First time with seeds, looking for guidance on watering

Hey all,
I was looking for advise on watering my seedlings. Up to this point I’ve been using a spray bottle to spray the very top of my soil near the seedlings. I have them in coast of Maine seed starter soil, in solo cups ≈ 9” under 4/8 bulbs from agrobrite T5, under a humidity dome. Temps move between 70-80 depending on lights out/heat pad on and lights on/heat pad off. And 60%-70% humidity. I germinated in a 24 hr water soak, 6/7 popped and I planted 1/2” -tap root down. Three days later I had babies pushing through. This is the end of week one and they look like the pictures. I had to prop one up and moved a small amount of soil to surround sprout.
I guess long story short, should I give these girls and healthy dose of water, or continue spraying? I guess I should ask what would be an acceptable time to turn on all 8 4’ T5 bulbs, up from the 4 I have rockin now.
As a side note I have a fan ready to go once they out grow the humidity dome. I use the humidity dome to keep the temps consistent which averages at 75 deg’s and 65% humidity.
Thanks for the responses in advance

Northernlighted said:

Hey all,
I was looking for advise on watering my seedlings. Up to this point I’ve been using a spray bottle to spray the very top of my soil near the seedlings. I have them in coast of Maine seed starter soil, in solo cups ≈ 9” under 4/8 bulbs from agrobrite T5, under a humidity dome. Temps move between 70-80 depending on lights out/heat pad on and lights on/heat pad off. And 60%-70% humidity. I germinated in a 24 hr water soak, 6/7 popped and I planted 1/2” -tap root down. Three days later I had babies pushing through. This is the end of week one and they look like the pictures. I had to prop one up and moved a small amount of soil to surround sprout.
I guess long story short, should I give these girls and healthy dose of water, or continue spraying? I guess I should ask what would be an acceptable time to turn on all 8 4’ T5 bulbs, up from the 4 I have rockin now.
As a side note I have a fan ready to go once they out grow the humidity dome. I use the humidity dome to keep the temps consistent which averages at 75 deg’s and 65% humidity.
Thanks for the responses in advance

Click to expand...

It's better to start them in small nursery pots, like 1" x 1", then move up a couple times. No biggie. What you have to do is water right at the stall so the roots can reach the water. In larger containers the center can dry up from the plant taking in water, and not be able to reach additional moisture towards the outside edges.

To determine when you should water, do this: Water the plants until a little is leaking from the bottom (and water with a container now, instead of spray watering). Pick up one of the cups and feel how heavy it is when full. Then when the cups are really light, and you'll easily be able to tell, it's time to water. Until the roots are long enough, you'll still have to water from the center.

You can remove the dome now. Use a small fan, like a PC fan, to breeze the little ones. You want to make them wiggle a little. It's exercise, and it helps build strong stalks. Not too much wind, otherwise you'll dry them out. Have the little fan blowing above the tops so that the wind doesn't dry out the soil below.

Let your temps get up to 81 or 82. In veg, they like to be a little warmer, with rh above 50%. Once they start flowering, drop the temps to high 70s, and get your RH below 50%. Those temps aren't all that important, as long as they're well within range. During veg you may need to run a humidifier (use a cool-mist ultrasonic humidifier so it doesn't add heat to the grow), and in flower you'll probably need to run a small dehumidifier. I use a smaller tabletop one for my grow room.

Finally, read and study...