Diane wrote "The species of cyclamen makes a great difference; purpurascens requires soaking and darkness unless you don't mind how long it takes to germinate." That is the case for Diane, but not here. Treated in exactly the same manner as all the other cyclamen seeds (no soaking), purpurascens seeds sown in late August and kept moist in a greenhouse that is allowed to get to around 26F on the floor give very high germination rates the following late spring. Seeds are surface sown and covered with about 1cm of grower grade granite grit - this by no means equates to total darkness. 100s of seeds sown in August 2009 are germinating right now. This replicates findings going back at least 10 years. All results need to be taken in context and not as black and white. It is amazing how many folks have the 'definitive' method of doing many gardening activities - looking back to the very early days of the AGS you can see how many bizarre unique types of compost were the 'only' ways to get many plants to grow. The fact that I grow everything here in pots using a single compost type would have those AGS stalwarts turning in their graves. I am very familiar with the Reading method for cyclamen and in my hands it has given excellent results. However, the methods I described that I use every year are far less time consuming and work equally well - here. I don't find any significant differences between species. Best, J. John T Lonsdale PhD 407 Edgewood Drive, Exton, Pennsylvania 19341, USA Home: 610 594 9232 Cell: 484 678 9856 Fax: 315 571 9232 Visit "Edgewood" - The Lonsdale Garden at http://www.edgewoodgardens.net/ USDA Zone 6b