germination of South African Romulea?
Mary Sue Ittner (Thu, 04 Mar 2010 20:52:11 PST)

I have had good germination from autumn sown seed of most species
of winter growing Romulea. There are some species that have proven
difficult to impossible but looking over my data base most seed sown
in September through early December came up in 4 to 6 weeks. It is
one genus that in my experience has often come up in the second year
if it doesn't come up in the first year. I just leave my pots out so
they dry off once it stops raining here usually in May in Northern
California. They stay dry until it starts raining again sometime in
the fall. I don't treat the seed of this genus in any special way to
assist in germination.

Many South African irids are reported to need a fluctuation in night
and day temperatures to assist in germination. They get that where I
live for fall started seed since we often have warm sunny days in the
fall, but it cools down a lot at night.

Mary Sue