Germinating the seeds
Germination is similar to Begonia seeds (not tropical, terrarium Begonias), so if you have grown them successfully from seed, you may use the same technique that worked for you. Getting started -- Use about 6 to 10 small pots or cups with drainage holes that are 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) tall. Use a well-draining soil. A typical
soil mix for germinating them is 2 parts potting soil to 1 part
perlite The seeds are small, so work in a well-lit area. Sprinkle several 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. If you have long-fibered sphagnum moss (not ground peat moss), sprinkle a little over the surface. 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 some of your soil mix over the surface. Then add water until everything is evenly moist. Until the seeds sprout, ensure that the soil surface never dries out. A good way to maintain high humidity is by enclosing the pots in a plastic container or bag. Leave it open a crack to let in fresh air. Once or twice a day, drip a few drops of water on the surface to keep it moist. Try to keep them between about 68-80 degrees F (20-27°C) during the day, and 62-70°F (17-21°C) at night. I recommend placing a minimum/maximum thermometer near the pots, especially if using a heating mat. Keep them in a bright spot out of direct sun. An LED or fluorescent bulb kept 4 inches (10 cm) away provides the right amount of lighting (See: "Growing indoors with LED lights"). Give at least 12 hours of light. They should start sprouting within about 6 weeks, but may take longer at cooler temperatures. Once they sprout, continue dripping water on the soil surface daily the first month, since young seedlings have a small root system. A week after they sprout, open the plastic container or bag slightly more, to allow some more air circulation, to prevent rot. When the seedlings are a month old, you may remove the plastic container, and when they are 2 months old, carefully pull them and transplant them - or simply cut off any slower ones, leaving 1 strong seedling in each pot. Fertilizing -- When they are 5-7 days old, give a small amount of diluted liquid fertilizer (about 1/8 strength), and repeat once a week. Hydroponic fertilizer is ideal for young seedlings, since it is easily absorbed and complete. Once they are 3 months old, you may switch to an ordinary granular fertilizer, feeding about every 2-3 months. Watering -- When the seedlings are a month old, you may allow the soil surface to dry between waterings, but keep the rest of the soil evenly moist (but not fully saturated). Lighting -- Give bright, filtered light until the plants are 2-3 inches tall (5-8 cm), then you may slowly acclimate it to direct sun over a period of a few weeks. Watch for wilting or burning as you give them more sun. Older plants may be grown in full sun. Transplanting -- When the seedlings are about 3 inches tall (8 cm), repot to a larger container about 1 quart (1 liter) in size. Repot gently to avoid damaging the root hairs. Protect from direct sun the first week after repotting. Growing onward... Climate -- Older plants can take hot or cool conditions. The first few months, try to keep them in moderate temperatures so they grow up quickly. Mature plants reportedly can survive a light frost, but i recommend protecting it from freezing temperatures. If you have any questions or problems, please email me. Have fun growing them! - Jeff Strange Wonderful Things
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(use small- or medium-size perlite, not large chunks) or coarse sand. An alternate mix is equal parts
of
