Question
I have my mom's laurel tree which has very thin looking but is about 4 1/2 tall.  It is potted and stays indoors over winter and I bring it outside in the warmer months (June - August)  It has also had a few fights with mealy bugs.  I currently have it outside, in a 14" pot but has not started to produce any new growth in the past 6 months.  I would like to start another plant.  How do I prevent the bug problem in the future and how do a propogate the tree now?

Answer
Hi Maria,
Thanx for your question.  If you haven't seen any new growth in the past six months, I would hold off on taking a cutting until the tree does start to grow again.  Woody cuttings are hard to root and it is recommended that cuttings be taken from semi-hard, green tip shoots in summer.  These will root in 6-9 months if they don't rot first.  Use wet sand as your growing medium and keep it warm and wet.  Dip the cuttings in a rooting hormon and stick them in about an inch deep.  Cuttings should be no more than 6 inches long.

Use horticultural oil (available at nurseries) to control mealy bugs.  Follow the directions on the package.  I hope this helps.
Tom