Sick bay trees - advice desperately needed!

angeltreats

I bought two bay trees in Tesco recently when they had an offer on. They were very healthy when I brought them home a few weeks ago and they have been watered regularly, and are in a spot that's not in direct sunlight although it does get quite a bit of light. A few days ago they started looking sick. The leaves are turning brown and curling up - they look as if they haven't been watered in months. I think it might be some sort of parasite but have no idea! Please can anyone offer some advice on what might be wrong and how to sort them out? I really don't want to lose these trees

blossomhill_2

Take them back for a refund if so new - "not fit for purpose", don't go into any detail about how you have cared for them, if they ask just say "Ive done what it said on the label"

In reality bay is as tough as old boots and even if they appear to die just water them and cut off the affected leaves and they should regenerate

alanobrien

Looks like over watering to me. I would repot in a free draining 70% compost 20% perlite 10% sharp sand mix then foliar feed with a liquid seaweed mix. We have a few potted bay trees and water them very rarely maybe monthly if i remember and they thrive.

angeltreats

Oh dear, if they don't like overwatering then they're going to be very unhappy after today, we must have had about 4" of rainfall today. Should I maybe move them inside till the rain eases off a bit?

Thanks for the replies

theonlynuttytart

is there any new growth anywhere on the bush? i bought one from sainsburys a while ago and put it out in the garden. mine looked a bit brown in places but then it got some new growth on it. it looked touch and go for a while! i think they go into shock when they leave the store and the presumably nursery environment that they were in before the store. my friend bought me some potted lilies from sainsburys a few weeks ago and despite me keeping them inside and tending to them, they just died. the weather has been so changeable i dont think that has helped. i just left my bay tree outside but i put it into a more sheltered position from any wind and its growing away now!

blossomhill_2

My mum waters hers every day and it does fine - the shock of leaving a supermarket could do it, as mentioned above, an orchid talk I went to recently said that the supermarket growers pump theirs full of hormones ready for sale and it doesn't do them any long term favours, so same could be said of your bays, got into prime condition for sale

With bay you are in for the long game and this glitch is probably temporary - no don't move them indoors, they are outdoor plants - as before; In reality bay is as tough as old boots and even if they appear to die just water them and cut off the affected leaves and they should regenerate