Very interesting Sunni. I am getting into growing vegetables (having grown tomatoes, peppers, eggplants in the past), so your feedback is appreciated. If I need to start anything inside, I'll probably try this method first. For some reason, I did not have any germination from eggplant seeds even after more than two weeks. I did one set of seeds with paper towel and the roots did stick. Have not had that issue with coffee-filters, especially moist ones. Californian, I have noticed when I could not get to transplanting the sprout in time, the seed-leaves separated from the seed heads within the filter. I also tend to bury the sprouts almost completely with just the seeds head showing, when I transplant them and the seed heads separate nicely. I just leave the seed coat alone. So you should plant as soon as the seed has sprouted. If you go to the post linked with the first post, in the 3 or 4 the response, the poster shows images of the process. The last image would give you a good idea of when you can transplant.

Judy is the bomb!! **big smile** (((HUGZ))) you can go to sams club if you have one near by and buy a box of them that's what i did, its much cheaper! LOL, then after you start trading, save your envi's, you won't have to buy anymore! trust me on tht! i had a whole huge kitchen trash bag full of them!! LOL one time i had two of them full!! i thought i'd need them, so i saved them (i wasn't trading for a bit) LOL ya, i ended up throwing them away, hubs said throw them away!!!! man, he was furious!! LOL so save them! they may look alittle used, but they are reusuable, i used aknife to open mine, LOL and i sometimes either used scotch tape or stapled them shut, as for the baggies, i use walmart little baggies (100/99 cents in the hobbies) and i made some using the method they showed, and pumkingal? she had a whole page on how to make them and so did quiltingfox. its very economical! LOL especially if you get lots of magazines! LOL

Trollius in Texas....do Trollius grow in Texas? Though many might question why a Trollious germination question in a Helleborus forum, Helleborus and Trollius are both in the Raunculacaceae family. What species Trollius or are they hybrids? no matter...Most Trollius like it very cool and moist. They hate the heat and warm humidity. Trollius chinensis usually known as 'Golden Queen' probably is the best bet for warmer climates. Most Trollius are a zone USDA zone 4 or 5. It would be interesting to hear from gardeners in warmer zones on their success with Trollius. In any case....germination. I collect seed and dry the seed for a day or two in a paper bag in a cool dry place. The seed is then cleaned and placed in plastic that is placed in the refrigerator until mid September. In mid September I prepare a seed bed and the Trollius are sown, covered lightly, firmed lightly and covered with a thin layer of sand. The seed bed is watered and remay fabric layered over and secured. The seed bed is not allowed to dry out. The Trollius emerge in the spring a few weeks after the hellebores have germinated. If I manage to keep the seedling Trollius moist and cool they will be ready to transplant the following spring. They usually flower in two years from seed. Interesting points; -Seeds can be stored refrigerated in plastic, for years. -I would not recommend drying seeds too long, harvest, dry a bit and store. -Trollius like a warm moist period, followed by a cool moist period, followed by a cold moist period, followed by a cool moist period, followed by a warm moist period. -This germination criteria is very difficult to duplicate unless the seed is sown outside in a cooler climate. -Jelitto seed. well....probaly tooo much information, Bruce

I had one very eager seed germinate within a week. After that I took them all out of the bags and put them into a container with sterile mix. I then labeled them with species, date and number of seeds. I figured I should start to see some action in the container by the end of the month. palmsandsnow I used to have horrible luck with palms seeds but not this time. I found that fresh seeds are the key. Oh yeah and mucho patience. Good luck.