I haven't personally tried growing the seeds I have, but I have heard of an easy method that seems to work, if you can't find smoke pads (if you can locate them, they are often quite cheap - a 4-inch disk costs maybe 75 cents and is good for a couple of cups of water, which can contain quite a lot of seeds): If you go to a store that has cooking ingredients (I found it in Safeway), get a bottle of liquid smoke. Those are made from real smoke diluted in water, and supposedly work really well - plus you have a bottle of lovely smoke-flavouring for your cooking. The source I got this tip from didn't mention if mesquite or hickory is better, although I rather like the taste of hickory... :)

I figured it might just be something along those lines, or a watering issue, it was just all the tiny red dots that appear all over some of the leaves (like the three on the far right) that had me a little concerned. I guess not much to do about sunburn.

Near Lake Hodges in Escondido, Ca, we have 4 large Leucospermum "Veld Fire" plants which are doing extremely well, though they get shade from Eucs nearby, and the soil is fairly dense. They are about 7yrs old, 7'x7' and covered with blooms in May. (see link below) I made about 50 cuttings a few years ago, but only one rooted (dipped in Physan, Dip n Grow, and put in 16oz plastic cups, 1:10 spagnum to course sand). It is about 4ft tall now and should bloom in 2015. The cuttings were kept outside during the fall, and didn't get the necessary heat & humidity. I just made 16 new cuttings, younger wood, drenched in Physan, dipped in root hormone powder, put in plastic cups containing 1:4 perlite & course sand, moistened with dilute Physan H2O and kept in a sunny window inside this time. I hope to get at least 50% of the cuttings to take this time though won't know for several weeks, so may be wishful thinking. I may put one in a large pot on the deck, but most will go into the ground in well drained sunny location. I would welcome any suggestions for propagation by cuttings if you've had success. I'm just a hobbyist, and not selling any plants, but like to share plants, seeds, and gardening tips. Also, would like to trade cuttings if anyone has a nice red Leucospermum. I need to trim the plants, and have many more cuttings than I can use, and don't want them to go to waste. Here is a link that might be useful:

Hazel, I am following the progress of your protea seeds with great interest. They are fascinating plants. When did you plant them? You sound as though you have been very careful in looking for signs of growth, so I'm sure no harm was done....I have a tendancy to do the same with seeds!! D/D No2 is off to South Africa in Oct to visit boyfriends family, hopefully she can bring some packets of seeds back for me to experiment with. Had email back from DEFRA with info on what is and isn't allowed into UK, so will print it off to take with her... she doesn't know yet! Ha! Did you go to the Gardeners World do at the NEC this year? Almost got tickets ourselves, glad we didnt though with me having the accident, would never have made it. How are your plumies doing? Celadine is so slow in leafing out, but the 4 seedlings are doing well. Keep us posted on the proteas? Regards, Gill.