Kalmia Latifolia (Mountain Laurel) Question
 

Last Winter I gathered some Kalmia seed capsules from the local woods here
in Maryland. I soaked the seeds overnight in water and placed them indoors
on peat moss trays, inside clear plastic bags. Several of the seeds
germinated after about a week but failed to grow more than about a 1/2 in.
in height (I used 16 hrs. flourescent light a day and the temperature has
been kept around 70 degrees). Three of the seeds germinated within a couple
of days and grew rapidly. On one trial I ended up with the 2 plants shown
at the bottom of the page, on another I ended up with the one at the top.
http://www.geocities.com/gridcat2/in...?1056159151406

Why do the 2 lower ones look so unlike Kalmia? I don't see how I could have
contaminated the seeds. If they're something else, can anyone identify
them?
thanks
Mitch
--remove nospam from email address when replying.

Kalmia Latifolia (Mountain Laurel) Question
 

None of your seedlings are Kalmia. I have grown lots of Kalmia from seed and
the seedlings are really small. It takes the seedlings about six months to get
one inch tall.

I suspect that what you grew are weeds whose seeds were in your potting mix

--beeky

mbillian

Last Winter I gathered some Kalmia seed capsules from the local woods here
in Maryland. I soaked the seeds overnight in water and placed them indoors
on peat moss trays, inside clear plastic bags. Several of the seeds
germinated after about a week but failed to grow more than about a 1/2 in.
in height (I used 16 hrs. flourescent light a day and the temperature has
been kept around 70 degrees). Three of the seeds germinated within a couple
of days and grew rapidly. On one trial I ended up with the 2 plants shown
at the bottom of the page, on another I ended up with the one at the top.
http://www.geocities.com/gridcat2/in...?1056159151406

Why do the 2 lower ones look so unlike Kalmia? I don't see how I could have
contaminated the seeds. If they're something else, can anyone identify
them?
thanks
Mitch
--remove nospam from email address when replying.

Kalmia Latifolia (Mountain Laurel) Question
 

Your top picture appears to be Pokeberry, definitely a weed. It has dark purple
berries and birds love to "drop" them all over the place after feasting on the
seeds.

Not sure of the name of the plant in the bottom picture but in my yard, it's a
weed.

Kalmia Latifolia (Mountain Laurel) Question
 

Thanks for your comments. They've been put to sleep in the trash.

mitch