The bottom watering with capillary mat works great with open bottom cells. Works really well. The APS system that Arlene linked above has open bottom cells. I like those a lot, but the cells are made of styrofoam so they do break.
I also have some other really nice open bottom ones from Gardener's Supply which I love. Here it is last year with echinacea seedlings, you can see the capillary mat under the cells
Here's the thing about those "hard to sprout" seeds. Any of them, including the sweet shrub being discussed in another thread. You read all you can find about what might help sprout the seed, like nicking or soaking. You prepare to give them specific conditions like warm-cold-warm temps. Then the stupid seeds sprout a few days and make a fool of you
I swear, after having seen cordydalis lutea, I wanted to try some, even though they didn't sound well suited to my climate. I bought 3 through mail order, and as soon as we hit 100° they all croaked. Last winter, I tried wintersowing corydalis sempervirens, only one sprouted. It survived and grew and I saved a few precious seeds. Germination info from Clothier says
"Corydalis racemosa, and sempervirens , Sow at 20ºC (68ºF), germination slow Short viable. Germinates in 4-8 weeks " So I started early, in mid December, prepared to possibly put them outside for some cold treatment if necessary. The seeds sprouted in a few days and I now have 9 cells which are over an inch tall already. I'll surely kill them before they get out of the house.
Karen
