Usually its either to deep. Medium is either to wet/dry. Seeds are crap, to Hot, To Cold. Soil is compacted, and the small seed is stuck, in the muck like a vacuum. Medium is very acidic?? If its just straight Peat/Vermiculite/Perlite ect, it needs a small amount of lime. Both Calcitic, and Dolomite.
Calcitic is best for PH Change, and the Dolomite supplies Magnesium, and is slower to initiate PH changes.
From what I kow it should be used at a 2/3 Calcitic to 1/3 Dolomite ratio, for best results. Even Jiffy 7 Pellets have some lime, and are 5.3. Straight Peat is under 5. Canadian Sphagnum is also the best type.
Id use 51 total LEVEL TBLSP LIME per 3.8 Cu/ft Compressed Sphagnum/Peat. 2/3rds of it being Calcitic, and 1/3 Dolomite. Promix BX/HP have Calcitic/Dolomitic, so I try and model my home made soilless Sphagnum based from that model as best as I can.
While Ive been growing a really, really long time, the strains I currently use, I often get 100% germ rate, or no less than 10, out of 12.
I had to trash a grow last Nov, and got 103, out of 107 seeds to come up. Partner ended up being unreliable. It was at his place, my equipment/seeds ect.
I soaked ALL of them, and then planted in 24oz cups/Before I found the 32oz Ulines.
I also particularly like to soak seeds that have a tough seeds covering. I had some M26/Early Bird from original 80s SSSC Stock that Vashon Seed and Mercantile has preserved, and they are really big seeds, and took 48 hours of soaking, before they started taking on water, and sinking. I also kept the water changed, and clean. You can also stir the water, and is enough to oxygenate it, if you do it a few times a day. I usually keep trying to push the seeds underwater with a straw every now, and then.
My probably Ill Logic says
Many seeds will also start cracking after 12 hours, and IMHO need to be gotten out THEN. As soon as theyre taking water, and splitting even a little, they get planted, and being in a cup/glass, I can visually see whats cracking, and whats not. IMHO better, and cant see any downside at all. It gives me visual/physical control of whats popping, and when its popping.
I don't like napkins/towel ect, as the small roots can get damaged if they've already attached to the material. And they can attach overnight. Not worth the risk on that. I would also be skeptical of soaking, and then transplanting into Rockwool Id put it straight into the RW, if I went that route. Rockwool is very unforgiving vs when you try and put a sprout in there. I don't like that idea. Straight in if I used RW.
I also make a really small hole in the moist Promix/Sphagnum ect, with a toothpick, and then put the pointed end of the seed down, use the small hole on the top of the seed to put the toothpick point into, and gently push the seed Only Enough to Cover it,,,,1//16th inch. I also SPRAY, NOT WATER. Fine Mist. Cover with Saran Wrap.
I also feel if theyre soaked first, and are viable, there is less chance for virus/pathogen sitting in the soil/medium for the extra time, though I know they've evolved to do their thing. I still do it.
