Help with bay tree please.

candjsmum

Today I was given a young bay tree from someone I work for. She's had it for about 3 years and it "hasn't grown much" was her reason for giving it to me. I have bought it home and realised its been in a pot without drainage so is completely waterlogged. I have never had a bay before so really don't know what it likes etc but thought it best to keep indoors until it dries out.
Will it be OK in my conservatory for a while? Do you think it would need repotting into a bigger pot with new soil? And how do I go about making into a standard tree. At the moment it has all leaves up the stalk with what looks like new growth coming out the top.
Hopefully someone could help me.

Davesnave

candjsmum wrote: »

Will it be OK in my conservatory for a while? Yes.

Do you think it would need repotting into a bigger pot with new soil? I don't know how big the pot is now! Be guided by the size of the root ball. It won't grow much over winter anyway, so re-pot to fit the roots + 2 or 3 cm all round for now. Re-potting in an over-large container can lead to stale compost. Bay don't like too much moisture either.
And how do I go about making into a standard tree. At the moment it has all leaves up the stalk with what looks like new growth coming out the top. That's fine, just remove the lower leaves/stems periodically as it grows, leaving plenty in the upper half to make food. I wouldn't remove any at present. Making standards with bay takes a few years, but it's easy.


Hopefully someone could help me.

...............................................................

candjsmum

Thank you very much.

I must say, if it's possible, it looks happier today without being in all that water. :rotfl:


Nicky

safestored4

Bay trees don't need to be kept indoors and I wouldn't waste the precious space in a conservatory on them. They are fully hardy and will thrive outdoors either in a pot or planted directly into the ground. If you want to know more just type in 'How to grow bay trees' and it will take you to the Royal Horticultural Society web site which tells you everything you need to know.

The plant you have been given may not be suitable for training as a standard tree. They are often sold in pots containing a number of rooted cuttings crammed together which are more often trained into a ball shape. The RHS site gives advice on propagation and if you are prepared to take a long term view start afresh with cuttings which you can then grow on.

candjsmum

Thank you, I will take a look. I have a large window sill in my conservatory which is home to 18 orchids so have placed it here to mainly dry out. It won't be its permanent home.
Will move it outside once its completely drained out.

Thank you,

Nicky

I_have_spoken

Bays are pretty tough, but also take a while to respond to TLC. I allowed two to get very dry one summer and they sulked throughout the next year before growth resumed!