Germinating seeds in soil question

To your initial question: we placed the seeds in warm (~85F) distilled water for a few hours (4-10), or until they cracked, and then put them into soil (12oz starbucks paper cup w/ a MG soil mixture). Put the cups in a dark, warm area and waited. A couple days later (usually) we had sprouts. After 2-3 weeks of weeks of growing (closely under 40W fluor. cool white tubes), we put them into their final pot (5 gal) until finish. Only one transplant and less plant stress overall.

When we first started, we put the germinated seeds into rockwool, then into soil; however, we decided to bypass the rockwool part because the seeds that sprouted in soil seem to have a stronger stem. If the stem is long in the beginning it usually means it is reaching for light; but we have had some that started out long, but got leafier after awhile.

Happy growing...