I was surprised to read Olga's method. I always thought Pulsatillas required a cold treatment. I tried some Pulsatilla pratensis v nigricans. But I buried the seed 1/4 inch (6mm) deep, and kept them at 55-65C. So not exactly what Olga said. They are doing well:
I have two lots of seed from different sources, and they both did the same thing. So pratensis does not need cold, but it doesn't need high temperature either. And it doesn't need to be surface-sown. It took two weeks to germinate. I have germinated these seeds in the past using cold treatment. So I think these seeds are quite easy and adaptable. These were old seeds stored in the freezer for several years.
They are growing well under fluorescents indoors at roughly 15C (60F). I have already given them a dilute feed. Note the short sturdy stems. This is a good indicator that they are getting good light and not too high temperature.
I have read that you need to clip off the tails, because they inhibit germination. I did not do that, but there may be other species where that is true. I don't know.
Now if only I could germinate P. occidentalis. I have never gotten one to come up.
