Bay Tree Died
Answered by: Inge Poot
Question from: Annemarie Rodger
Posted on: April 6, 1998

The Bay Laurel I purchased from you several years ago had finally died. I was keeping it in a south window. It developed new growth every spring, but the leaves went gradually brown during the year. What did I do wrong? I have ordered another one, and I would like to do it right this time.

If the leaves of your plant turned brown during the summer, then I would guess that the south window your plant stood in was very exposed and got full hot sun-cooking the plant. For that scenario I would suggest that you move the plant outdoors for the summer (gradually exposing it to more light over the course of a month) and don’t forget to water regularly. If the leaves browned during the winter it could be that the plant is kept too hot (e.g. over a radiator) or too dry. Try placing the plant into a deep tray with a layer of pebbles and water to just below the top of the pebbles. The plant’s pot will be over, but not in, water and the evaporating water will raise the local humidity around the plant sufficiently to offset a stream of hot dry air coming from a radiator. Again water the plant everytime the soil surface seems just a bit on the dry side.

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