The best germination I had for various winter-growing bulb seed was in October 2000. I planted in builder's sand in polyfoam cups without drainage holes. I kept them topped up with chlorinated, high mineral content (TDS 800-1200), pH 8.5 City of Phoenix tap water. By this I mean I kept the surface of the planting medium under water. When seedlings were well up I used a knife to poke vertical slits in the sidewalls at the bottom, but I still kept them quite wet. This is still the method I use. Note well, my winter climate features low to very low relative humidity unless it's raining. I think we gardeners are prone to enjoying myth and superstition. And everybody knows you're supposed to hide money sealed in plastic in the toilet tank/WC cistern, not seeds. Either that or the freezer. I tried this because I realized many seeds from occasionally arid areas have germination inhibitors that must be diluted out of the seeds before they will sprout. The reactions requiring oxygen occur later, after sprouting initiation. A tiny plant needs very little oxygen. Plenty of oxygen can diffuse into shallow water. I think the risk of me letting a seedling pot dry out is higher than having hypoxic seedlings from overwatering. Leo Martin Phoenix Arizona USA Zone 9? _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/…