Plant Care Bay Laurel

Bay Laurel

About Bay Laurel

Bay Laurel is a popular houseplant 🌿 that is isn’t challenging to grow and needs regular watering to thrive. They do best in long-lasting, direct light ☀️ and should be less than 1 foot from a window.

Bay Laurel likes soil that is well draining. Your plant shouldn't need added fertilizers if you repot each time it doubles in size.

Bay Laurel belongs to the Laurus genus, and is native to the Mediterranean.

⚠️ Bay Laurel is not safe to consume. If you, a family member, or a pet has ingested any amount of plant material contact Poison Control, US (800) 222-1222, or your veterinarian. If you have children, cats, or dogs in the home, we suggest keeping this plant out of reach.

Taxonomy

Laurus nobilis
Laurus
Lauraceae
Laurales

Also known as

Bay Leaf Tree, Sweet bay, True laurel, Grecian laurel, Laurel and Laurus nobilis.

How to care for Bay Laurel

💦 Water

How often to water your Bay Laurel

Water needs for Bay Laurel
0.5 cups
every 9

Bay Laurel needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Calculate water needs of Bay Laurel

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
☀️ Light

Finding light for Bay Laurel in your home

Light needs and placement for plant Bay Laurel: 1ft from a window
1ft or less from
a window

Bay Laurel love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Bay Laurel does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Bay Laurel in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Bay Laurel

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Bay Laurel: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Bay Laurel after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #BayLaurel
💡 FAQs
⭐ Difficulty Level

Bay Laurel is generally easy to care for, though some plant parents report facing challenges with growing it. Check out the reviews down below to read more about their experiences!

How to Grow Bay Laurel →

Benefits of Growing Bay Laurel →

Common Bay Laurel Problems →

Indoor Care Guide for Bay Laurel →

Outdoor Care Guide for Bay Laurel →


💦 Water Needs

Bay Laurel prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Bay Laurel Water Frequency →

Bay Laurel Root Rot →


☀️ Sunlight Needs

Bay Laurel requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Bay Laurel Light Requirements →

Bay Laurel Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →


🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Bay Laurel is not safe to consume. If you, a family member, or a pet has ingested any amount of plant material contact Poison Control, US (800) 222-1222, or your veterinarian. If you have children, cats, or dogs in the home, we suggest keeping this plant out of reach.

Is Bay Laurel Edible? →

Bay Laurel Toxicity to Cats →

Bay Laurel Toxicity to Dogs →

Bay Laurel Toxicity to Humans →


🪴 Soil

Bay Laurel does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!

Best Soil Mix for Bay Laurel →

Best Pots for Bay Laurel →

When and How to Successfully Repot Bay Laurel →

What Are Healthy Bay Laurel Roots →


💩 Fertilizer

Bay Laurel should be repotted after it doubles in size or once a year, whichever comes first. Fresh potting soil has all the nutrients your plant needs, so as long as it’s refreshed yearly, you shouldn’t need to use fertilizer. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!

How Much and When to Fertilize Bay Laurel →


⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Bay Laurel will branch off as it grows. To encourage branching, pinch off the newest growth at the tip and the stem will branch off into two.

Bay Laurel Lifecycle →

Bay Laurel Size Guide →

How and When to Prune Bay Laurel →


🌦️ Growing Outdoors
🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Bay Laurel, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!


🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.


Care Summary for Bay Laurel

Bay Laurel

Bay Laurel


Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 9 days

Placement

< 1ft from a window

Nutrients

Repot after 2x growth

Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.

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