Tecophilaea from seed, was Supersoil
Jane McGary (Mon, 24 Nov 2008 09:41:08 PST)

I grow Tecophilaea cyanocrocus most years from seeds harvested from
my mature plants. I use my normal seed mix, which is equal parts
sharp sand, screened peat, and ground pumice. I used to put granite
grit on top but when I ran out of it a couple of years ago, I tried
pumice and found it works just as well, though it can develop algae
after a year or two. I don't sterilize the seed soil because I feel
that as soon as it gets into the natural environment (i.e., as soon
as it's watered and placed on my deck or in the solarium), it is no
longer sterile anyway. I don't reuse the soil for other seeds,
though, I mix it fresh each fall.

I would note about Tecophilaea that it germinates in winter, but the
seedlings tend to stretch out when kept under glass, as they have to
be here. Nonetheless, almost all produce bulbs that can be identified
and potted on the first year, after which I put them in the bulb
frame, where the higher light level and, perhaps, the colder winter,
keep them compact and in a normal growing cycle. I've raised hundreds
of them this way. I don't hand-pollinate the flowers, but there are
so many different pollinators here in spring that almost every flower
sets seed.

Jane McGary
Northwestern Oregon, USA