We grow laurel from seeds at home, following the advice of experienced gardeners

Since time immemorial, laurel has been famous for its decorative, healing and culinary properties. In Ancient Greece and Rome, a wreath made from this plant was considered an indispensable attribute of the god Apollo and the Roman emperors. It was a symbol of success and triumph, which was awarded to the winners of military battles and sports competitions. Laurel has become a real decoration of southern gardens and estates, and bay leaves are used in the preparation of many dishes. Although the plant belongs to the genus of subtropical shrubs and trees, the crop is quite unpretentious and can withstand light frosts, which allows it to be grown in summer cottages, as well as indoors.

bay tree

Description of culture

Laurel belongs to the evergreen subtropical plants of the Laurel family. The main habitat of the culture is the coasts of the Mediterranean and Black Seas, Transcaucasia, the Canary Islands, and the Azores. The genus of culture consists of two types - noble and Azorean (Canary) laurel.

There are many popular names for noble laurel - real, Greek, sweet, laurel tree. Decorative cultivation of this plant began in the middle of the 16th century. It is an evergreen tall shrub or tree that can reach 6 m in height. Elongated oval leaves from 4 to 8 cm wide and up to 20 cm long have a matte surface. The fruits are black with a blue or brown tint and reach up to 2 cm in length. When grown indoors, it rarely blooms.

A bay tree can grow up to 6 meters in natural conditions, but it is often grown indoors.

The main habitat of the Azores laurel is the Canary and Azores Islands, where the name of the species comes from. Trees can grow up to 15 m high. Leaves are 6-8 cm wide and up to 15 cm long.

Regardless of the type of crop, the bay leaf has a dark green color and a dense leathery structure. They grow in the shape of an elongated ellipse with wavy edges and a narrow edging of a light shade. The foliage is characterized by a high content of essential oils, the largest amount of which occurs in the 5-6th year of development of the laurel bush or tree.

Important! In spring, about a third of the old leaves of an adult plant may fall off.

The plant blooms once a year - in the second half of spring. The flowers are inconspicuous in appearance, yellow in color, collected in an umbrella-shaped inflorescence. The fruits are small, single-seeded berries of blue-black color.

The plant blooms once a year and has small, dim yellow flowers.

To grow, the plant requires warm weather up to +26°C, bright but diffused sunlight. Laurel tolerates shade well. Exposure to direct rays negatively affects the development of foliage. The crop is unpretentious to growing conditions and can tolerate short-term frosts down to -15°C. The plant is resistant to high humidity and requires abundant watering in summer and minimal watering in winter. At home it can live up to 15 years. For normal development, young seedlings will need to be replanted in the first two years, adult plants - every 4 years. If necessary, formative pruning of branches is carried out in March.

Types of laurel

There are three types of bay tree:

Camphor , whose homeland is considered to be China. The plant is quite popular in Asian countries and India. It is an evergreen plant with hard, lance-shaped, fleshy, speckled leaves.

Flowering lasts about a week and a half, with yellowish inflorescences.

The laurel tree contains a lot of camphor oil, most of it is in the trunk and wood of the laurel, about 90%. Camphor production is widespread in Japan and China, where the oil is obtained from bay shavings and branches by distillation.

In addition to camphor oil, laurel leaves contain large amounts of selenium and tannins. Camphor oil is considered one of the best medicinal substances in the fight against heart disease, depressive conditions, and for the prevention of infectious diseases.

Externally, camphor oil is used to rub sore joints and bruises, as an analgesic, distracting and anti-inflammatory agent.

Noble laurel. The most common speciesThe species is an evolutionarily established set of individuals, characterized by a single ... laurel tree, grows in the southern part of the country and the Mediterranean. Laurel trees reach up to 5 meters in height. The branches are bare and fleshy.

The foliage is lanceolate, on a short petiole, with a glossy surface, oblong in shape. Laurel blooms in spring and lasts about a week. Inflorescences with small flowers are collected in yellow umbrellas.

Noble laurel is used to create decorative compositions and decorate interiors. Noble speciesA species is an evolutionarily established set of individuals, characterized by a single... unpretentious and drought-resistant, grows well in pots indoors. The foliage is used to obtain essential oil and as a spice.

Winners in Ancient Greece were awarded a branch of the noble laurel; the plant was credited with divine origin.

Azores laurel or Canarian laurel tree. The Azores Islands are considered to be the birthplace of the plant. The trees grow up to 12 meters in height with large leaves, dark green in color, 5.5 cm wide.

Blooms in spring. Pale yellow inflorescences are collected in umbrellas and located in the axils of the foliage. Azores laurel is often used for decoration.

The most common varieties of laurel trees are angustifolia and willow laurel.

Camphor laurel (tree)

One of the popular varieties of laurel plants that are grown at home or in garden plots is camphor laurel (another name is camphor tree). Strictly speaking, in the scientific classification this plant belongs to the species of the genus Cinnamon. However, its belonging to the Laurel family gives grounds for amateur gardeners to classify the crop as a variety of laurel.

Another representative of the Laurel family is camphor laurel.

The regions of Southeast Asia - Taiwan, southwestern China, some islands of Japan, Korea, and Indonesia - are considered to be the birthplace of camphor laurel. Subsequently, this subtropical evergreen plant spread to many countries with warm, humid climates. In the second half of the 18th century, the camphor tree appeared on the Caucasian coast of the Black Sea. Initially it was grown as an ornamental plant in gardens, parks and estates. In the 19th century, the use of culture for industrial purposes began.

The main beneficial quality of the plant is its essential oil content, more than 90% of which is camphor. This substance has medicinal properties and is used in the manufacture of various medications. Camphor ointments and tinctures are used to cure rheumatism, arthritis, diseases of the heart, blood vessels, and disorders of the central nervous system. The largest amount of camphor is found in the woody parts of the laurel - the trunk and branches. However, essential camphor oils are also contained in the leaves, flowers, and fruits of the plant.

Important! The leaves of the plant are also used as spicy seasonings in the preparation of various dishes.

Camphor laurel is valued for the presence of a large amount of camphor, which is used in medicine and cooking.
The camphor tree is distinguished by its growth rate; it can reach a height of 20-50 m with a massive trunk up to 5 m in diameter. Such plants love warmth and moisture and develop well in subtropical regions. In addition to camphor extraction, they are used to create park and garden decorative compositions and hedges. However, powerful root systems can cause the destruction of various sewer, drainage, and communication systems. In addition, the foliage of the tree contains substances that deteriorate the quality of fresh water in soils and reservoirs.

There are decorative forms of camphor tree that can be grown indoors or in a summer cottage. The technique for growing such a crop is generally similar to the cultivation of noble or Azorean laurel, but requires more fresh air. For propagation, the methods of planting seeds and semi-lignified cuttings or layering are equally successful. The optimal soil composition for camphor laurel is a mixture of two parts turf and one part each of earth, sand, peat, and humus. The plant usually blooms in late May, early summer, and bears fruit in November.

Camphor laurel is often grown for decorative purposes - to create compositions and hedges.

Laurel varieties for growing on a windowsill

Under natural conditions, laurel trees reach 15 meters in height. A houseplant can be either a full-fledged tree or a small bush. Let's look at the best subspecies for growing on a windowsill.

Bay laurel

Noble laurel

The noble variety is divided into 3 subspecies: wrinkled, golden and narrow-leaved laurel. Under favorable conditions, the lifespan of the plant is 15 years.

General requirements for growing laurel

To grow a laurel tree or bush in an apartment or country house, you can use both shaded and sunny places. In summer, an open balcony or garden plot is suitable. For wintering you can use a glassed-in loggia, a greenhouse, or a well-lit room. In this case, the main condition for the normal development of seedlings is maintaining optimal ambient temperature. During the active growing season - from +18 to +22°, in winter - in the range of 10-12° above zero.

Laurel does not have clearly defined periods of winter dormancy. The intensity of growth is determined by the surrounding temperature conditions and the degree of lighting. However, the plant needs a certain period of rest.

Important! In winter, the laurel can be kept on an insulated balcony; during extreme cold, it can be brought into a well-ventilated room.

A bay tree can cope with slight frosts, but it is better not to leave the plant in the cold.
Usually the plant can withstand short-term frosts down to -10°, cold-resistant varieties - up to -15°, but it is better not to keep seedlings in frozen soil. The crop can be grown in open ground only in areas with a warm climate, with above-zero temperatures throughout the year. In temperate climatic latitudes, a bay tree or bush can be planted in tubs and kept indoors or in a greenhouse in winter. During the period of intensive growth, laurel is most vulnerable to frost, so in the spring you should not rush to take it out into the fresh air.

How to plant bay leaves with seeds?

Bay leaf is a well-known spice all over the world, which is usually added to first and second courses, marinades, sauces and even desserts. Dried bay leaf has a strong spicy aroma with a slight pleasant bitterness. In addition to cooking, the leaf is actively used in folk medicine as a diuretic, antiseptic and antimicrobial agent.

Decoctions and infusions, baths and lotions are prepared using bay leaves. Bay leaves are simply added to tea and hot drinks, or fresh leaves are chewed to get rid of bad breath or have a bactericidal effect. The laurel bush deserves special attention as an esoteric symbol. This plant is credited with protective properties for humans and the home from negative influences from the environment.

As a house plant, a laurel “tree” or bush is useful in any home. Laurel will not only decorate your home, but will also make the atmosphere in your home more favorable, friendly and kind. In addition, the leaves of the plant secrete special essential oils, which, as aromatherapy, have a beneficial effect on the moral and physical health of a person.

The easiest way to grow a bay bush is with seeds. It is grown in a pot and only from fresh seeds, which can be quite difficult to obtain (they are taken only from an adult plant). After you get the seeds, you should definitely soak them. This is done in regular and warm water.

Instead of water, you can also use a special product "Epin" , which was specially invented to regulate plant growth. Before placing the seeds in water, you should first carefully remove the scales (the shell that protects the inside) from them. The scales will hinder shoot growth and therefore removing them will speed up germination.

The seeds are kept in water until they swell (this is noticeable visually). Then they should be planted in a plastic cup with wet sand, cover the neck of the cup with cling film and leave at room temperature with enough light. 3-4 weeks for shoots to emerge . All this time, you should moisten the sand so that it does not dry out.

After the seed sprouts, you should remove the film from the cup and grow the plant until 2-4 small leaves appear . The field of this plant is planted in the ground. Laurel loves soil containing sand; “soil for succulents” is ideal.

How to grow a bay bush in a pot from seeds at home?

Carrying out laurel transplants

The root system of laurel bushes and trees is quite vulnerable to damage. At the same time, the roots gradually grow, and the plant must be replanted periodically. This should be done using the transfer method - carefully remove the laurel from the flowerpot along with clods of earth, then move it to a larger container.

When the roots grow too much, the plant must be carefully transplanted into a larger pot. They do this by transfer method

We can highlight the following requirements for transplanting laurel seedlings at home.

1. With normal development, young shoots are replanted once every 2 years. When growth is slow, replanting is done less frequently so that the root system is properly strengthened.
2. Plants over 4 years old are replanted every 4 years.
3. Before transplanting, water the soil in the flowerpot generously and wait until the water is completely absorbed. This will make it easier to separate the lumps from the walls of the container. Then the plant is carefully removed and laid sideways on oilcloth or fabric.
4. The plant is inspected, pebbles stuck in the root plexuses are carefully removed, and damaged roots are cut off. For quick healing, the cut sites are treated with charcoal powder.

   
   If damaged roots are found, you need to cut them off and treat the “wound” with charcoal

5. The pot into which the crop is moved should be approximately 2-3 cm larger in diameter than the previous container.
6. It is necessary to make holes in the bottom of the flowerpot and lay a drainage layer to drain excess water, which will protect the roots from rotting. You can use small pebbles for this.

After all the procedures performed, the plant is planted in a new container. Laurel is unpretentious to soil characteristics, but for better growth you can add humus. A little sand is added to the clay-saturated soil to improve breathability and moisture absorption. On the contrary, you can add a little clay to sandy soil so that water is retained in it longer.

A drainage layer must be placed at the bottom of the pot to prevent root rotting.

The optimal ratio of soil components for growing at home is two parts of turf and one part of sand mixed with humus. In the first year, it is not necessary to fertilize the soil, then you can apply any complex fertilizer 3-4 times during the season. In the year when the plant is not replanted, it is necessary to add soil to the flowerpot and update the soil.

Important! The soil around the laurel bush or tree trunk must be loosened periodically.

Botanical description

Laurel is a native of warm subtropics. This is an evergreen dioecious, medium-sized tree or large, densely-leaved shrub up to 8–12 m high. The trunks with many branches are covered with fairly smooth dark gray or brown bark. The branches are long, flexible, and form neat, dense crowns of a pyramidal shape.

Young shoots are bare. The leaves are simple opposite, located on short petioles. The plates are 5–12 cm long, 2–4 cm wide, leathery, dark green, elliptical, with pointed tips and solid, slightly wavy edges. The undersides of the leaves are slightly lighter, with raised feathery veins.

Laurel blooms in March and April. The inflorescences are umbellate, axillary, located closer to the ends of the shoots. The calyxes are round, greenish-yellow or bluish, 6–8 mm in size. In female specimens they are collected in 10–12 pieces in an inflorescence. The male ones are smaller and less numerous: 2–3 flowers per cluster.

The fruits are ovoid, shiny, blue-black, about 1.5–2 cm long. Inside the juicy pulp of each there is a large elongated bone. Ripen in mid-autumn. The seeds contain 25–40% fatty oil.

The bay tree is photophilous and moisture-loving, unpretentious to the chemical composition of soils. Its cold resistance is low, like all broad-leaved evergreen species, but adult specimens are able to withstand short-term frosts down to –10 °C. The lifespan of laurel in natural conditions reaches 80–100 years.

Pruning and crown formation

Typically, pruning of branches and formation of the crown of the plant is carried out in March, if by this time the young shoots have managed to grow. Some gardeners recommend performing this operation in August so that new branches will grow the following spring.

To improve the development of the laurel, old woody branches are cut off by about 20 cm. Below the cut, a sufficient number of buds should remain so that the shoots that grow from them subsequently form a voluminous crown.

Once a year, in March or August, it is worth pruning the plant - this will ensure active growth of the crown

With the help of pruning, laurel crowns can be given a wide variety of decorative shapes - a ball, a cone, a pyramid. This procedure must be started from an early age of seedlings.

Important! To give the desired shape, you need to trim the branches a little, but often.

Transfer

How to care for laurel, fertilizing and replanting

In the first year of life, the laurel seedling will feel good without additional nutrition. But already in the second year it will need to be fed. To provide the plant with a little mineral fertilizer, it will be enough. They are paid monthly.

Laurel does not particularly suffer from poor soil. The only thing it cannot tolerate is excess moisture in the ground.

The laurel tree grows slowly. When kept in containers, trees need to be replanted periodically. Young animals are transplanted often - every couple of years. When replanting, take a pot 2 cm wider than the old one. For older trees, the pot is changed after 3-4 years.

Laurel pots

Laurel will respond gratefully not only to mineral, but also to organic fertilizers. You can use pigeon droppings diluted with water and infused. Sometimes they also use diluted slurry. Mineral and organic fertilizing should be alternated. Before applying fertilizer, the soil must be thoroughly wetted so as not to burn the roots.

Composition of laurels

Replanting should not be done frequently. You should not choose a large container for a small tree. 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 the earthen clod, adding the necessary soil into a new pot. After planting, the laurel must be watered. Transplantation can be done in spring and summer.

Frequency and abundance of watering

In the wild, laurel grows in coastal zones and, accordingly, tolerates high humidity well. The surface of the leaves should be periodically wiped with a damp sponge or cloth. At home, once a month, the plant needs to be hosed down with a stream of warm water under pressure, while covering the soil with polyethylene.

To maintain the required level of humidity, the pot with laurel must have a drainage layer and holes. The container with the plant should be placed in a tray with pebbles and moss at the bottom, which should be regularly moistened.

Laurel loves high humidity, so it is recommended to wipe its leaves with a damp cloth, and also periodically give it a shower

Water the laurel once a day with a moderate volume of settled water at room temperature, in the morning or evening. During dry periods and during hot weather, watering can be done more often. In winter, for the normal development of the crop, it is necessary to maintain the plant's dormancy; increased humidity during this period can disrupt its life cycle, so the frequency and abundance of watering in the winter months should be reduced.

Important! It will be useful for plants to add baking soda to water at the rate of 7 teaspoons per liter.

Description of the plant

Laurel is an evergreen tree. Its homeland is Mediterranean countries. There it forms a tall cone-shaped tree, reaching a height of 15-18 m. The width of the trunk is no more than 45 cm. At home, its height is limited by the ceiling, so at home it does not grow higher than 2 m.

There are three types:

• Camphor, camphor oil is obtained from it,
• Noble,
• Azorean.

The content of essential oils in the tree ranges from 3.5 to 6%. The tree has a dense crown that can look like a powerful pyramid. In nature, laurel continues to grow actively up to 25 meters in height. The foliage is tough and smooth.

Laurel fruits

When the plant begins to bloom in spring, it is covered with inflorescences in the form of small milky umbrellas. The fruits ripen in mid-autumn and are blue-black drupes.

The lifespan of a laurel can exceed three hundred years. However, without proper care, it begins to grow wild, dry out and lose its ability to reproduce.

Note! If you do not care for a tree well, it will be attacked by a dangerous disease - sooty fungus. This is a small red coating that can be easily washed off with water. The laurel can continue to grow, but loses its decorative appearance after the disease.

The bay tree comes from a genus of evergreen plants in the laurel family. For a long time, laurel trees have been grown in many subtropical countries.

Laurel includes three types: camphor, noble and Azorean.

The tree contains essential oils from 3.5 to 5.5%. The tree is dioecious, with a dense crown, has a pyramidal shape and evergreen foliage, hard and smooth. In nature it reaches about 25 meters in height.

Flowering begins in spring, the tree is covered with umbellate, unisexual, axillary inflorescences of milky or pale yellow color. The fruits are single-seeded, fragrant drupes of blue and black shades that ripen in the fall.

The lifespan of the laurel is amazing; the tree can exist for about three hundred years. A tree that has been treated without proper care quickly becomes wild. Bay leaves are considered one of the indispensable seasonings in brines and marinades.

Laurel is often found in Georgia, Greece, Crimea, Asia, the Black Sea coast and Transcaucasia.

The laurel's homeland is the countries of the Mediterranean Sea and Asia Minor. Since Antiquity, the shrub has been grown in areas with hot, dry summers and wet winters. It was these green branches that were given to winners, emperors, and athletes in ancient Rome and Greece.

In the Middle Ages, laurel was a symbol of goodness and protected from lightning and evil forces. Today, laurel is found in Italy, Turkey, Greece, Guatemala, Portugal, France, Georgia, the countries of the former Yugoslavia, and southern Russia. Laurel is grown as a spice and for decorative purposes in the Caucasus and Crimea.

It is often found in resort towns in southern Russia as a shrub-hedge along sidewalks and roads.

Important! Indoor laurel does not tolerate excessive dry air. Because of this, pests may develop on it.

This is a relict plant that has come down to us since the Tertiary period. In natural conditions, laurel can live for 3-4 centuries.

Seed propagation of laurel

When using the seed method of propagating laurel at home, gardeners often encounter certain difficulties. The fact is that the seeds of the crop quickly lose a large percentage of their germination capacity, within 3-5 months. In addition, the high oil content significantly slows down their germination, which can last up to six months. For these reasons, it is necessary to use the freshest possible seeds, and you will have to wait quite a long time for the results of sowing.

Seeds are usually planted in the first months of winter. In order to speed up germination, seeds can be pre-treated with a special solution that stimulates growth. The depth of the planting should be about 1.5 cm. Before this, the soil must be loosened and moistened. Then the soil is covered with plastic film. Containers with planted seeds are kept in regularly ventilated rooms at a temperature of about +18°, the soil is constantly moistened.

You can propagate a bay tree by seed, but you will most likely have to wait a long time for germination - about six months

Important! Every week, the seeds should be carefully removed and inspected to prevent mold from developing. If a white coating is detected, it must be carefully removed and the seed washed with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

When the shell cracks and the seeds begin to germinate, they must be transplanted into separate flowerpots. The sprouted seed is planted at a soil depth of about 5 cm, the first shoots usually appear a month later. Young sprouts should be protected from direct sunlight and heat.

When propagating by seed in open ground, ripe fruits are collected from laurel bushes and trees and the seeds are extracted from them. This usually happens in late autumn. The collected seed material is planted in the prepared area at a distance of about 8 cm from each other. The planting depth is approximately 5 cm. The first shoots sometimes appear as early as January, but usually these are weak shoots that die quickly. Typically, shoots appear at a constant temperature of about +22° from May to the end of summer.

Some gardeners prefer to grow laurel from seeds directly in open ground, but this is recommended only in regions with warm winters

Caring for a tree in the open ground

Laurel nobly tolerates dry times. However, in moments of heat, one should not forget about watering and spraying the tree.

Additional Information. Soil soaking should be limited in winter - this will negatively affect the plant, since the soil is well moistened with water from snow. In summer, watering is plentiful, in spring and autumn - moderate.

Irrigation scheme by season:

• Summer – once a week,
• Winter - up to twice a month,
• If the young animals are in a greenhouse or a cold house (air temperature up to +5 degrees), then spraying occurs only with warm water.

An important element of laurel tree care is its pruning. It is carried out in the autumn. Since the crown is incredibly thick, during the cutting process it can be given absolutely any shape.

Additional Information. The tree becomes an adult after several years of its life. Therefore, it makes no sense to prune young plants too often.

Noble laurel requires careful care from pests. Most often, it is the leaves that are affected by the scale insect that suffer. You can see a light sticky coating that glistens in the sun. At the same time, the tree seems to turn on its protective function and begins to secrete essential oils.

First, the lower part of the foliage is inspected, since this is where dangerous pests inhabit. When spraying a tree, tilt it slightly to the side to avoid chemicals getting on the ground.

Laurel diseases, as a rule, occur due to improper care. When the foliage begins to turn yellow and dry out, the air has become too dry. Also, the foliage may begin to curl - this also indicates the cause of extreme heat and lack of moisture.

Watering mode

Laurel flowers love to be sprayed with a spray bottle. The tree also welcomes the presence of moist air - this makes it easier for it to get rid of the dust that has covered the foliage. Once a week, it’s a good idea to rinse the plant in the shower - this helps protect the laurel from many small pests, such as spider mites.

Bay tree in open ground

As for watering, it should not be overzealous. The tree does not like too wet soil. But you should not let the soil dry out.

In winter, watering should be moderate - two to three times a week. If it is possible to reduce the heat flow in the batteries, do so. It is important to ensure that the rhizomes do not begin to rot.

Top dressing

Before feeding, the following conditions are met:

• The soil should allow air and water to pass through well, so you can loosen it,
• Fertilizers must be organic, mineral. In spring and summer, the soil is fertilized once every 2 weeks, in autumn and winter - once a month.

It is necessary to feed the tree in early February, when the laurel begins to actively grow. The moment of peace comes in October.

When the fertilization procedure is carried out correctly, the plant begins to actively bloom and reproduce by seeds.

The leaves on the tree change once every four years. To make a spicy seasoning from them, collection begins in mid-autumn and continues until the onset of the first frost. The leaves are also stored for four years.

Flowering of Laurus nobilis (laurel nobilis)

If the tree froze over the winter, the foliage will not be as bright and colorful the next season. The collection usually involves leaves of mature trees that are already three years old.

They are cut immediately with young shoots. The drying process takes place naturally in the shade: the branches are laid out close to each other. The leaves dry out quite quickly, within one week. They are then packaged for further storage in paper bags or containers. A prerequisite is to collect leaves only in dry weather.

Laurel laurel is a tree of incredible beauty and usefulness. If you learn to properly care for it, it will delight its owners all year round with bright green foliage and be covered with beautiful flowers in the summer.

Application of vegetative propagation by cuttings and layering

At home, laurel is propagated by cuttings in the first months of spring or in June-July. Cuttings in open areas are carried out only in the first half of summer.

The cutting is cut from a semi-lignified shoot located in the lower or middle part of the laurel bush or tree. The future seedling should have three internodes about 8 cm long. In this case, the bottom leaf must be removed and the rest shortened by half.

The cuttings are planted in moistened sand at an ambient temperature of 16-20°, deepening the seedling by about 1.5 cm. Then the planting is sprayed and covered with plastic film. The cuttings take root and begin to grow within a month. As soon as they grow 2-3 cm, they need to be transplanted into separate containers.

Cuttings usually take root within a month.

Important! Another method of vegetative propagation involves planting layering - lateral shoots with a root system beginning to develop. Such shoots are carefully separated from the laurel, the cut sites are treated with powdered charcoal, then planted in the same way as the cuttings.

Plant care: watering, fertilizing, pruning

In order for the laurel bush to please with its healthy and decorative appearance, it must be properly cared for.

Watering is important at all stages of laurel cultivation. The water should be settled and warm, preferably filtered. The intensity of watering varies depending on the time of year. So, in the warm season, laurel is watered abundantly, without over-watering. In autumn and winter, it is enough to water the plant once every 14-20 days. At the same time, we must not forget about regular spraying.

The bay tree grows actively in spring and summer and, on the contrary, slows down with the onset of cold weather. Therefore, the plant should be fed during the period of its active growth. 2 times a month is enough to provide the laurel with the necessary substances. Natural ingredients include humus, peat, and chicken manure. In other cases, you can purchase ready-made organic and mineral fertilizers at flower shops.

It is better to start forming the crown in spring or early summer.

To form a decorative appearance and a lush crown, the laurel is pruned. The tree can be given any shape: from spherical to pyramidal. The procedure is performed on a plant that is at least 5 years old. To give the desired shape to the laurel, use scissors or pruners. Trim carefully without damaging neighboring shoots of the plant.

Calendar of basic work on growing laurel

When growing and caring for laurel in open ground, you can follow this schedule for basic work.

In autumn and winter, the plant is disturbed minimally, since it is in a dormant state.
Such seasonal work is carried out at home.

In spring and summer, the plant needs to be periodically fed, watered, and pruned.
The plantings are regularly watered throughout the year. In summer, plants are watered more often and more abundantly. In winter, the intensity and volume of watering should be reduced.

Conditions necessary for the laurel

Growing bay laurel at home is not a difficult task; even an inexperienced gardener can handle it. The only important condition is that you must have a room that is light and cold in winter. It’s not hard to guess that an ordinary balcony can become this: glazed, but not insulated.

You can often hear lovers of home flowers complaining: they say, I have a balcony, but it’s just cold on it in winter, it’s not suitable for floriculture! You shouldn’t make hasty conclusions: such balconies can also be useful in the “flower growing business,” and an example of this is the noble laurel.

Lighting

There will never be enough light for this tree! Leave it on the south balcony - it will survive there too. Its hard leaves can withstand plenty of sunlight. In summer, you can safely open the balcony without fear of the coolness of the night and the blowing wind. Remember that this is a conditionally domestic plant, and it can be sent to the garden or country house for the entire warm season, returning home only in late autumn, before the onset of night frosts.

With all this, laurel... is a shade-tolerant plant: it is often placed in the back of the office, in the far corner of the corridor. Yes, in these conditions it will have small foliage, however, it will look quite decent!

Temperature

In spring and summer, +18+28°C will be optimal. Agree, such a spread also makes it possible to “relax” and not particularly pay attention to this component of care. In autumn, the temperature should be lowered, bringing it to +5°C by the beginning of winter (the laurel's dormant period). However, at times you can allow the temperature to drop to 0°C, or even to slight “minuses”.

Important! During cold wintering, laurel still needs fairly bright lighting.

Soil and air humidity

Laurel is undemanding to soil; you can use ordinary universal mixtures sold in stores. If you wish, make the substrate yourself by mixing turf, leaf soil, and coarse sand in equal proportions. For adult, perennial specimens, it is useful to add a little humus and even clay (but no more than 10% of the total volume!).

The main thing is that the soil is moisture-absorbing, but not dense: loose, well-permeable to water.

Laurel generally tolerates dry air, but still prefers more humid air. This is especially true on hot summer days. At this time, the crown must be regularly sprayed and given a warm shower.

Possible problems when growing and caring for laurel

Beginning gardeners need to prepare in advance to overcome a number of problems that may arise in the process of growing laurel at home or in a summer cottage. For example, the following reasons can lead to drying out of laurel trees and bushes:

• low humidity in planting areas during the period of active growth of laurel;
• improper irrigation during the winter or growing season;
• excess moisture in the root system, which leads to rotting of the roots, spots on the leaves, and yellowing of the foliage;
• non-compliance with temperature conditions, sudden temperature changes.

If watering is improper, or insufficient or excessive humidity, the plant may begin to hurt.

Important! In addition to errors in caring for the plant, some insect pests, dangerous airborne diseases and various parasites pose a threat to the health of the laurel.

Shields

Insects are white, sometimes with a yellowish tint. They are distinguished by the presence of a shield-like shell, from which they got their name. They settle on the surface of foliage and feed on plant juices. As a result of the influence of pests, white or yellow spots form on the leaves, which gradually cover the entire leaf. Then the foliage dries out, curls and dies. Insects multiply quickly and spread to all nearby plants, so it is important to immediately isolate the infected bush or tree from neighboring vegetation.

The dense shell protects the scale insect from exposure to insecticides, which makes it difficult to combat the pest. The surest way to get rid of insects is to collect them from the surface of the leaves by hand. The areas affected by the pest should be treated with Ankara or a tincture of vodka and garlic. A solution of a liter of water, 15 ml of liquid soap and 10 ml of alcohol is also suitable for pest control. This composition should be used to wipe the surface of the leaves.

Important! When scale insects appear, it is also necessary to change the top layer of soil near the plant, where insect larvae may be located.

Scale insects are dangerous for the plant: they feed on its sap, causing spots to appear on the leaves

Spider mites

Small insects that are difficult to notice with the naked eye. A sign of pest influence is the appearance of cobwebs and white plaque on the soil, surface of leaves, and plant branches.

To protect the laurel from mites, treat the crop with a weak solution of potassium permanganate diluted with water. Infected plants are treated with insecticidal preparations. The surface of the leaves and branches is also wiped with a soap solution, followed by rinsing the plant with clean water.

A sign of the appearance of such a pest is the appearance of small cobwebs and plaque on the plant and soil. You can get rid of it using potassium permanganate

Sooty fungus

Fungal spores are carried both by insects and through the air. A symptom of the disease is the appearance of dark spots resembling soot on the surface of the leaves. The fungus leads not only to damage to the appearance of the plant, but also to its death. To combat the disease, various fungicides are used, the most effective of which is Bordeaux mixture.

Sooty fungus

Varieties of indoor laurel

Indoor bay leaf care temperature regime

When kept indoors in winter, plants require fairly cold air. A temperature of 10 degrees is unacceptable for human habitation, but laurel plants are comfortable wintering in such conditions. If there is a cool place in the house for hibernation, at least 15 degrees, then with the onset of warmth the laurel will thank you with vigorous growth. And in the coolness the plant rests and gains strength.

In the spring season, laurels are ready to migrate outside at the first above-zero temperatures, especially at night. In the spring season they will like temperatures of 18-20 degrees.

But in summer – just below 30 degrees, optimally 20-25. Closer to autumn, the temperature is gradually reduced and the plant is prepared for a painless winter.

The maximum grows up to 15 meters, and is distinguished by the pubescence of its shoots. Lives in the Canaries and Azores. The leaves are rich green in color and have an oval shape. They reach a length of 15 cm and a width of up to 6-8 cm. Flowering occurs with umbrella-shaped flowers of a yellowish tint. They grow from the axils of the leaves in small groups. The flowering period is from late spring to summer.

Noble

Reaches a maximum of 6 meters. Its leaves are up to 20 cm long and reach 8 cm wide. They are velvety to the touch, pointed at the tips. The plant blooms with yellowish flowers in umbrella-like groups of 2 in the leaf axils. Flowering begins in late spring.

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.

Healing properties of the plant

Laurel trees and shrubs have a number of healing properties. The foliage releases substances that reduce the content of staphylococcus bacteria and fungal spores in the air. This quality helps normalize the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, blood circulation in the brain, and relieve mental fatigue. In pharmacology and folk medicine, in the production of raw materials for medicines, in addition to leaves, the bark, fruits, and seeds of the plant are used. Various preparations based on laurel are used to relieve nervous excitability and fatigue, cure paralysis of the facial nerve, colic, inflammation of the liver, spleen, and joint pain.

Bay leaf infusions help get rid of pathologies of the bladder, uterus, and hearing organs. Decoctions of seeds and bark cure cholecystitis and urolithiasis. Oil extracted from the leaves reduces pain during childbirth and cramps.

Using bay leaves in cooking can increase appetite, improve digestion, and lower blood pressure. Thanks to the presence of tannins, tinctures and ointments based on laurel relieve swelling, inflammation, and reduce pain from rheumatism, arthritis, bruises, and sprains.

Various medicines made using laurel help against many diseases.

The substances contained in the plant serve as good natural antibiotics and have antifungal and disinfectant properties. They can slow down the development of tuberculosis, activate metabolic processes, help fight many diseases and strengthen the immune system.

Important! Bay decoction is an effective remedy that allows the body to quickly recover from serious illnesses.

Tinctures from leaves, flowers, and fruits of laurel are used as diaphoretics, help in curing fever, stomatitis, and remove gallstones, salts, and toxic substances from the body. The insecticidal properties of the plant components are used in the production of medicinal ointments and antibacterial soap. Bay decoction is useful for patients with diabetes. Taking this remedy for three weeks will significantly reduce blood sugar and normalize the general condition of the body.

Bay laurel is used to create antibacterial soap

Properties and Application

In gardening, laurel is used as a terrace plant and grown in containers and pots. He can spend the summer outside, but in the winter he needs to be kept indoors. It is worth growing it in the company of other plants of Mediterranean origin, such as oleander or European olive. However, this is not the only option for its use. It is also used in cooking, medicine, and cosmetology.

The green fresh leaf can be collected all year round. It is dried in a well-ventilated, darkened area and then stored in tightly closed containers.

Due to its bitter aroma, laurel leaves are a valuable spice, especially used in Mediterranean cuisine. They go well with meat and fish dishes, as a complement to lentil and bean dishes. In French cuisine, a bouquet of fresh herbs, the so-called Bouquet garni (also includes parsley, thyme), tied with a thread, is used for soups or sauces. In Russian cuisine, the spice is usually added to soups, herring dishes, sauerkraut, marinades for meat, and canning vegetables.

Bay, in addition to being used as a spice, is also used in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, where its healing properties are valued. The leaf contains valuable essential oils and tannins. Laurel has anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, diuretic, antispasmodic and regenerating properties. Helps in the fight against heart disease and diabetes. An alcoholic extract of bay leaves is used for diseases of the digestive system, and compresses from crushed leaves have a therapeutic effect for arthritis and neuralgia. When added to a bath, it stimulates blood circulation, cleanses, and has a bactericidal and fungicidal effect. Laurel oil is included in massage products and helps with arthritis and rheumatism.

Due to its regenerating, bactericidal and disinfectant properties, laurel essential oil is used in the treatment of dandruff and scalp diseases. It is also useful for treating damaged, dry and acne-prone skin.

Use of laurel in cooking

Thanks to its special aroma and taste, bay leaf has become one of the most sought-after spices in the world. It is an essential ingredient in most soups, broths, porridges, gravies, sauces, pickles and marinades. The spice is used in preparing dishes from vegetables, cereals, fish, meat, and also as a component of various seasonings.

Dried laurel leaves are mainly used in cooking. However, there are many recipes that use fresh leaves and seeds of the crop. The essential oils contained in laurel are also used in confectionery production and the production of alcoholic beverages.

Important! Most canned vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, eggplants, squash, peppers, and various cabbage, carrot, and onion salads cannot do without bay leaves.

To impart a unique aroma and unique taste, dried laurel leaves must be added at the final stage of cooking, otherwise the seasoning will make the dish too bitter and spoil its taste. You can put the leaves in freshly prepared food, leave them for a while, then remove the spice. This method will also give the dish an appetizing smell and improve its taste.

Bay leaf is a fairly popular spice that is used in preparing various dishes.

Laurel plant in history, myths and legends

The famous Ovid in his Metamorphoses tells that Apollo, who lived among people, fell in love with the nymph Daphne and constantly pursued her. One day, after defeating the serpent Python, Apollo met the young God of Love Eros with a bow and arrows and joked with him: “Why do you need a bow and arrows, baby? Are you really thinking of surpassing me in the art of shooting? This mockery offended Eros, and he sent two arrows in revenge. The first, the arrow of love, pierced Apollo, and the second, killing love, hit Daphne.

Since then, Daphne has always run away from Apollo. No tricks helped him. Exhausted by suffering and eternal persecution, Daphne turned to Father Peneus and Earth so that they could take her image away from her. After these words, she turned into a laurel bush (a curious fact is that in Rus' until the 18th century, the bay leaf was called “daphnia” (“laurel” in Greek is “daphne”). The saddened Apollo from then on began to wear a wreath of evergreen laurel.

In Greece, homes were decorated with laurel leaves to refresh the room. Laurel branches were placed in mattresses to encourage prophetic dreams. There was a belief that laurel saved from lightning strikes. Thus, it is a known fact that the Roman Emperor Tiberius, during thunderclaps, put on a laurel wreath and crawled under the bed.

Laurel (Laurus nobilis) is a subtropical tree or shrub, a species of the genus Laurus (Laurus) of the Laurel family.

The laurel branch, like the laurel wreath, is considered a symbol of glory, victory and peace. From the name of this plant came:

• Names: Laurus, Lavrenty, Laura, Lorenz;
• The word "laureate" means "crowned with laurel";
• Expressions: “reap laurels” - enjoy the fruits of your success, “rest on your laurels” - stop striving for further victories, be content with what has been achieved.

Laurel was considered a sacred tree; laurel wreaths were used to decorate the heads of victors in Ancient Greece. Laurel leaves are widely used as a spice (bay leaf).

Selection and storage of bay leaves

One of the advantages of laurel is that it is equally useful both fresh and dried. For medicinal or culinary purposes, you can use leaves freshly picked from a home-grown bush or tree, or dry them into preparations that will then be stored for a long time.

Important! At the same time, dried leaves also contain essential oils and have disinfectant, antibacterial and medicinal properties.

When choosing bay leaves, you need to carefully examine their surface. There should be no stains or any plaque on them. The maximum amount of oils and nutrients is contained in the foliage of adult plants that have reached the age of 4-5 years, therefore it is from such leaves that it is better to dry preparations for seasonings or medicinal tinctures, ointments, and decoctions. To do this, carefully cut branches with leaves from the laurel and dry them in a dark place for 10 days. Then the leaves are separated and transferred to a separate container.

You can use both fresh and dried bay leaves

Dried leaf material should be stored in airtight containers. To do this, you can use glass jars with tight-fitting lids. It is better to keep transparent containers in a dark place. Typically, the shelf life of dry bay leaves is one year, but as long as the packaging is kept sealed, the bay can be stored longer. However, it must be taken into account that over time the taste of such a seasoning deteriorates and the leaf begins to taste bitter in dishes.

Harvesting and storage

The main pride of the laurel tree is its fragrant leaves. They are added to hot dishes, as well as sauces and marinades. How to properly harvest in order to preserve all the beneficial properties? First of all, the leaves are pruned in the summer, when they have collected a maximum of essential oils.

Stages step by step:

1. The largest leaves of a 2-3 year old tree are cut off without damage;
2. Spread the harvest in one layer on a baking sheet lined with newspaper or paper. Don't pile up layers;
3. Dry the leaves in a ventilated area, avoiding direct sunlight;
4. After 2-3 weeks the leaves will dry out. They shouldn't be soft.

Store bay leaves in cotton bags or glass jars with lids. Spices will last a long time without losing their aroma.

Diseases and pests

The most famous disease of laurel is leaf spot.
It occurs at high humidity, so you should follow the watering rules and not overwater the plant. Among the harmful insects, laurel can be visited by mealybugs, scale insects and spider mites. Scale insects are located on the surface of the leaf and gradually suck the juice from it. Yellow or white spots form on the leaves, which increase in size over time. The leaves curl and dry out. Scale insects can multiply very quickly and move to neighboring flowers. Therefore, the infected plant must be removed from all others and sprayed with an insecticide.

Diseases

The first sign of mealybugs on laurel is a white foamy coating, as well as sticky liquid on the stems and leaves. Treat the tree with soapy water, treating all affected areas. Then spray with insecticides several times at intervals of one week.

Spider mites are very small in size, so they are difficult to see with ordinary human vision. Its presence can be recognized by the cobwebs on the branches and white coating. As a preventive measure against this insect, soap solution and insecticides should be used. The soil can be treated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

Important! Bay tree foliage may fall or change color. To avoid this phenomenon, you need to adhere to all the rules for caring for the plant.

Pests

The bay tree is a wonderful plant. It is easy to care for, so anyone can grow it both in a country house and in an apartment. The owner of such a plant will always rejoice at its beauty and delicious dishes with spicy leaves. The laurel tree fits harmoniously into any interior, and its leaves purify the air from various infections.

Landing

In the middle zone, it is recommended to grow laurel only indoors. One of the compromise options is to plant in pots or tubs, which can be exposed in the fresh air in the summer and brought indoors in the fall.

You can get a beautiful indoor plant from seeds. It is recommended to sow them in February or March. The seed material is first freed from the fruit shell and soaked for 2–3 hours in a warm pink solution of potassium permanganate. The seeds are sprouted in a mixture of sand, soil and peat. They deepen the soil 1 cm, water it and cover the surface with film. Keep containers in a bright room at an air temperature of +20–24 °C. After the sprouts appear, the protection is removed.

Seedlings are planted into a separate bowl with the appearance of the first pair of leaves. The soil for them should be moderately fertile, loose, neutral or slightly alkaline. Mixtures of equal parts of leaf and turf soil with the addition of 25% of the total volume of peat, 5% of sand and moss are suitable. Containers for planting are chosen to be small: no more than 1.5 liters, taking into account the need for subsequent replanting of young plants. Drainage made of broken bricks or coarse river sand must be poured onto the bottom.

Why growing laurel can be harmful to health

Bay leaf is widely used in all kinds of magical rituals, as it perfectly absorbs all the negative energy that surrounds a person. By setting fire to a lava leaf, our ancestors cleansed their home of unclean gray, protected themselves from envious people, and even removed damage from household members.

There is an opinion that the “cleansing” functions of laurel make it harmful to human health - the flower accumulates all the negativity, which then, accordingly, remains in the house with it.

Many people are afraid of being close to a laurel tree, which can supposedly attract all sorts of misfortunes to the house. A sharp specific smell can cause poisoning or acute allergic reactions, and for pets the leaves are even poisonous, as they contain a lot of potassium cyanide.

At the same time, the harm from proximity to a laurel tree has not been officially proven by science - all rumors are popular superstitions. If you have an intolerance to the smell, then, of course, you should not grow such a flower on the windowsill. But if the aroma of the spice attracts and does not cause irritation, laurel can become a decoration for every home.

Classification

In total, there are about 40 varieties of laurel trees, differing in the shape of leaves, inflorescences and having their own developmental characteristics. All of them belong to three main types.

Noble laurel

Homeland - Mediterranean coast. More often it forms shrubs or low trees. The height of the trunks is 4–7 m, the crowns are narrow pyramidal. The leaves are bright green, glossy, 6–10 cm long, with a characteristic spicy aroma. Laurel blooms in April. The tassels are light yellow. At the beginning of autumn, bright black smooth drupes ripen on the branches. Noble laurel lives up to 60–70 years.

Azores laurel

Large plant: tree up to 15 m high with a dense, wide crown. Heat-loving and moisture-loving species. Decorative. The shoots are slightly pubescent, the leaves are wide, leathery, bluish-green, 10–12 cm long. The clusters of inflorescences are yellow, the calyxes are 8–10 mm in diameter, bloom in April or early May.

camphor laurel

Far Eastern moisture-loving species. A tree up to 10–12 m high, with trunks up to 30–45 cm thick and spreading dense crowns. The leaves are shiny, dark green, large. The length of the leaf blades is 10–17 cm. Inflorescences: sparse paniculate racemes of 3–12 small greenish calyxes. All parts of the tree contain an essential oil rich in camphor. Greens and flowers emit a characteristic pungent aroma.

Care

Before learning about bay tree propagation, you should familiarize yourself with information on caring for it.

First of all, it is worth recalling that the plant is heat-loving. According to experts, the optimal temperature for growing it is 25-28 degrees Celsius. It is under such conditions that the laurel develops most actively, quickly throwing out new branches and leaves. But in winter the temperature needs to be lowered to 12-15 degrees Celsius. In this case, the life processes in the plant slow down, it “rests” from active growth, which ensures the most intensive development in the warm season.

In general, despite being thermophilic, the laurel bush can withstand fairly low temperatures - up to five degrees below zero. True, only mature, strong plants survive such frosts. And young leaves on them may well wither when the temperature drops below zero. Therefore, appropriate care is very important.

It grows best in a well-lit place. It will not die in a heavily shaded environment, but in this case it will actively reach for the light - the trunk will be long, but the number of foliage and branches will be reduced. Therefore, the decorative effect will decrease. On the other hand, direct sunlight can also be harmful on a hot summer day. So, it makes sense to slightly shade the window on which the laurel grows.

Prefers fresh air. Therefore, in the spring, as soon as the threat of night frosts has passed, it makes sense to take it outside - to a balcony or loggia, and install it in a well-lit place, but protected from direct sunlight.

You should also not place it near a central heating radiator or any heating appliances. This can cause considerable harm to the plant.

Finally, it is important to protect the laurel from temperature changes. They have the most negative impact - the plant does not know what time of year and how to adapt to it, which often becomes the cause of serious illnesses and even death

Now we will briefly give information on how to care for a laurel tree.

To begin with, it’s worth remembering that the plant lives primarily in a subtropical climate characterized by high humidity. Therefore, by spraying its leaves and trunk daily, the owner provides the most comfortable conditions, which will affect the rate of development. It is advisable to choose soft water

It is very important that it is not too cold - otherwise it can harm the plant

In summer you need to water abundantly, especially on hot days. It is best to do this in the morning and evening.

In the winter season, the amount of water during irrigation should be reduced, and the time intervals between them should be increased. In January and February, you need to water very rarely and little by little - enough so that the soil simply does not dry out. After all, this may well lead to the death of the plant.

Don't forget about fertilizers - especially if the laurel grows in a small pot. It is enough to apply them once a month - it is best to alternate mineral and organic. This provides the plant with all the necessary microelements for successful development. Moreover, it needs to be used only in the warm season - in winter, the development of the plant practically stops, so additional substances are not needed - enough sunlight and infrequent watering.

By the way, it’s worth talking about one more subtlety of caring for laurel in winter. Indoor humidity is significantly reduced due to heating. This can harm the plant, especially young ones. The problem can be solved in different ways. Some plant lovers prefer to mist the leaves several times a day. The option is simple, but quite labor-intensive - not everyone has the patience. Therefore, it will be easier to take a large transparent plastic bag and carefully place it on the crown without damaging the branches and leaves. By pressing polyethylene to the pot, you will create a kind of greenhouse. Before doing this, it is advisable to moisten the soil well. Then the humidity in the greenhouse will always be at a high level, and there will be no need for care other than watering the plant a couple of times a month. In this case, it is best to place the pot in a cool place - for example, on a loggia, and bring it into the house on the coldest days.

Beneficial features

To learn more about the healing properties of the plant, watch the video.

Bay tree has a long list of benefits. By growing it at home, you can get an excellent interior decoration and the opportunity to prepare a useful and popular spice – laurel leaves – with your own hands.

Laurel is a plant that even children will enjoy caring for, since it mainly depends on 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 leaves, when exposed to sunlight, turn into very strong lenses that can leave severe burns on the foliage, which will lead not only to an 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.

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

What first comes to your mind when you hear the word “laurel” - an evergreen shrub or a popular spicy seasoning? Or maybe a solemn laurel crown, which was used to honor the heroes of antiquity?

Once upon a time, the ancient Greeks decided that it would be nice to combine business with pleasure and began to grow laurel at home.

In addition to gardening and cooking, its leaves are widely used in folk medicine, and all the advantages of laurel taken together become a compelling argument for growing it on your windowsill.

Well, isn’t it tempting to have a plant in your home, which in ancient times was awarded to the most worthy of the worthy, the winners of the Olympics, the best poets and musicians?

And, of course, the great ancient rulers decorated their heads with laurel crowns, believing that the evergreen branch would bring them immortality. It is not for nothing that the most famous type of this plant is called “noble laurel”.