As a rule, the leaves of the real laurel on the plant have a rich green color, which only gradually fades as it dries after harvest. Brown or yellow leaves on the evergreen plant usually indicate a problem with the plant's he alth.
Why does my laurel have yellow leaves?
Yellow leaves on laurel can be caused by excessive or insufficient watering, incorrect overwintering or lack of nutrients. Adjust watering, overwinter the plant in a cool, bright location, and add iron or nitrogen as needed.
The right level for watering laurel
For the correct watering intensity for the laurel, you should be aware of its origins in the Near East and the Mediterranean. Even if the root ball of laurel should never dry out completely, daily watering should also be avoided as part of ideal care due to the resulting waterlogging. A sandy substrate in the pot and a year-round watering rhythm of about once a week should enable a good harvest of the aromatic leaves of the laurel. Basically, if irrigation errors are suspected, the root ball of a laurel tree can be dipped and then put on a dry diet for a few days without a saucer.
Overwintering the spice laurel properly
The discoloration and falling of the leaves can also indicate incorrect overwintering of the real laurel. The windowsill is rather unsuitable as a winter quarters for a laurel bush; a partially protected place with winter temperatures of just below freezing to a maximum of around 10 degrees Celsius is better. The laurel should definitely be kept light over the winter and be watered sufficiently. Late wintering and early wintering out protects it from diseases associated with spider mites and scale insects.
Nutrient deficiency and location problems with laurel
In a sunny location with permeable and humus-rich soil, laurel usually grows without any problems. Yellow or brown leaves can sometimes indicate an iron or nitrogen deficiency. Help against this:
- replacing the top layer of soil on plants in pots
- the economical use of organic liquid fertilizer (€13.00 on Amazon) based on molasses
- the gift of compost and herbal soil
Tip
If the leaves have fallen off after overwintering outdoors, you don't need to give up hope just yet. Often seemingly dead laurel trees sprout again after a while.