We grow laurel from seeds at home, following the advice of experienced gardeners
The variety of green spaces of the environment is an unprecedented delight for nature lovers. Therefore, they are happy to grow not only indoor flowers on windowsills, but also fragrant laurel from seeds at home. For some, this plant is associated with a huge tree on the slopes of the Caucasian or Crimean mountains. In fact, laurel can decorate the interior of a living space anywhere in the world. To do this, you should carefully study the basic rules of its cultivation, take into account the advice of gardeners and get down to business with enthusiasm. First, we will find out where to get laurel seeds for planting a plant in a pot. And then we will consider tips from gardeners on how to grow it indoors.
It is interesting that in its natural environment the laurel tree grows up to 18 m. The trunk diameter reaches 40 cm. The plant's life span is about 400 years.
Laurel from seeds at home: selection of material for growing
To successfully grow laurel from seeds at home, it is important to purchase high-quality planting material. It must meet the following requirements:
- large size;
- oval shape;
- length about 2 cm;
- thin but fleshy membrane;
- shelf life - maximum 6 months (unrefined material is stored much longer).
Since bay leaf seeds lose their germination rather quickly, it is best to sow them immediately after harvest. If seeds are purchased from a store, it is advisable to check the packaging date of the item. 
Older specimens may not ascend. To get a positive result, you need to be patient. They often sit in the ground for a long time before releasing greenery. Before planting, the seeds must be cleaned of scales, which protects its core from pests and the harmful effects of climatic conditions.
It is advisable to store the planting material in a dark, cool room with a humidity of about 60%.
Fertile soil is a reliable basis for achieving the goal
Reproduction of laurel from seeds at home requires patience from the gardener and careful implementation of the rules for growing this plant. It is important to take into account the composition and temperature of the soil where the seedlings will grow. The plant prefers a nutritious soil of a loose nature. If only an acidic substrate is available, it can be diluted wood ash.
Prepare the soil from the following components:
- leafy land;
- humus;
- sod soil;
- peat;
- sand.
When mixing the soil, the first three take 2 parts, the rest one by one. The finished substrate is laid out in containers or pots, the diameter of which is more than 10 cm. After compaction, they start planting laurel.
As a top dressing, it is advisable to add a small amount of ash to the ground.
The subtleties of planting a stately plant
As an indoor flower, laurel not only decorates the home with greenery, but also brings practical benefits. Its leaf plates release essential oils into space, which have a beneficial effect on the emotional state of a person. They are chewed to freshen the mouth, decoctions and medicinal teas are prepared.To have such a miracle on our windowsill, we will learn how to grow laurel from seeds at home.
Before lowering the planting material into the soil, it must be poured with warm water, a solution of potassium permanganate or a special growth stimulant... When the seeds are swollen, they are placed in the substrate to a depth of about 2 cm. Then the top layer of soil is compacted and thoroughly filled with water. Before the seedlings appear, the pots are covered with glass and the soil is regularly moistened.
In some cases, gardeners advise a different way of how to germinate laurel seeds. After a short soaking, the planting material is placed in a plastic cup with coarse sand. To isolate the plant from the external environment, the container is covered with polyethylene. The soil must be kept moist. The seedlings will germinate in about 30 days. They are then gently transplanted into larger pots.
Sowing seeds is desirable in late January or early February.
Simple rules for caring for seedlings
As you can see, planting laurel with seeds is not a tricky business, the main thing is to adhere to the advice of experienced gardeners. But in order to grow a full-fledged plant on your windowsill, it is important to properly care for it. There are several basic procedures for this:
- Daily airing. It is made quite simply - for a few minutes during the day, glass or film is removed from the pots where laurel seeds are sown.
- Air and soil moisture control. The optimum level is achieved by watering and spraying the seedlings.
- Room temperature. Since laurel is a thermophilic plant, it is advisable to grow it in warm conditions.
Over time, laurel is planted in larger pots so that it turns into a chic indoor "tree". To begin with, prepare a substrate of humus, sand, turf and peat (same as for sowing seeds). A drainage layer of expanded clay, charcoal or broken brick is placed on the bottom of the container. Then the prepared mixture of the substrate is poured, the plant is placed in it and watered abundantly with water.
In order not to damage the main laurel root during transplantation, the seedlings are thoroughly moistened so that they easily come out of the soil.
At first, within 2-3 weeks, the seedlings are carefully protected from direct sunlight on the young leaf plates. Then the laurel is exposed in an open and spacious place, where there is a lot of light so that it can develop successfully.
Once a month, the plant needs feeding. It is best to use complex substances of a mineral or organic nature. The procedure is especially relevant during the growing season of laurel. Fertilizers can be purchased at specialized plant outlets.
The stately "tree" on the windowsill: the basics of caring for an adult plant
Many gardeners have noticed that planting laurel seeds at home is quite simple if you follow the instructions of experts. But when it grows up, it's important to keep taking care of it. Despite the fact that the plant develops very slowly, it is transplanted once every two years. During this time, the root system completely fills the entire space of the container in which it grows. Moving laurel into a larger container contributes to its rapid development.
Since the tree does not like dry air in the room, it must be regularly sprayed. And once a month, the flower is simply bathed in the shower. In order to somehow increase the level of humidity in the room, containers filled with water are installed next to the laurel. For convenience, they are decorated with artificial flowers, thus creating a stylish interior element.
An adult indoor laurel tree needs regular feeding, like small seedlings. Mineral fertilizers are applied to the soil every 4 weeks of the month. From organic substances, has proven itself well pigeon droppings... During the procedure, the topsoil is also loosened.
Humidification of indoor laurel is carried out with settled water 1 time for 3 days from early May to September. In late autumn and winter, watering is carried out once a week. In hot summer periods, moistening is carried out as the topsoil dries out. At the same time, the excess of water in the soil is controlled. As a result, the stately tree silently decorates the home interior of lovers of green spaces.