Yes Marie, that is how I germinated all those I grew. It took up to two weeks I think for some to all germinate, then about another two weeks for them to develop sufficient leaf, in total around 4 weeks I think. I kept the lid on loosely to keep them moist until they were almost ready to pot up.
Only one species didn't live, H. glaucescens, I had 7 nice plants but they went dormant sometime then didn't grow again. They were still OK in September 08, I'm not sure when they decided to die on me, it was probably the next year after winter but they were inside at around 16C and not kept wet.
Here's H. calyptratum about to germinate on 9th February 2008, in pots on 12th March. The last pic shows all those I grew in 2008 on 1st September 08 after a very cold summer but I kept them inside, calyptratum is the tallest one. Some species like a lot of shade and humidity, H. calyptratum is one of those but glaucescens likes it hotter and dry. I will have to take photos of them all now, I didn't take any of those I grew in 2009 but they are all in full growth now, under an east window upstairs. I can't keep them in the window now as they are in bigger pots.
