How to Care for a Bay Plant
A bay plant, also known as a laurel, is a Mediterranean plant that was worn as a garland by ancient Greeks. It is also known as bay laurel and sweet bay. Bay is used as an herb and can be harvested and dried for cooking. It is an aromatic evergreen plant that has deep green shiny leaves; it produces tiny yellow flowers in the spring followed by black berries in the fall. The bay is a perennial, although many people grow it in containers and winter it indoors. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Bay laurels prefer a light, loose soil. They like a sunny spot, but will burn, so partial shade is best. Bays need to drain properly so the roots don't rot. The bay grows well in containers and will reach a height of approximately 5 to 8 feet when potted and up to 10 feet or more outdoors in mild climates. It is best to use an all-purpose potting soil that will retain water, but drains well.
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Water with warm water and keep the soil barely moist. Use a water-soluble fertilizer monthly.
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Keep your bay properly ventilated. If your plant is an outdoor plant, give it plenty of room so it can spread its roots. A bay plant is a tree, not a shrub, so plant accordingly.
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Pick off any yellowing leaves. If they are thicker than normal where they attach, this could be signs of a pest known as a sucker. Wash the undersides of the leaves with a very diluted soap solution to remove the suckers.
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If you live in a very mild climate where it doesn't get colder than 20 degrees F, you can safely grow your bay plant outdoors. If your winter temperatures dip lower than that, the bay must be brought in at night to avoid freezing. If you do keep your bay plant indoors year-round, it is very beneficial to move the plant to an outdoor location for a few weeks in the spring. For a large plant, use a container with a base on wheels to make moving the plant easier.
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Tips & Warnings
Bay plants cannot tolerate deep frost. They should be covered or preferably brought indoors during the coldest part of the year.
Bay is very difficult and time-consuming to grow from either seeds or cuttings, so unless you are prepared to spend the time and effort, it is usually best to buy a bay that is already growing.
