Germinating the seeds
When to plant -- Plant your seeds when you receive them for the best results. Getting started -- Soak your seeds in a cup of water for 24 hours (not more than 2 days). Soil -- Use a well-draining soil mix. A typical mix is 2 parts potting soil to 1 part perlite or coarse horticultural sand. Pot size - You may use small pots or cups about 3-4 inches tall (8-10 cm) and 2 to 3 inches (5-8 cm) wide. The containers need drainage holes. Fill the pots with the soil mix, place a seed on top, and cover with about 1/4 inch (7 mm) of soil. Add water until the soil is evenly moist (but not fully saturated). Until the seeds sprout, ensure that the surface soil doesn't dry out. If you place the pots in a plastic container or bag to maintain moisture, leave it open slightly to allow fresh air to enter. Temperature -- Aim to keep them between 68 and 78° F (20-26°C) most of the time. Avoid letting them get above 82° F (28°C) or below 64° F (18°C) for more than a few hours a day. I recommend placing a minimum/maximum thermometer near the pots. They tend to sprout at various times, usually between 1 and 3 months. Lighting the seedlings -- Once your seeds sprout, move them to a bright spot away from strong sun. While they are young, you may use a bright LED panel kept 3-4 inches (8-10 cm) away (See: "Growing indoors with LED lights"). Watering: Once the seedlings are 3 weeks old, you may allow the surface soil to dry out, but aim to keep the rest of the soil evenly moist most of the time. Never let it dry out completely, but also don't keep it constantly saturated. Growing on... Climate -- Older plants seem to prefer temperatures between 40 and 85°F (5-29°C), with cool nights. Older plants might be able to tolerate a light frost, but i recommend protecting it from freezing temperatures. The first few months, try to keep it in moderate temperatures. Over about 40% humidity is best. Lighting -- It prefers part-sun, with some protection from strong afternoon sunlight. It can handle full sun in cool, coastal areas. Fertilizing -- Once they are a week old, feed with a small amount of dilute (1/8 strength) liquid fertilizer. Hydroponic fertilizer is ideal for this, because it is easily absorbed and contains all essential nutrients. Repeat 2 and 4 weeks later. After 2 months, you may switch to a granular fertilizer that contains micronutrients. fertilizer. Repotting -- Once your seedlings are at least 3 inches tall (8 cm), you may repot them to larger containers about 1 pint (1/2 liter) in size. Repot again when needed. The final pot size depends on how large you choose to let it grow. It can be kept in 3 gallon if pruned occasionally, while a full-size, unpruned plant will need more root space. If you have questions or problems, please contact me. Have fun growing them! - Jeff Strange Wonderful Things
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