Laurus NOBILIS

Laurus NOBILIS - Bay laurel, Sweet bay, True laurel, Laurus nobilis.

Laurel is a genus of small essential-oil evergreen trees in the family Lauraceae, comprising only two plant species. In nature, they grow in a subtropical climate and are distributed across the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands, and the western Transcaucasus.

These are evergreen trees reaching a height of 15 m (49 ft). The leaves are green, leathery, entire, and alternate. They are rich in essential oils. The flowers are gathered into inflorescences located in the leaf axils. The fruit is a drupe of deep black-blue color.

In nature, laurel grows up to 8-10 m (26-33 ft) in height; in indoor conditions, the crown of the plant is shaped, giving the desired height and form: a ball, cone, or pyramid.

Bay laurel has smooth bark and a dense crown, most often pyramidal in shape. Leathery leaves resemble a pointed ellipse in shape, ranging from 6 to 20 cm (2.4 to 7.9 in) in length and 2 to 4 cm (0.8 to 1.6 in) in width. The upper surface of the leaf blade is more richly colored than the lower. Umbellate inflorescences consist of small white or cream flowers. The fruit is a black, inedible berry. The plant is dioecious and insect-pollinated. Lifespan ranges from 100 to 400 years.

The seed coat of laurel is hard and requires scarification. One can disrupt the integrity of the seed coat with sandpaper or soak it for 2-3 days in potassium permanganate and carefully peel away the skin.

Seeds are sown in a mixture of leaf soil (2 parts), sod soil (1 part), and sand (0.5 parts) to a depth of 1-1.5 cm (0.4-0.6 in), moistened from a spray bottle, covered with film, and germinated in light but not in direct sun at a temperature of 20-25 °C (68-77 °F). It is very important that the temperature does not drop below 18 °C (64 °F). Seedlings require ventilation. The soil must always be moist, but waterlogging and drying out of the crops must be avoided.

Seedlings appear after 40-70 days. When 1-2 true leaves appear on the seedlings, they are transplanted into a large box with the same substrate at a distance of at least 2 cm (0.8 in) from each other. When the sprouts grow stronger, they are transplanted into individual pots with standard potting mix for mature laurels.

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Laurel is unpretentious, grows remarkably well in indoor conditions for 12-15 years, and easily adapts to sunny and shady spots. At home, laurel is cultivated as an ornamental plant valued for its leaves rather than its flowers. It requires a large amount of sunlight. In summer, it is desirable to take the small tree out into fresh air; in winter, place it in bright, cool rooms. The optimal temperature for growing in spring and summer is 20-26 °C (68-79 °F), and in the cold season - 12-15 °C (54-59 °F).

During warm periods, laurel requires generous watering. At least once a day, and on particularly hot days - up to three times. Under no circumstances should the soil be allowed to dry out. If indoor air is dry, the plant must be misted several times a day with warm water. With the onset of winter, watering intensity is reduced, but care is taken that the top layer of soil always remains moist.

As a substrate, a mixture is used: one part each of sod, peat, and sand, and two parts each of humus and leaf soil. Young plants are repotted into a larger pot once every two years, mature ones - once every three to four. Fertilization is carried out once a month with mineral fertilizers.

Pruning is carried out in August. Laurel is propagated by seeds, cuttings, or root shoots.