Image – Wikimedia/Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz
The laurel is a fairly hardy tree in general, but like any plant, may have brown leaves for one reason or another. Sometimes it will be for a reason that is not worrisome, but other times it will be.
Therefore, we will have to be a little aware of our beloved plant, because depending on what is wrong with you, we may need to take some action so as not to have all the brown foliage.
he is very thirsty
It may be difficult for you to think that a laurel, that is, a plant that tolerates drought without problems, could be thirsty. Well, the reality is that it can happen to you. Whether it stays for a long time without receiving a single drop of water, or if you are in a place where the air humidity is very low, the leaves become dehydrated. Because?
There are two reasons:
- When potted, it naturally has a limited amount of soil. Therefore, it loses moisture much faster. Things would be different if it was in the ground, well, yes, the upper layers dry out quickly, but the lower layers -the ones close to the roots- take a bit longer, that’s why it holds up much better to drought when planted in the ground and not in pots.
- Air humidity. We’ve said it before, but I’ll talk more about it. Bay laurel is native to regions where said humidity is high. For example, he Noble Laurus originates from the Mediterranean region, azori laurus Azores, etc. In my area (south of the island of Majorca) the humidity is so high that the plants wake up wet every day, and This moisture, i.e. these water droplets, helps them stay hydrated.. When it is very low, that is to say when the environment is very dry, the leaves turn brown.
What to do? The first thing is to know if the problem is that the soil is dry, or the humidity is very low (or both). To find out if the soil needs water, insert a thin wooden or plastic stick into it., and extracting it – with care – you will see if it is definitely dry or not. In the first case, it will come out almost like when you inserted it, but if, on the contrary, it is very wet, dirt will have adhered to it and the stick will also look wet.
To find out if the air humidity is low or high, the quickest thing to do is to look up this information on the Internet.Although I recommend getting a home weather station, or even downloading one of the many apps available for Android and iPhone. I particularly like the climate one, of which I leave you the link here, but there are others like that of Aemet or that of Tiempo.es that are also good. In case it is low, it will be necessary to spray its leaves with water once a day.
it waters too much
This is another fairly common problem that causes leaf browning. The laurel is a tree that tolerates drought much better than excess water; in fact, when watered too often, or in a pot without holes, the roots struggle. Therefore, it is better to check the soil moisture before watering it, as I said just before (inserting the stick).
If you see that the leaves have started to lose their color and you suspect it’s because you’ve overwatered, what you need to do is stop watering. and treat it with a systemic fungicide (available here) to reduce the risk of fungi infecting it. Also, if it is in a pot without holes, you must plant it in one that has a quality universal substrate, such as Fertiberia’s or Flower’s, for example.
harmful
Image – Flickr/Katja Schulz
The laurel is a plant that resists the attack of the vast majority of pests very well, but there is one with which it cannot do much: the scale insects, and especially those that can go completely unnoticed, as they can be mistaken for simple brown spots or cotton balls. Because? Because the first look like flat scales of this color, and the second precisely that – cotton. But if you scratch with your fingernail, you will immediately see that they come off easily. The problem is that they are very insistent, and often a single treatment is not enough to eradicate the pest.
Moreover, they multiply very quickly, so when you only see one specimen, there will likely be more. As a result, the plant can quickly weaken, as the leaves turn brown, and as a result, the plant begins to have less ability to photosynthesize, breathe, and ultimately perform its vital functions.
You should know that this scourge stays active during warm months, especially in summer, but if spring and/or autumn are hot, it can also appear. To eliminate them naturally, I strongly recommend the application of diatomaceous earth (on sale here), of which I leave you a video here:
lack of light
On one occasion I saw that it was recommended to have the laurel inside the house, that’s why I wanted to tell you that It is a plant that needs to be exposed to direct sunlight.. This is why it is not a plant that can grow well inside a house, since in these there is usually not enough light for it to grow properly.
The same would happen if you are outdoors but in a dark area. It is really very important that when you buy a specimen, it is exposed to the sun. So you can have a good development.
They have come to the end of their life
Is your laurel in good health but still has a few brown leaves? If so, you don’t have to worry, since They only live a few months or a few years.; then they die. And that’s okay.
Although it is an evergreen tree, this does not mean that it keeps the same leaves throughout its life; in fact, he will lose them as he replaces them with new ones.
Have you discovered why your laurel has brown leaves?