How to Propagate a Bay Tree From a Cutting
Bay trees, also called bay laurel (Laurus nobilis), are the source of bay leaves used in the kitchen to flavor soups, stews and sauces. The trees can grow as tall as 40 feet or more, although normally they are pruned to be much shorter and more compact. The easiest way to propagate a bay tree is by layering, or partially burying an attached stem until it develops roots. If that's not practical, you can also propagate a bay laurel by taking a cutting and rooting it in soil, although you may only have marginal success.
Fill a six-inch-diameter pot with a blend of equal parts of all-purpose potting mix and compost. Make sure that your pot has a drainage hole on the bottom.
Use a sharp knife to cut a four- to six-inch-long stem from a bay tree. Gouge the knife into the main trunk a little bit when taking your cutting, so that the stem appears to have a "foot" or a "heel."
- Bay trees, also called bay laurel (Laurus nobilis), are the source of bay leaves used in the kitchen to flavor soups, stews and sauces.
- If that's not practical, you can also propagate a bay laurel by taking a cutting and rooting it in soil, although you may only have marginal success.
Remove all but the top four leaves of the cutting.
Plant the cutting so that the heel is about two inches below the soil surface. Water the cutting thoroughly.
Place the pot on a heated seed mat. Bay trees require warm temperatures to thrive and put out roots. Do not use heating pads designed for human use.
Place an open plastic bag loosely over the potted bay tree to retain moisture and create a humid environment.
- Remove all but the top four leaves of the cutting.
- Plant the cutting so that the heel is about two inches below the soil surface.
Keep the newly planted bay tree away from direct sunlight.
Water as needed to keep the soil evenly moist, and check on the cutting regularly to make sure that mold isn't developing on the soil's surface. It may take up to a year for a bay tree cutting to put out roots.
Tip
Bay trees are native to the Mediterranean and are not cold hardy. They may be grown outside in climates that do not freeze, and they do well in containers everywhere else.
Once established, bay trees require very little care, other than pruning to keep them small and manageable. Container-grown bay trees only need to be repotted once every three to five years.
Related Articles
References
Tips
- Bay trees are native to the Mediterranean and are not cold hardy. They may be grown outside in climates that do not freeze, and they do well in containers everywhere else.
- Once established, bay trees require very little care, other than pruning to keep them small and manageable. Container-grown bay trees only need to be repotted once every three to five years.
Writer Bio
Heidi Almond worked in the natural foods industry for more than seven years before becoming a full-time freelancer in 2010. She has been published in "Mother Earth News," "Legacy" magazine and in several local publications in Duluth, Minn. In 2002 Almond graduated cum laude from an environmental liberal arts college with a concentration in writing.
