Germinating the seeds
Your seeds should be planted the day they arrive. They might sprout during shipping, so be careful when opening the packet, to avoid damaging the root. Getting started -- Rinse the seeds in plain water. You may plant them all in a single, small
container, since they will be removed after they sprout. Use pots about 3 inches (8 cm) tall
with drainage holes. Fill with
perlite Bury the seeds sideways so that a bit of the top of the seed is visible. Space the seeds about 1 inch (3 cm) from each other. Water the perlite thoroughly. The optimal germination temperature is about 66-77° F (19-25°C) during the day. A little cooler at night is ok. Avoid
letting them get above 80° F (27°C). I recommend placing a
minimum/maximum thermometer Ensure that the perlite always stays moist. If you enclose the pot in a plastic container or bag to maintain moisture, leave it open slightly for fresh air to enter. You may need to drip some water over the perlite each day to keep it moist. Keep them in bright light out of direct sun. A bright LED bulb or panel placed 4 inches (10 cm) away provides the right amount of light (See: "Growing indoors with LED lights"). The seeds will first grow a root, followed by a leaf about 2-4 weeks later. Most of them should sprout between 1 and 2 months. After they sprout, continue giving bright light, with no direct sun for the first few months. Try to avoid keeping the leaf wet. Sometimes the seeds will lift themselves up when sprouting and the root will be exposed. If this happens, reposition it so the root is buried, being gentle not to damage the root. When the first leaf is 2 weeks old, gently dig up the seed and repot it into the soil mix described in the next paragraph. Use a container about 3-4 inches (10-13 cm) tall, with drainage holes. I prefer to use 1 pot per seedling, but you may use a communal pot - just place the seedlings at least 2 inches apart (5 cm). For soil, use a well draining
mix. A typical mix is 2 parts quality potting soil to 1 part perlite or
coarse horticultural sand. use a mix of 1 part
coir fiber Water the soil until evenly moist, but don't fully saturate it. It's good to enclose them in a clear plastic container or bag to maintain moisture, leaving it open slightly for fresh air. Fertilizing -- If your potting mix contains granular fertilizer, it may not be immediately available for the seedlings, so after a week, feed with a small amount of dilute (1/8 strength) liquid fertilizer. Hydroponic fertilizer is ideal for seedlings, because it is easily absorbed and contains all essential nutrients. Repeat again 3 weeks later. Lighting -- This forest plant prefers filtered sunlight or bright shade with some weak sun. Protect it from strong afternoon sun. Climate -- It comes from 1000-2000 meter elevation, where temperatures are mild all year, and nights are cool. It is reported to grow well in temperatures in the 90s (36°C). Its roots probably can handle down to the mid-20s (-4°C) but it's best to protect it from frost. Indoors, the plant can stay evergreen unless exposed to very cool temperatures, which may cause dormancy. Watering -- The roots like to be kept moist, but not constantly saturated. So aim to keep the soil evenly moistened. Outdoors, if heavy rainfall/watering is unavoidable, use extra perlite in your soil mix. Re-potting -- The first year you can keep it in a pot 4 inches (10 cm) wide. The second year, move it to a 5-6 inch (13-15 cm) pot, which can hold it until it flowers. The plants do not mind being root-bound. Feel free to remove any offsets that develop, although it might delay flowering if done when the mother plant is near maturity. Dormancy -- When the rhizome prepares for dormancy, some or all the leaves will turn yellow and drop. Reduce the watering when this happens, and keep the soil lightly moist (not fully dry) until it sprouts in a few months. Flowering -- I believe that cool nights trigger flowering, so when it reaches flowering size (approximately 1 year), expose it to about 6 weeks of temperatures below 60°F (15°C) for at least 8 hours a day. Just keep it above freezing (over 40°F / 4°C is best). If you have any questions, feel free to contact me. Have fun growing them! - Jeff Strange Wonderful Things
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Use small- or medium-size perlite, not large chunks.
near the pots.
to 1 part
perlite
(small or medium grade) or coarse horticultural sand. Don't add lime to
your mix.