Germinating the seeds
When to plant -- Plant your seeds when you receive them for best results. Getting started -- You may plant each seed in individual, small containers,
such as
seedling starter trays Use well-draining soil. I use a mix of 1 part
coir fiber Fill the pots with soil and
place a seed or 2 on the surface.
If you have
long-fibered sphagnum moss Until the seeds sprout, ensure that the surface soil always stays moist. A plastic dome or bag may be used to maintain moisture, but leave it open slightly to allow some fresh air in. You may need to drip a few drops of water over the seeds every day to keep the seeds moist. The ideal temperature for germination is between 65 to 77 degrees F (18-25°C)
during the day, with nights between 50-65° F (10-18°C).
Avoid letting them get above 80° F (27°C). I recommend placing a
minimum/maximum thermometer A fluorescent or LED bulb kept 4 inches (10 cm) away provides the right amount of
light. Protect from direct sun. Fertilizing -- For the first 2 months, feed weekly with a small amount of diluted liquid fertilizer (1/8 strength). Hydroponic fertilizer is ideal for this, since it is easily absorbed and complete. After 2 months, you may switch to a granular fertilizer that contains micronutrients, or continue feeding weekly with dilute liquid fertilizer. Growing onward... Transplanting -- When your plants are 2-3 months old, you may gently
transfer them to larger pots. Avoid damaging the roots when repotting.
Shade it from sun the first week after repotting. A 1 gallon (4 liter) pot
is fine the first year. The second year, use approximately a 3 gallon (12
liter) pot. After a few years, it may need a 5 gallon (20 liter) pot,
especially if the soil dries out fast and the leaves wilt. Over about 40-45% humidity is best. If the humidity gets too low indoors, consider using an ultrasonic room humidifier, sold at home improvement stores and some thrift shops. Dormancy care -- In winter
the tubers may go dormant if conditions are cool enough. If this happens,
reduce watering, giving just enough to keep the soil slightly moist, so the
tubers don't shrivel. Indoors, the plant might not go dormant, or it may
go semi-dormant. Don't feed it while it's semi-dormant. - Jeff Strange Wonderful Things
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. Or you
may plant them all in a single,
larger
container, but it may be difficult to separate the roots later. Either way, use
containers with drainage holes
to 1 part
(use small- or medium-grade perlite, not large chunks). An alternate mix is 2 parts
quality potting soil
to 1 part perlite.
, sprinkle
a small amount over the
surface. This helps retain
moisture around the seeds while allowing light to reach them, which aids
germination. The amount of moss to use is shown in
near the pots.