I use 3-1/2 inch (about 9 cm square) pots for many seeds, and I leave many of them in these pots for 2 years. However, when I get a lot of seeds such as from the NARGS surplus, I use pots about half that size and then I have to move them on after the first season. I don't see any difference in germination related to pot size. However, I use a mix that retains moisture well, and I keep them moist when in growth. I just got back from 2 weeks in Chile, and about the third thing I did was check my seed pots. What fun. I don't use any bark in my seed sowing mix, but I use ground pumice. Jane McGary, Portland, Oregon, USA On 1/11/2020 7:19 AM, Johannes-Ulrich Urban wrote: > Dear All, > > It is very interesting to read about your individual experiences in raising bulbs from seed. I absolutely understand the English approach to use small or very small pots. I have used the same kind of small pots for years successfully when I lived in Germany. And there was no reason to do it differently after my move to Portugal. Until...... I lost a lot of one year old seedlings during the first Portuguese summer. > I think one just cannot use the same growing techniques in very different climates. > Now..... the observations of Lee and Dylan contradict my own observations. I agree that there are always some “bewitched“ seeds that just do not want to germinate...... but I have so far not observed that this is associated with pot size. But it makes me think. > On the other hand I may be lucky to have found a very reliable compost made of composted bark. It is very stable and does not disintegrate into a suffocating sludge. > Especially Ranunculaceae seedlings did not survive in small pots and last autumn I have for the very first time used 6l pots for sowing with good results so far. I will keep you posted. > > Bye for now > > > Uli > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/…