Germinating the seeds
If you have germinated Begonia seeds before (not tropical, terrarium Begonias), you may use the same method that worked for you, because germination is similar. Getting started -- Plant your seeds when you receive them. Use several small pots or cups with drainage holes, about 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) tall. Use a well-draining soil mix. I use
a mix of 1 part
coir fiber The seeds are small, so work in a well-lit area. Sprinkle a few seeds evenly across the surface of each pot. An easy way to pick up the seeds is by breathing on your finger tip to lightly moisten it, then dabbing the seeds with it. Don't sow them too densely, because the germination rate is high. Next sprinkle a thin layer of long-fibered sphagnum moss (not ground peat moss). This helps retain moisture around the seeds while allowing light to reach them, which aids germination. This photo shows how much moss to use. If you don't have sphagnum moss, sprinkle a bit of your soil mix around the surface. Add water until the soil is evenly moist, but not soggy. Until the seeds sprout, ensure that the soil surface never dries out. An easy way to maintain high humidity by enclosing the pots in a plastic container or bag. Leave it open slightly to let in fresh air. You may need to drip a few drops of water on the surface once or twice a day to keep it moist. The seeds germinate well between about 66-78 degrees F (198-26°C), and a little cooler at night. I don't have experience germinating them outside this temperature range. I recommend placing a minimum/maximum thermometer next to the pots. Light helps the seeds germinate, so place the containers in a bright spot out of direct sun. An LED or fluorescent bulb kept 4 inches (10 cm) away provides the right amount of light (See: "Growing indoors with LED lights"). The seeds tend to start sprouting within about 6 weeks, but may take longer. Continue dripping water on the soil surface after they sprout, since young seedlings have a small root system. When the seedlings are 8 weeks old, you may carefully dig them up and transplant them, or cut away any slower ones, leaving 1 strong seedling in each pot. Fertilizing -- The first 2 months, feed
weekly with a small amount of dilute (1/8 strength) liquid fertilizer.
Hydroponic fertilizer
is ideal for small seedlings, because it is easily absorbed and contains all essential
nutrients. After 2 months, you may switch to a granular fertilizer Watering -- Once the seedlings are 4 weeks old, you may stop keeping the soil surface moist at all times. Aim to keep the rest of the soil evenly moist (but not soggy). Lighting -- It grows well for me in dappled sunlight or morning sun + bright shade. It needs some protection from strong afternoon sun. Transplanting -- When the seedlings are 2 months old, repot to a 1 quart (1 liter) container. Water the soil before repotting, to keep the soil ball from breaking apart, which can damage the roots. Climate -- Little is known about its climate tolerances, since it's new to cultivation. Some cloud forest plants resent hot conditions combined with warm nights. It's possible that it won't thrive if temperatures regularly get above 85° F (29°C) and nights are above 65°F (18°C). Protection from frost is probably necessary. I don't think they will thrive in dry air. If they seems to suffer from low humidity indoors, consider using an ultrasonic humidifier, sold at home improvement stores and some thrift shops. If you have any questions or problems, feel free to contact me. Have fun growing them! - Jeff Strange Wonderful Things
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to 1 part
(use small- or medium-size perlite, not large chunks). An alternate mix is 2 parts
quality potting soil
to 1 part perlite or coarse horticultural sand.
Don't add lime to the mix, because the plant prefers slightly acid soil.
that contains micronutrients, following the dosage on the package. Or continue feeding weekly with
some liquid fertilizer at 1/8 strength.