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'll be growing them in perlite the first season, and then in potting mix thereafter. You may plant them all in a single container,
or in individual pots. Use pots about 4 inches (10 cm) tall
with drainage holes. Fill with
perlite Bury the seeds sideways so a bit of the top of the seed is visible. If a root is visible, bury it slightly downward. Space the seeds at least 1.5 inch (4 cm) from each other. Water the perlite thoroughly. Until they sprout, try to keep them about 65-77° F (18-25°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. To maintain moisture, you may cover the pot with a plastic baggie - just punch 2 or 3 holes in it for ventilation. Alternatively, you may enclose the pot in a plastic container, leaving it open slightly for fresh air to enter. You may need to drip some water over the perlite each day or two 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, usually within a month or two, followed by a leaf about 1 to 2 months later. Occasionally they can a few months, so be patient with them. As long as they are firm, they should sprout eventually. After they sprout, continue giving bright light, with no strong sun the first few months. If a seed lifts itself up out of the perlite, reposition it so the root is buried, being careful not to damage the root. Fertilizing -- For the first season, feed with diluted liquid fertilizer (1/4 strength) instead of watering them. Hydroponic fertilizer is ideal for seedlings, because it is easily absorbed and contains all essential nutrients. Begin feeding once the leaf is a week old. About every 2 weeks, flush the perlite with plain water to remove any excessive fertilizer, then add fresh liquid fertilizer. Dormancy -- After a few months, the foliage will die back as the bulbs go dormant. Carefully dig up any bulbs that are dormant and plant them in the potting mix described below. Use a pot at least 4 inch (10 cm) tall. Potting mix for 2nd season -- Use a well draining mix. A typical mix is 3 parts quality potting soil to 2 part medium perlite. Try to keep the neck of the bulb just above the surface. Add water until the soil is lightly moist throughout. Don't fully saturate it, but also don't let it dry out, since the roots need some moisture to stay alive. Dormancy lasts a few months. During this time, keep them in a cool spot, between about 45-70°F (7-21°C). Growing onward -- In their 2nd season and onward, you can give them some sun, but protect them from strong sun, since they are forest plants. It's happiest in mild temperatures with nights that are cool. I don't have experience with it in hot temperatures, but i suspect they might be stressed by it, particularly if nights are warm (above 64°F/18°C). During the growing season, keep the soil evenly moist. Potting mix for 3rd season and onward -- Use a chunkier mix. A typical mix is 1 part small orchid bark, 1 part pumice or perlite, and 1 part potting mix. Pests to watch for -- Look for any pests that may affect your other plants. Try using insecticidal soap spray before using stronger remedies, since some may harm the plant. 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.