What did I do wrong?

Alright so I planted 4 seeds as "test" seeds before I use my expensive genetics.... only 1 is looking healthy. Here are what the other 3 look like (2 fell right out when I patted on the rapid rooter cube, the other is a bit more firmly rooted in there):







Here's what my set up looks like (though originally the light was about an inch and a half closer to the tray... I moved it away because I thought it might have been too close and was drying em out)



And a couple shots of the healthy one:





The only difference I can think of with the healthy one was that the taproot had come out completely in the paper towels when germinating before I planted it (the others only a tiny bit was showing in the cracked seed), and I watered it more, pretty much daily. I was actually worried I was over-watering but the light dried out the cubes so damn fast...

I should add that the one that looks slightly better (the one that's actually still in the cube), seemed to be growing sideways almost like an ingrown toenail lol. The top was literally stuck to the side of the cube and I had to "help" it but it was already very weak looking.

What did I do wrong?

thanks guys

in your first two pics the sprout is definitely too dry - you want to keep the plugs moist but not dripping wet from start to transplant.

Are the seeds sitting in open holes? Looks like they are.

What i do to germ seeds is
- Put in a cup of water for 12hrs ( to soak outer shell )
- Transfer from cup to moist tissue, I put the tissue in a bowl ( at an angle so the excess water drips off, I then cover the bowl with cling film to keep the moisture in, Put them bowl in a warm dark place and check the seeds after a few days, They should have sprouted,
- I then place the seeds into rockwool, ( make sure u cover the hole back up )
- Finally i mist the cubes, Then place them into a tub ( ice cream ) Again i cover with cling film, Til they sprout out of the cubes, Once they have sprouted out of the cube make sure you remove the cling film and move them under a CFL for a few weeks.

Haha man your holes are open.
I think that they grow stronger by pushing through whatever medium they're being grown in, and that's how they start off growing.

Alright I just planted my second batch of germinated test seeds. Covered the holes with dirt this time from out in the yard.

I notice though, a lot of the tap roots are growing out sideways when they're in the paper towel... anything I can do to fix this or does it not matter? I don't wanna like jam the seed down to force the taproot down because it could make it go into shock... so not really sure what to do.

I gotta speed this process up lol, gonna run out of time for my "real" seeds if I wait too long (moving outside once they get a few weeks of growth in).

I plant mine like this;

Works every time, just pat down the medium around it.

Hmm, ok I 'll try that with my last test seeds.

One other thing. Is the healthy one ready for transplant outside you think? (I have no intention of growing indoors). I planted it May 30th.

If you plant it outside it will strecth up for the light, Id wait til it got abit bigger mate if i was you.