Mountain Laurel Seeds

To Germinate:  Soak the seeds in warm water for 24 hours. Plant the seeds one inch deep in a pot filled with a well-draining potting mix. You can also use moistened sand. Place in a warm area: Put the pot in a warm area with direct sunlight. Water the seeds well initially, but then water sparingly. Once the seedlings have their second set of true leaves, transplant them to a humus-rich soil. You can mix equal parts potting soil and compost. After the last frost, plant the seedlings outdoors in a sunny location with moist, well-drained soil. Space them four to six feet apart and avoid windy areas.

Type of soil: prefers well-drained, rocky, alkaline soil (PH 5.0 to 5.5) that contains limestone. It can also grow in clay, loam, or sand, as long as the soil is well-drained and the plant receives at least six hours of full sun per day. It is drought-tolerant and requires little to no irrigation. To prepare for transplanting mix 1/3 native soil, 1/3 expanded shale, and 1/3 compost.

Fertilizer: 10-10-10, every spring. Elemental Sulphur makes the blooms large and rich. Muracid can be applied liberally in late winter to ensure full bloom activity in spring.