So how does that work, exactly? Do I break off the bulbils and separate them, then place them in a vessel where they just float in water, or should I have part of the stem under the bulbil and let that absorb water? Perhaps just growing them in a dish with moist soil (for transplant later) would do the trick?

I wear the gas permeable contact lenses and I don't find that they make any difference, except that I can see when I cut onions, LOL. Maybe the soft contact lenses cover more of the eye? Or maybe not, beats me, but my contact lenses do not help at all. I've used a wet knife, refrigerated the onion, never cut through the root. I peel under running water and I still cry, although the cold onion and a sharp knife reduces the tears the most. Woodie got me a pair of those red onion goggles and they work pretty well, which is why Ashley has confiscated them, but even with those I cry a little bit. I still use mostly fresh onions. I froze onions and even double bagged they made my whole freezer smell like onions. Now I dehydrate them, which works relatively well except that I still have to chop them all to dehydrate them! Annie

I was thinking the same thing. I actually think they look pretty good. Just because they can be grown in water for a while does not mean they cannot get over saturated when growing in medium. They actually grow different kinds of roots between the two types of culture. Those in the medium need aeration and can definitely drown. Alliums almost all are notorious for needing excellent drainage.

I have a couple of long day onion packets (Sweet Spanish Yellow Utah Jumbo; Southport White Globe) that I purchased from wally world, I did not know the significance of long and short day onions until I did my research. Please help with an onion trade if you have some. Or any trade that will grow in zone 7 Georgia.