I planted a few Jack in the Pulpit seeds this spring, including three in a pot. They've all gone dormant, which I'm guessing is normal since they all did it at the same time. I dug up the bulbs in the pot just to have a look: I understand it will take several years for them to bloom, but for the ones in the pot, I was wondering if I could speed things along by putting them in the fridge for an artificial winter, and maybe getting two growing cycles per year. If so, my two questions are: 1) How long would the artificial winter have to be at refrigerator temperature? 2) Would I have to give them supplemental light this fall/winter to grow them inside, so they perceive the daylength as longer? I'm in zone 6, Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania, which is where the seeds were gathered. This message is also posted at the Woodland forum. Alex

Wisconsitom: Imagine my hand smacking to my forehead. Of course! We do have deer, but we only see them way at the back of our property, and even that infrequently. They do cross our street sometimes, but about a "block" down or so. There are so many better places so close - hundreds of acres of wooded recreation land. (Which is really cool for us humans, too.) I'm still confused about why it used to be so much more sparse with the woody undergrowth if it's deer, though. I'll read up and see if the deer population has changed in the area. In my recent reading on woodlands, I saw a photo online of a place where folks had fenced off to keep deer out a year or a few before. It was enlightening. As far as wildlife, after I went to bed a few nights ago, my husband heard 2 fishers having a fight or trying to scare each other off right behind our house. If you've ever heard a fisher, you know how disturbing they sound. But I guess I'm happy our woodland and surrounds is supporting all local wildlife. My son & I saw a red spotted newt near the new walkway only a few days after it was installed, and I was so glad things weren't so disrupted it scared everybody away. Queen Gardener - I'd love to start trading. But I feel like I don't have anything useful to trade. I have oodles of seeds (who doesn't?), but a lot of them are getting old. I should have harvested some seeds from the plants I do have so I could get started trading. Next year, I guess. I agree, E-bay does have good prices if you can find the reputable people.

Arisaema seed need about 3 months of cold stratification, below 40°F. and then warm temperature, to germinate. Easiest method to start them is; plant seed in a pot of moist soil, enclose in a sealed plastic bag and place in the refrigerator. After 3 months, remove from refrigerator and remove the plastic bag. Check for moisture content of soil and water if necessary. Place pot in a warm location, 68°F+/- and they should begin to germinate. Don't become discouraged if all of the seed do not germinate at the same time. I have had fresh seed that required two or three periods of cold/warm stratification before germination. Fall sown seed can be left outdoors in colder climates and should begin to germinate in the spring. Protect from rodents and birds with a screen. of course! Hope this helps. :Rb

As foolyap said, the easiest way is to spread the seeds on the ground in a shady spot with good soil. I have never seen the seeds offered for sale in a nursery, they should not be allowed to dry out, so I would be very cautious about buying seed. All parts of the plant including the ripe berries contain an irritating chemical and you should wear rubber or latex gloves when handling material. Berries should be collected in autumn when ripe; clean the flesh off as it contains germination inhibiting chemicals. Cleaned seeds should be stored in moist vermiculite or sand in a baggie. Store the baggie in the fridge (not freezer) for at least 120 days, checking every so often to make sure it hasn't dried out. After 120 days or in early April, sow the seeds in seeding mix. They will germinate a single, simple leaf after a few weeks. Transplant to 2" pots, fertilize very lightly, keep moist and place in light shade. They may go dormant by mid to late summer. Over winter the pots by healing into soil. The second spring they will produce a single three leaflet leaf and can be planted out.