very strong lenses that can leave severe burns on the foliage, which will not only lead to unsightly appearance, but also to their death.

Do not feed the plant in winter during the dormant period, otherwise, during the natural time for active growth, the laurel will not be able to develop normally, since it will not have time to gain strength. In winter, it is also advisable to reduce watering.

One of the most popular evergreen plants grown at home is the laurel flower. An additional effect of growing it indoors will be a pleasant aroma, and a bonus - protection from blood-sucking insects! It may be a small bush or a miniature tree. In ancient times, wreaths made of bay leaves were placed on the heads of winners and famous people. In conditions open air and soil grows up to 12 meters high. This plant is very convenient to grow at home, because it, in addition decorative decoration apartments, also has useful functions. No need to run to the store for a bay leaf, you just need to pick it from the 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:

  • laurel;
  • Canarian laurel.

Unlike its compatriot, the Canarian species has large, broad leaves, slightly wrinkled at the edges. But its aroma is somewhat weaker than that of its noble brother. Several varieties of the noble laurel tree are known.

A houseplant, which is quite simple to care for, is in high demand among gardeners. 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 bay trees

Bay leaf seedlings, after we can grow them from seeds, will need to be transplanted. When transplanting a seedling into a pot, be sure to fill it with a good drainage layer of expanded clay. Laurel loves moist soil, but stagnation of water should not be allowed, as this can lead to the death of the plant. The soil should be light; any version of the universal soil found on sale is suitable for laurel. Your own soil for planting laurel can be prepared from two parts of turf soil, one part of leaf soil, and half a part of fine, well-washed river sand. Before planting the seedling, the soil can be heated in the oven at a sufficient temperature for disinfection. Too much high temperature When warming up, it should be avoided so as not to destroy all beneficial microflora.

Propagation of laurel trees by cuttings

Before the shoots begin to grow in April, cuttings about 10 cm long are cut. Then they are rooted in heated leaf soil with the addition of sphagnum moss (1+1), covered glass jar or a plastic bag to retain moisture. It is advisable to maintain a constant temperature of +22…+28°C. With the appearance of leaves, the rooted cuttings are transplanted into the same soil mixture as when grown by seeds. The transplanted plants are constantly watered, preventing the soil from drying out, and sprayed with cool water.

Propagation of laurel tree by seeds

Laurel seeds are large, oval-shaped and up to two centimeters in length, with a thin shell that prevents the seeds from drying out and premature germination.

Laurel seeds do not like drying out and can germinate only in the first 3-5 months (and then only with 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 in severe frosts the seedlings will most likely die. It is best to keep plants in the room 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 not necessary, but from the second year, mineral fertilizers can be used as feeding in small doses. Laurel will tolerate any soil except waterlogged soil. If you grow laurel in your home, you will get a beautiful evergreen plant that will delight your eyes every day.

Laurel tree care

The laurel plant itself is quite unpretentious, loves light and Fresh air, not afraid of drafts. Caring for the laurel tree at home and in open ground Some points must be observed. Let's take a closer look at them.

Watering a bay tree

Laurel loves water very much; the plant needs a constant flow of soft water. During the dry season in summer, the plant can be watered twice a day, morning and evening. However, it is necessary to water if the plant has completely absorbed water and should not allow waterlogging. During the dormant period of autumn-winter, watering is reduced, but the soil should not be allowed to dry out. Try to comply temperature regime with the watering regime and then the plant will be able to gain strength and grow in the natural cycle.

Air humidity is very important for laurel important role. The plant should be sprayed daily with soft, filtered water, avoiding moisture on the leaves during 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.

Fertilizing the bay tree

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 liquid or full mineral fertilizer. In the winter season, laurel does not need feeding.

Lighting for growing bay trees

Laurel is a quite hardy plant; it will be able to grow in moderate light, but it will develop best - and actively branch - in bright, mostly diffused light. It should be protected from excess scorching sun rays

Laurel prefers bright light, but grows very well in the shade. It is advisable to protect the tree from direct sunlight, otherwise it may 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 growth crowns, 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 the winter temperature range is from 10 to 15 degrees.

The laurel lives most pleasantly in the fresh air - on the balcony, in the courtyard or in the country, including throughout the year - if winter temperatures stay at +5-6.

The best temperature during the growing season is 17-19 degrees.

In the spring, during the warm period, take the plant out into the fresh air. The bay tree is not afraid of wintering, so it easily tolerates even slight 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 the garden and used as a hedge.

Laurel tree pruning

Prune the tree. Best time- the border between summer and autumn. This will encourage the laurel to grow outward rather than upward. By pruning you can shape the plant and prevent it from growing too much. Starting from the age of 2 years, use garden shears to form a crown in the form of a ball or any other shape.

Diseases and pests of bay tree at home

The laurel species is very disease resistant. Very rarely, laurel can be affected by sooty 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 decorative look. For treatment, you can use a weak solution of soda and green soap in water - 5 g of each drug per liter of water is enough.

Of the pests that most often settle on houseplants, laurel can be threatened by scale insects, mealybugs and spider mites.

As you can see when proper care You can grow a bay tree at home.

Bay leaf is a well-known seasoning that is found in every kitchen. We purchase it in dried form. Recently, the quality of bay leaves leaves much to be desired. But this is understandable, until it is grown somewhere, collected, dried and until it reaches the buyer, half of it useful qualities evaporates. This problem can be easily solved - by planting a laurel tree in your home, which will bring to your home not only fragrant, aromatic leaves, but also beauty and health.

THE USEFUL PROPERTIES OF BAY LEAF have been known to people since ancient times. Where did this wonderful thing come from? useful tree on earth, probably, no one knows for sure, myths and legends were made about him... THE LEGEND OF LAUREL tells that the lovely nymph Daphne turned into a laurel tree, running away from the love of the god Apollo. Anything is possible, because it has been living on earth for thousands of years.

Story

Let's take a closer look at this wonderful tree.

The evergreen bay tree or bush belongs to the Laurel family. Laurel prefers to grow in countries with a mild subtropical climate. In those areas, the bay tree is considered a cold-resistant plant, because it can successfully withstand short-term frosts down to minus 13 degrees. When there is frost and cold wind, the tree's leaves curl.

Laurel is not picky about soil, loves light, but can grow in slight shade, it is great decoration gardens, parks, looks good in exhibitions. Under natural conditions, laurel blooms in spring; the flowers are small, inconspicuous, collected in several pieces of white, cream or golden color. After flowering, the tree produces black, blue-tinged, inedible juicy berries - drupes.

Well, in our regions, growing laurel in the garden is risky; it is best to grow it in winter greenhouses, insulated loggias, balconies, and also in ordinary living rooms.

And, interestingly, the laurel tree never blooms indoors.

Those who want to grow bay leaves at home often face the question of where to start, where to get seeds or cuttings?

If you are lucky enough to buy laurel seeds, that’s already good, but you need to take into account that when long-term storage their viability is lost. You can buy a laurel tree in flower shops, of course you will have to fork out more, but it is worth it - a fresh fragrant leaf will always be at your service, and the plant itself will successfully decorate the interior of your living space, at the same time it will improve the air in it, saturating it with phytoncides. You can also take the help of amateur flower growers who have already achieved some success in growing bay leaves and will be happy to share with you not only their experience, but also a piece of the plant.

How does laurel propagate?

Laurel is propagated by seeds, cuttings and division of the bush.

Propagation by seeds

When propagated by seeds, seedlings may differ significantly from the mother plant, for example, frost resistance and the content of essential oils may be lower. Freshly harvested seeds germinate best, which germinate quickly at a temperature of + 18 - + 20 degrees C.

For long-term storage, certain conditions must be observed: store in a plastic bag in a cool room, preferably on the bottom shelf in the refrigerator.

The seeds must be separated from the pulp, because it delays their growth. They are washed with water and immediately sown in pots, the bottom of which must have drainage. Soil: light and fertile - a mixture of garden soil, leaf soil, peat and sand in a ratio of 1:1:0.5:0.5. In pots with a diameter of 7 - 9 cm, 3-4 seeds are sown to a depth of 1 cm, watered with warm, settled water, placed in a warm place (not lower than +20 degrees C), covered with glass or transparent plastic film, open and ventilate from time to time.

When a couple of true leaves appear, the seedlings pick them up, planting them in individual pots with denser soil.

Propagation by cuttings

Laurel is propagated using cuttings in spring (March-April) or summer (June-July).

For these purposes, annual, mature, but not yet lignified shoots are used. Cuttings are cut 6-8 cm long, which are taken from the shoots of the middle or lower part of the bush. They should have three internodes and have an oblique cut above the third node.

To root cuttings, you can use turf soil with sand, coarse sand, or a mixture of moss and sand.

It is best to root in a “mini-greenhouse” or “greenhouse bag”.

To do this, you need to take a pot, put drainage on the bottom, then prepare a two-layer substrate, for example, a 4cm layer of turf soil and a 3cm layer of sand, water it and plant the cuttings to a depth of about 1.5cm, place the pot in a transparent plastic bag, tie it on top or cover it with glass jar.

The cuttings should be sprayed and ventilated daily.

At a temperature of +18 - +20 degrees. C. they take root within a month.

Caring for an indoor bay tree

Bay trees grow slowly. They are transplanted in the spring, young trees after 2 years, adults - after 3-4 years, each time into a container slightly larger than the previous one (by 5 cm). The soil is turf soil, humus soil and sand in a ratio of 2:1:1, and a little lime.

Laurel is considered a drought-resistant plant.

He needs:

in winter - limited watering in a cool room;

in spring and autumn - moderate watering;

in summer - abundant watering with frequent spraying of leaves or wiping the leaves with a damp sponge.

In winter, laurel is kept in good light in a cool room at a temperature of +10 - +12 degrees. WITH

When pests (aphids, scale insects, mites) appear, the leaves are washed with soapy water and then rinsed clean.

The laurel needs pruning; if this is not done in time, it can grow up to 6m. Therefore, it is necessary to limit its growth in time and form a crown. Laurel can be grown in the form of a bush or standard tree.

Damaged shoots are pruned in the spring, and decorative trimming is done in the summer.

In summer, the bay tree can be fed with organic fertilizers - once every three weeks or with complex fertilizers mineral fertilizers 1 time per month.

To obtain leaves, trees of three or four years old are used. The branches are pruned in autumn or winter, cutting off the third and fourth part of the crown.

The branches are dried in ventilated areas without access to sunlight, then the leaves are removed from them, which are subsequently stored in paper or linen bags. The next pruning to obtain a leaf is carried out after a year.

Good day everyone!

Noble laurel (laurus nobilis) or laurel tree, with the fragrant leaves of which every housewife is familiar, grows naturally in the south of Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Western Caucasus. But laurel can also act as indoor plant, especially since caring for it at home is not at all difficult.

And the health benefits of this plant in the room are very great. Bay leaves contain many phytoncides and essential oils that purify and heal the air. And the energy of the plant is very good, it’s not for nothing that it is a noble laurel! Heroes and winners were awarded with wreaths of laurel branches!

The laurel bush is very suitable for both the bedroom and the living room. It improves sleep, harmonizes relationships, smooths out rough edges, and helps mutual understanding.

The most popular use of bay leaves is as a spice. Also noticed a long time ago medicinal properties plants to which it owes the large presence of essential oil in its leaves. This oil is widely used in perfumery and cooking.

I got a laurel about ten years ago. I accidentally bought it in some store. I brought it home and was very happy.

But the plant sat in one place and did not grow. What's happened? I began to look carefully - and there was a scale insect on it! That's why my bay laurel isn't growing! And now I will tell you about my experience of caring for indoor laurel and how I got rid of the scale insects on it.

The laurel plant itself is quite unpretentious, loves light and fresh air, and is not afraid of drafts. Grows well in regular soil suitable for most evergreens.

If you want to prepare the soil yourself, take this mixture - 2 parts turf soil, and 1 part each sand, humus and well-decomposed peat. The soil should be sufficiently breathable with neutral acidity.

In summer, during the growing season, laurel needs feeding. As for home remedies, I use water after washing the meat, a little ash, and also feed fertilizers for indoor flowers according to the instructions. Feeding can be done once every two weeks.

The tree tolerates pruning well, and the branches can then be used in the kitchen. By pruning you can shape the plant and prevent it from growing too much.

The temperature for growing bay trees is normal, room temperature. In winter, if it is possible to keep it cooler, then it is better to do so. But I have a laurel in an ordinary room, although in the winter we maintain the temperature in the house at 19-20 degrees, sometimes it can be lower, that is, without heat.

In winter, the plant is in a dormant period, so there is no need to feed it, but water it moderately when the soil dries out. In winter, the bush tolerates even a lack of light well; it stands in the back of my room on coffee table.

But when it begins to grow, it is better to put it in a brighter place so that the shoots do not stretch out.

Propagation of Laurus nobilis.

The easiest way to propagate laurel indoors is by root shoots during transplantation. There are times when seeds are found in a bag of bay leaves and for some people they sprout.

My laurel has never bloomed, perhaps this is not always possible in indoor conditions.

I tried to root the cutting under a jar, it sat for a very long time, but it never took root. Now I propagate only by division during transplantation and by root shoots, which appear in abundance around the main trunk.

Watering a bay tree.

One of the main conditions successful cultivation laurel - proper watering. The main rule is not to overwater the plant, especially in winter, when it is dormant. In summer, watering should be sufficient; in hot weather, you can water every day.

Here it is necessary to monitor the condition of the earthen clod and not allow it to dry out. The laurel will respond to a lack of water by wilting its leaves. If you water in time, the leaves will restore turgor.

For the last few years, I have been taking my laurel outside in the summer, and it stands on my terrace until frost. When it’s hot in the evenings, I can spray the flowers with water; when it rains, I expose them to the rain. so that the dust can be washed away.

In winter, instead of rain, I give the laurel a cool shower. He loves it very much, the plant really cheers up after a bath. During the shower, I put a plastic bag over the potty so that water does not flow into the potty.

Bay tree pests and their control.

One of the most malicious pests of indoor laurel is the scale insect. Many people wrote to me about this in the comments under the article about. I promised to tell you how I dealt with the scale insects.

Yes, it was not easy. What didn’t I do after I discovered this nasty thing on the branches! Say. I can’t say that one thing helped, most likely everything in combination helped.

I washed the plant several times with laundry soap and kerosene. I wrapped the pot with film and applied it to the entire crown. soap suds from laundry soap with the addition of kerosene. For a liter of water - a spoonful of kerosene. I left the foam on the plant for a couple of hours, then washed it off with a shower.

Since I have the laurel on my coffee table in the winter, I inspected the plant in the evenings and used a cotton pad soaked in alcohol to remove scale insects from the branches and leaves.

But I found the scale insect not only on the laurel, it also affected the lemons and even on the window.

Therefore, in the summer I went on a real attack. I took all the flowers out into the yard, stained the window with dichlorvos, and then washed it thoroughly.

I cut off the leaves of the hippeastrums, and treated all the plants - laurel, lemons, hippeastrum with Aktara. Moreover, I not only treated the crown, but also watered it a little with a ball of earth, since scale insect larvae live in the soil.

This treatment was repeated two or three times with an interval of 10-14 days. And after that the scale insect disappeared.

Now, for preventive purposes, before bringing it into the house after summer stay There are indoor flowers outside, I make sure to process them all right on the terrace, preferably twice with an interval of 7-10 days.

And in winter I periodically examine my pets so that if something happens, I can take timely measures.

So you have learned how you can grow a bay tree at home and how to overcome scale insects. We’ll talk more about the benefits of laurel another time. If you have any questions, ask, if I can, I will answer.

That's not all for today. Bye bye! I would be grateful if you share the publication with your friends on social networks.

Noble laurel - care and cultivation at home.

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