I tried for 4 yrs to root a cutting off my bay tree with no success. This was a big branch to try, but I air layered it. Cut bark off about 1 1/2 inches, dabbed a little rooting hormone on, put a small cup around & packed it with peat. It took 2-3 months before I cut it off mama about 2 weeks ago & it's doing fine.
This branch is 2 ft high X 26 inches wide.

Im so proud - gonna do another today!

Wow that is wonderful, I love those trees. I had one a long time ago and lost it to I'm not sure what and haven't been able to find another anywhere. Fresh Bay leaves are 100% better than the dried ones any day!!! Lucky you!

Thanks Joan, you're right...there's nothing better than fresh bay leaf. I got 2 - 2 inch high plants about 8-10 yrs ago. They pinched the top & there were 3 new growths from there. I wish they didn't because the trees are too bushy. I want a longer trunk & bushy top. Here's a (bad) pic of the two of them. The one at left is 4 ft wide in 5 gal pot. The one at right is where I propagated from...you can see where I cut it off..bottom red line. The tall skinny branch at right (red line) is now being propagated. You being in the cooking/catering biz should have one! Make me an offer & I'll start another one!

What would it take Patty?? I have some eucalyptus... Maybe some Sumac seeds?? Uhhhhh first born??? LOL naw scratch that he turns 18 in Nov and wouldn't be much good to ya any way.. LOL.. hmmm.. Real cute bird??
I was going to air layer my aunts Bay tree this last spring but didn't make it down there to NOLA to get it done.. for that matter.. don't know now that she still has it..
I'm thinkin.. uhhhh.... Night blooming cereous??

I can't think of any thing else I have spare of right now...
Any thing else I have you think you might be interested in??
I buy Bay leaves in the big bulk jars.. and have to restock often.. But then every one in my family comes over to borrow a cup now and then.. LOL

Gina *BabyBlue*

Nicely done, Patty.

Gina, that was so cute... no, I won't take your firstborn LOL. Seems like you are a good cook, & I will tell you that instead of buying bay leaf at bulk, I know you would apprecciate the fresh ones more than most ppl.
I look at prices of bay leaf & sage & it's outragous! I get them for free & fresh, amongst other herbs! PM me & we can work something out.
So far, what I have for you is the white-very-thorny-rose vine (for your fence), bay tree, purple (blue) water Iris, & what else? Seeds are ready to explode on the Iris so I will collect them for you. The other 2 I will have to root/propagate.
Bay trees are easy to grow. I put them in my west bay window in winter with partial sun & they sorta go seepy all winter with little water. They don't drop leaves, but just don't grow. Then, in around early March, they tell me that spring is here & start budding. Iv'e just recently started very light ferts & only in spring.
PS...on 2nd thought...send your son with a college degree over to pay me rent & shovel snow & I'll send you a BIG Bay tree LOL

Well, now I will have to see! Still too new to this venture to have anything to trade citrus wise but I will be thinking on it for sure! Cooking is a hobby of mine and if I were younger maybe would have been a profession. Nothing better than folks enjoying the food you prepare, except picking your own citrus from your deck in Minnesota before the squirrels get them!

Well, I don't really need any more plants...no room, but make me an offer including S&H. I paid $5-6.00 for each when they were about 2 inches high & only a few leaves. I have 2 branches going now that have small roots but not ready to cut off mother, & 1 I just started. 2 or 3 are already promised to good friends, one is giving me a wood burner stove for my sunroom!! (That'll be nice in winter!)

Patty,
Would you like two of the Eucalyptus in trade for your air layered bay??
If I can find some need for it around here (florists/ potpourri maker etc) I will also harvest the leaves to sell.. If nothing else see if I can sell at the farmers market on main street..
It is also used medicinally.. I'm hoping it will help me this winter.. I have breathing problems in the winter.. Boil it on stove and perfume the house.. and make it easier for me to breathe.. that is the theory any way..

Gina *BabyBlue*

It can be done. In spring, take half hard cutting 6 inches long leaving a few leaves at the top. Take a lot of cuttings. Soak them in a can of water with the leaves out of the water but the rest submerged. Change water daily. After a month, take them out and inspect for bumpy cutting. Throw the rest of the cuttings away. Root in a good draining potting soil without rooting hormone and put the whole pot into a 1 gallon zip lock bag leaving a crack open. Put in the shade and wait 3 months. Our warm season lasts 9 months here. I got about 10-25% overall to root and almost 100% of the bumpy ones. I had 25 or so in the ground but then dug them up and sold most of them. I have two remaining bays in the ground. The golden bay is 9 feet tall, very bushy, and blooming and the narrow leafed is 5 feet tall. I have around 25-40 trees in pots ready to sell next spring at an herb plant sale. I haven't rooted some for a few years but it was fun trying! These directions come from an herb book by Thomas DeBaggio "Growing Herbs from seed, cutting and root an adventure in small miracles."

I don't know about golden or narrow leaf bay, I have Laural bay- the kind in grocery stores. I tried everything to root them & the only thing working is marcotting (air layering).
Mr. Texas, how much do you sell them for? I tried looking them up on my SEARCH & only found artificial trees or just leaves.
Gina, what advice could you give me on growing the eucalyptus? Do they go dormant or semi dormant in winter, or need full sun etc?

Patty,
I sent you an e-mail about growing eucalyptus.. let me know if you get it please.. I got error message saying it couldn't send it.. but it is in the sent folder now...

Gina *BabyBlue*

Hey Gina, I thought I responded to this ! Maybe I emailed you? Yes I got the email about eucalyptus- thanks. How big is the plant you have?
I got an offer for the bay above...$25.00 plus postage. I counted about 140 leaves on it! I was at the grocery & the dried ones there are pricey. I have a couple branches that are rooting but too soon to cut off.

Patty,
All of my Eucalyptus range from about 6 in tall to 9 inches..

I'll see about getting some good photos to share soon..

I have thought of a way to transport them.. I'm going to wrap the pot in saranwrap the put bamboo skewers around the edges of the pot to secure it from rattling around and find a box that will hold this tightly.. finding the right size box will probably be the "hardest" part..
since the storm the weather here has cooled off.. only getting in to lower 90s... So now would probably be a good time to ship...

Let me know..

Gina *BabyBlue*

Gina, to ship a plant first cover the soil with rolled up layer of newspaper. Then, scotch tape over that to the pot sides to hold soil in. Get an old box to fit or make one out of cardboard...I make them all the time. Put wads of newspaper balls in pot & sides. Skewrs is a good idea, but use 4-5 in a bunch for strength & just use the one bunch . I save peanuts & use them too. Write "fragile" on box too. Just my 2 cents LOL