Richard,I have had good results with Vertratum woodii and Melanthium virginicum. I have many of these plants. The first year they look like grass and the foliage only lasts a couple of months...which is close to normal for Melanthium. I would leave them dormant for a couple of months then try refrigerating them for 3 months ( similar protocal for Dodecatheon which I also grow many of). In my native species the growth starts early in the season when it is cool and the soli is cool. That my be your tricky part in multiplying the growth cycles in a year. I know of Veratrum californicum only through books. What is its growth cycle in hte wild? BTW I would not let the flats dry out hard...just maybe not keep too wet. Good luck! I am glad someone is trying with this species it is a fantastic plant! Email me with any other questions. Stan TysonCentral Illinois zone 5stantyson@msn.com > Message: 2 > Date: Thu, 17 May 2012 20:08:02 -0700 > From: Richard <richrd@nas.com> > Subject: [pbs] Veratrum propagation question > To: Pacific Bulb Society <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> > Message-ID: <FA92AB59-0E38-4BCD-A776-7AFFFFC2585B@nas.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii > > Bulbsters > > I've finally broken dormancy and gotten good germination in Veratrum californicum. This year, I made 2 plantings one in greenhouse flats and another in the field. Last week, all the seedlings in the greenhouse trays started to go down and appeared at first glance damped off. However on closer exam have formed what looks like a bulb that when dissected has an apparent bud inside. > > http://flic.kr/p/bZVKnm/ > > ?First true leaf? > Specimens in the field still look good but since is cooler conditions may duplicate gh specimens soon. > > http://flic.kr/p/bZVJHE/ > > Is this a normal development sequence in Veratrum? Can I expect these 'buds' to sprout again this year? They seem to be behaving like Dodecatheon where cotyledons die back the first year to a fleshy underground structure. This year on Dodecatheon seedlings we have tried a treatment with gibberelic acid in attempt to dleay dieback and cause a second flush of growth, as is reported in literature. Might be worth a try with some of the standing seedlings? > > Rich Haard > Bellingham, Wa., > > > > ------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php > > > End of pbs Digest, Vol 112, Issue 24 > ************************************