Alright well before I give you guys an update I just want to share something VERY helpful. Walmart has absolutely everything you need for CFL soil growing. I absolutely mean this. On top of that, it has the best prices for nearly 90% of the materials/supplies. I just saw a 5 foot shop light dual t8/t12 bulb fixture with a great reflector, hanging chains/apparatus, and power cable for $8.00. Their prices for CFL bulbs ain't too bad and they've got the full gambit of color spectrums to choose from. Their lamp wiring kits, y sockets, mogul bases, ropes, chains, tape, cups, planters, and water are always in stock at low prices with a wide variety to choose from. (I do suggest if you can to stick mostly to GE (General Electric) hardware as it won't let you down.)
Anyways enough preaching the gospel of the evil mega-corporation, I got home today after work and checked my two surviving seedlings. They both now have four leaves unfolded and are very happy sitting in their mini-cup-domes basking in the 6500k lights and near 90% humidity. I did stop by Walmart and pick up a thermometer, and to be honest, it's probably the best thing I could have possibly done.
After installing the thermometer and putting the outdoor sensor inside the mini-dome with one of my seedlings, I was shocked to find that the temperature of the air around the plant was at 95 degrees Fahrenheit. To remind you, originally the grow space is around 30-40 degrees because it doesn't receive any heating/cooling from my furnace, so I had to go out and buy a space heater to keep the room at a tropical temperature. Now my CFL's don't get terribly warm however when you combine the sheer quantity in use along with the greenhouse effect the mini-domes create, the air around the soil got an unexpected 20 degree boost in temperature and I suspect it was this and the low humidity pre-mini-dome which cause several of my emerged seedlings to whither and die.
Also one of the seeds I had planted randomly on a whim decided to sprout and pop out a pair of leaves today as well so I'm glad to say I currently have three healthy seedlings at the moment. I think that's it for now though, I need to eat me some waffles.