How much sunlight does my Sweet Bay need?

Sweet Bay 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 🏡.

Is Sweet Bay toxic to cats, dogs, or children?

Sweet Bay 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.

What type of soil should I use for my Sweet Bay?

Sweet Bay 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!

Should I fertilize my Sweet Bay?

Sweet Bay 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!

What is the growth pattern for Sweet Bay?

Sweet Bay 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.

Can Sweet Bay be grown outdoors?

USDA Hardiness Zone Sweet Bay can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 8a-10b . Find your local hardiness zone here .

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Sweet Bay

Q: Is Sweet Bay easy to care for?

Sweet Bay 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!

Q: How often should I water my Sweet Bay?

Sweet Bay 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.

Also known as

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

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Laurus nobilis

Genus

Laurus

Family

Lauraceae

Order

Laurales

How to care for Sweet Bay

Water

How often to water your Sweet Bay

Sweet Bay 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.

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

Light

Check the growing potential in your area

A plant's growing potential is determined from its location, the time of year, and current local weather.

Select a city to check sunlight intensity

Finding light for Bay Laurel in your home

Light needs and placement for plant Sweet Bay: 1ft from a window

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

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

Sweet Bay does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

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

Nutrients

How to fertilize Sweet Bay

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Sweet Bay: 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 Sweet Bay after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

FAQs

Difficulty Level

Sweet Bay 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!

Water Needs

Sunlight Needs

Toxicity

Soil

Fertilizer

Growth Pattern

Growing Outdoors