The seed coat on these little guys is no joke! I found it best to (carefully!) make a few nicks near the “eye” and then soak them for 24 hours before planting. Germination seems to require heat so keep them warm the whole time. Seedlings are VERY prone to root rot and quick to put down a delicate root system that doesn’t respond well to transplanting. I had the most success starting the seeds in small well-drained pots and then moving the seedlings to their permanent homes after the first few sets of true leaves came in. A final aside – this species and its close relatives appear to have an interesting relationship with a fungal symbiont present on the seed coat. It’s probably best not to sterilize the seeds and to use bottled or distilled water for the initial soak, but the plants will grow just fine regardless.
