An absolute pro for the community pots! I use balcony boxes 50 cm in length and I can place up to 16 seedlings (DIPs only in there! For TETs (=seedlings out of common cultivars) I prefer 2 rows but 6 each = 12 seedlings) If I took single pots I would already have become crazy *lol*
Some members of the community might still rwemind of this photo:

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These seedling bulbs were watered but from below ;)

Are the bulbs really mis-shaping the planter box that much? Or is that the shape of the box? Wow! What a group! It's a picture I've never seen before! Thank you for posting that, Sir Hans... I wonder what the root systems look like?! :-)

The root system did look, in fact, rather stuffed.

The shape of these balcony boxes "before expansion" is displayed in the following picture, which shows my personal signature as regards "seedling beds"

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That is amazing survival percentage... Good job. What are you using as growing medium?

Sir Hans... you are so organized, and your seedlings look wonderfully healthy!

I planted some hippeastrum seeds well over 2 months ago, using your method... the medium I used was a mixture of coco coir and vermiculite... a good friend sent the seeds to me, and I assume they were fresh... my germination rate was zero! I kept the seed tray on a heat mat, and they were under a small grow light... they were kept moist at all times. In the same tray, I planted a handful of Daylily seeds I had collected from my garden... those germinated just fine, and at a nice rate.

I don't understand why none of the hippeastrum seeds germinated... unless they just weren't viable... given the fact that I believe I did everything right, would you have any idea why the seeds wouldn't germinate?

Well jodik - the germination of the DL seeds demonstrated that your materials and sowing technique had been adequate - and it appears rather probable that there had been somethin' wrong with them damned *g* Hippeastrum seeds... I do not know what! In certain cases of genetical incmpatibilities you will indeed obtain seedpods stuffed with but nonviable seeds. The main example is H.papilio ("the evergreen European clone") x TETs. In fact I received generally over 100 - up to 120 seeds with crippled embryos. However, IF you had told me that your friend had sown another aliquot of them and had received germination, THEN that would be a veritably puzzling question.

Soultan, now I must admit that I am somewhat concerned, that you did not perceive my "coco fiber appraisal songs" of the past. I use this substrate exlusively! And, for drainage I use a very thick layer of, usually, Seramis.
I found only one other substrate in which hippeastrums do grow still faster: Grit(for aquariums) 1 mm grain size (rather perectly graded -> without "fines") But thhis substrate is very heavy, and the water keeping-abilty is in the range of 10 grams per gram of substrate and it practically suitable but for mechanized (automated) tide/flood watering. OR, what I practised with very good success, watering from above, totally rinsing-through. But this is a cumbersome and bothering splish-splash procedure - and if any first contamination of the seedlings with tarsonemid mites has yet taken place, might rather quickly prove fatal.

...correction:

the maximum water uptake of aquarium grit is in the range of 10 vol% = 10 mL of water per 100 mL of grit.
If you want to compare substrates, then only the volume related capacities make sense for judging them comparatively. The value for Seramis = porous clay bullets is rather exactly 25 mL /100 mL = 25 vol%, and that of yet fully reconstituted (= expanded) and then re-dried coco fiber substrate (in the pot or loose) is approx. 50 vol%.

Hans-Werner!

Your huge seedlings are beautiful, and you obviously have the talent and know-how to remove the seedlings that are weak. I haven't gotten there, yet!

I have more space, and because of this, I let the weak ones die on their own, if they wish to do so, but it seems that very few do, so I simply enjoy and wait!

I have not used the coco fiber, simply because it is difficult for me to obtain. I'm not afraid of using my own potting mix, for you see, I am lucky. I live in an area where wholesale prices are quite easy to obtain (except for coco fiber).

Most of my seedlings will eventually (and have) gone outside. Most of my hippeastrum spend the better part of the year outside.

I realize that this makes me different. I do not know what else to say about that.

I agree! Jodi's seeds were probably not viable...

Hans-Werner! Thank you for all that you do to teach us and help us understand.

Thank you, Sir Hans... I don't know if any other seeds from the same batch were planted, and to what success... I will try to find out.

As far as medium for seed/seedling growth... I have heard some mention of using a bonsai mix... how would that work out, I wonder?

I ordered a bale of pre-washed cocopeat from an online Hydroponic Garden Store, and had it shipped to me... it wasn't that costly... although, one bale will last me quite a long while! I really like the attributes of the coco coir, and find it to be a wonderful base to use in several different mixes for different plants and uses... depending on what I am planting, I may mix it with vermiculite, or also add some Schultz or Miracle Gro potting soil, sand or perlite... I really do like the results from the coco coir!

I can see that I need to find a source for reasonably priced clay pellets, though... most likely I'll find them at the same place I purchased the cocopeat from...

I will have to finally try the coco peat then. The new batch of seedlings will be planted in coco peat this month.

Hans-Werner; thank you ever so much for the advice about community pots! clearly you are a pro...those bulbs are amazing! about how old were those when the photo was taken? also i was wondering..at what size of plant do you remove the babies from the germination trays? three or four leaves maybe?

in addition, your advice and the discussion with the others about Coir has absolutely convinced me to switch them over to my orchid mix, which is coir and perlite basically. from past experience with my orchids Im sure that pure coir stays damp too long in my environment. I should also look into the clay pellets for drainage.

Again, thank you Hans, and thank you everyone else for your musings as well!

For drainage in my adult bulb pots, I use about a half inch of Horticultural Charcoal Chips... it helps with drainage and keeps the medium "sweet"... and the plant roots can grow right into it without any ill effects...

I used to use coffee filters to block the soil from escaping out the bottom drainage holes in my clay pots, but then I noticed that they decompose rather quickly and tend to mold, and decomposition and mold are NOT things I want under my bulbs!

For seed germination, I currently use a mixture of vermiculite and coco coir... however, I do want to purchase some of the little clay pellets to put under my seed mix... it seems like it would be great for drainage, and help with proper moisture retention...

Soultan - Be sure to get the cocopeat that has already been flushed of excess salts by the manufacturer! Stores that deal in hydroponics and related equipment are good sources for cocopeat, or coco coir.

I have a hydroponics store right down the hill from me within 2 minutes of drive. I might go in there and see what they have. It is called Urban Garden.

Even if they don't have the pre-washed/rinsed cocopeat, I bet they could order it for you... hydroponic growers seem to be using cocopeat a lot these days... but I think if you go in there, they'll probably have it right on the shelf.