Tuberous Begonias from Seed
a 1/4 tsp of silver sand, fine sugar, or very fine vermiculite (#2). Shake the envelope and then carefully pour the contents out on the surface of the growing mix. In this manner most of the seeds will be sown separately (hopefully).
A better way is to use two cardboard pieces and gently tap the seeds from paper to paper to separate them, and then finally onto the growing medium. This is the method I prefer. I have prepared a step-by-step photo instruction on separate page if you are interested.
Cardboard papers. Sow seeds by tapping them onto pieces of cardboard paper, which allow seperation of the individual seeds. Click here for detailed photo instructions.
Finally, there is a very nice method sent to me by Ray Nye. Using aquarium air tubing and a 30 gauge (medical) needle he created a very nice setup. He can sow 1300 seeds in a short period of time and precisely place each seed in individual cells. On a separate page, I have graciously been allowed to show his setup. The words are his, too.
Online gardening companies also sell squeeze "bulbs" which have needles of different sizes attached. The technique is similar to Ray Nye's above.
Germination
After sowing, cover with clear plastic and place in a warm place as recommended above. Bottom heat is preferred. The seeds should germinate within 14-30 days starting with white and pinks and finished with reds and yellows.
As the young seedlings are very susceptible to damping off, I keep the plastic cover on the seeds for a longer period of time for increased humidity than with other seeds. The standard advice is to remove the plastic covering as soon as germination is noted. With begonia seeds, I leave the cover on for at least 20-30 days until the seedlings have reached a certain minimum size (see picture below). If not they desiccate easily.
With regular interval, water the growing media by using a very fine mist, or by placing the seedlings in a pot of water
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