Bay Leaf – Laurel (Laurus nobilis) – Plant Care

Although it is a tree, the laurel — or bay leaf, as it is called in Bulgaria — adapts to any conditions, which allows it to grow even at home. You can place the pot on any windowsill, but the plant prefers sun to shade. In summer the room temperature where the laurel stands should be +20 to +27°C, and in winter about +3 to +15°C. In spring it is recommended to move the plant outdoors into the sun.

Basic care: In spring and summer the laurel needs abundant watering — daily on hot days. In winter water twice a week. Use water no warmer than 20°C. The leaves should be misted constantly; in summer twice a day. If misting is not possible, place a vessel of water next to the pot. Transplant the laurel only after it is 5 years old; from then on repot every 2–3 years. In its first year the plant does not need feeding; from the second year onward apply mineral fertilizer every month. Pruning of a potted laurel is done mainly for decorative purposes — shape the crown after the plant is 2 years old into any form you like.

With poor care the laurel can be attacked by pests such as mites and thrips; spraying with plant-protection products is not always needed and mild infestations can be handled mechanically. Fungal diseases develop when there is too much water standing on the soil surface, so monitor soil moisture and do not overwater. (Petar Krastev)

The bay laurel is an evergreen easily grown indoors, staying in a pot indoors year-round. The soil mix is leaf mold, turf soil, clean river sand and manure in a 2:1:1:1 ratio. Plant it 4–5 cm deeper than it was as a seedling/cutting and cut it back to 6–7 cm high. A young plant under 2 years is not pruned; in its first year it grows to 30 cm or more. Later pruning and shaping is done to taste — cone, cup, etc. If grown as a shrub, cut back to 30 cm in autumn; if as a small tree, remove all excess shoots, let the trunk reach 60 cm, then cut off its top.

Growing-season care is watering with room-temperature water, feeding, loosening and partial soil replacement. Feed with rotted manure or a solution of phosphorus and ammonium fertilizer. In winter the temperature must not drop below 12°C in an unheated room, or the leaves drop. Keep it in a bright spot but away from stoves, radiators and other heat sources. If moved outdoors in summer it must not be in direct sun; wrap the pot in material that prevents the roots from overheating and drying.

The first pruning is done in the third year, around mid-November, when the twigs have accumulated the most essential oils. Cut all one- and two-year-old stems and shoots to 20 cm from the root collar. The laurel grows continuously all season; leaves live about 3 years and, if not picked, gradually fall and are replaced. Dry the cut stems and leaves in shade — drying in the sun bleaches the leaves and reduces their essential-oil content. Dried leaves should not break when bent. A pot-grown bay leaf is greener and more aromatic. One pot is enough for a family's needs.

The plant's enemy is the scale insect, which causes wilting; wash affected leaves with a solution of one teaspoon of crushed onion or garlic mixed with 250 g water and 2.5 g soap. Growing a laurel at home is both a pleasant sight and an aromatic spice; it is very good for asthmatic and heart patients, releasing phytoncides and essential oils that freshen the air and improve their condition. (Maritsa.bg)

Extra tips: Because the plant dislikes acidic soil, add about 10 g of slaked lime to the fresh soil at every transplant. To make it grow faster and branch out, prune the tree regularly. To propagate new laurels, take cuttings from the old plant in early June. Bay leaves are fit for use as a spice from the second year. In the first year the plant reaches 30 cm; if shaped as a shrub, cut it back to that height in autumn; if as a tree, remove excess shoots and cut the trunk to 60–70 cm, then form the crown.