Can You Start Mountain Laurel Bushes With Cuttings From an Old Bush?

Timing

• Timing is everything when it comes to rooting mountain laurels, particularly when it comes to the age of the shrub. Cuttings should be taken only from mature, 2- to 3-year-old mountain laurels with plenty of lush, healthy stem growth. Autumn is the best time for rooting mountain laurels because they are no longer blooming yet they are still putting on some fresh growth before the dormant season. Take the cuttings in the morning when the stems and foliage are plump and hydrated, or wait until a cloudy day when the weather is cool and moist. Avoid taking the cuttings when it is hot and dry because they will dehydrate quickly and fail to root.

Cutting Selection

• Mountain laurels root best from softwood cuttings taken from the tip of a healthy, leafy stem. A green, 4- to 6-inch-long stem with a diameter of slightly less than 1/4 inch is best. Choose one with plenty of leaves at the tip and no fruit or flowers. Avoid stems with obvious signs of disease or damage such as yellow leaves or cankers on the stem. The stem should be severed roughly 1/8-inch below a pair of leaves using sharp shears. Dirty shears may transmit bacterial or fungal infections to the cutting, so make sure the shears are clean.

Potting the Cutting

• Cuttings are more likely to root if planted in sterile, low-nutrient medium such as coarse sand, peat moss or perlite, and mountain laurels are no exception. Remove the leaves from the lower half of the cutting and make a small nick near the base of the stem. Treat the leafless part of the stem with 0.5 percent IBA (indolebutyric acid) rooting hormone talc. Pot the cutting so the bottommost remaining set of leaves rests just above the soil surface. Contact between the cutting and the medium is vital, so drizzle water around the base of the stem and lightly press the medium against it.

Rooting Conditions

• High humidity, moderate warmth and bright, filtered light are required to successfully root mountain laurel cuttings. Place the pot outdoors in a lightly shaded cold frame or indoors near an east-facing window. Mist the foliage daily and cover the pot with a large, clear plastic bag to create a humid environment for the cutting. Temperatures of around 75 degrees Fahrenheit must be maintained during the rooting process, so use a propagation mat if daytime temperatures are very cool. Lastly, keep the medium moderately moist during the rooting process, but don't allow it to become too moist because the cutting may rot.

Transplant and Aftercare

• Mountain laurels may take up to two months to put down a significant amount of roots, so be patient. Once the cutting has rooted, it must be immediately transplanted into a 1-gallon nursery pot filled with acidic potting mix, such as rhododendron or azalea soil. Grow the young shrub in a lightly shaded cold frame for one full year before planting it in the ground. Choose a lightly shaded bed with acidic, fast-draining soil and protection from strong winds. Plant the shrub shallowly, 1 to 2 inches above the soil line, and spread lightweight organic mulch around the base to shelter the roots. Keep it watered during the summer months and watch for significant growth the following year.