So do you want to know how to grow Hawaiian Baby Woodrose? Well, I can tell you that it is not the easiest task because there are factors that make the early stages of germination a bit difficult. If you’ve ever held one of the seeds, then you know they’re as hard as a rock! This hard shell prevents moisture from easily penetrating the seed. They also have a tendency to rot if great care is not taken during the germination process.
You’re probably wondering now “How the hell am I going to make these damn things grow?”. Well, there are several things you can do to help make the seed more willing to sprout. The first thing to do is “cut” the seed. To do this you need a pair of sharp scissors. What you should be looking for is the “germ eye” (it’s the little circle that looks like an eye). It is located at the opposite end of the pointed part of the seed. It should be pretty easy to locate. This is what you want to AVOID damaging. The pointed end is what you are looking at “nick”. Simply cut out the eye of the germ and remove the pointed end. This allows moisture to enter the seed and start the whole process. Now is the easy part. Just soak the seed in water for a full day and it should be nice and swollen. The seed now has enough water inside it to sprout into a beautiful vine.
The next part is extremely crucial and a bit of a secret for those who know how to greatly improve the chances of germination. After soaking the seeds, moisten a paper towel with hydrogen peroxide. You don’t want it to be too wet to the point of dripping. Just a little wet. A good example would be slightly less wet than a Clorox baby wipe. This should prevent the dreaded seed rot I was talking about. Place the seed(s) on the paper towel, then place inside an UNSEALED ziploc bag to allow airflow. Check the seeds from time to time and within a couple of days you should see little sprouts coming out of the germinal eye. When they reach about 1/3 inch in length, it’s time to place them in the ground.
If you’ve made it this far, the hard part is over! Hawaiian Baby Woodrose like soil that is rich and full of nutrients. Good airflow is a must. Keep the soil moist but don’t overwater (good drainage should help maintain a good balance between wet and dry). Place the germinated seeds about 1/2-1/3 inch deep in the soil and let them grow. Lots of sunlight is good for this type of seed. You can tell if they are getting too much because they will wilt. If you start to see signs of wilting, bring them indoors. These plants can grow indoors but will not bloom. They are fairly slow growing, so expect to be in it for the long haul if you want a fully mature plant. I also recommend a 20-20-20 fertilizer.