I put mine in seed starter potting mix as soon as I see a root comming out of the seeds shell.

Jesse, how did you do the coffee filter thing?

Hello spencersmom
All I did was use a #2 cone shape coffee filter (4 cup filter) place any number seeds that you prefer. I cut the one side and the bottom of the filter that way I can open the filter like a book when the seeds sprout. I opened the filter so that it is flat . I then placed the seeds on one side of the filter. I then folded the filter over , squirt some water so that the seeds and filter are moist. I then put the filter with the seeds in a zip lock baggie. I squirted alittle more water in the baggie. I placed them under flourescent light. and just waited. I turned the lights on when I got home from work in the evening and turned them off in the morning before I left for work.

I might have to try that. But do you need a light during the germination stage? I'm going to be germinating a lot for me and my friends this winter so I have been reading up on what people do.

I am seriously ready for Spring but I know nature must take a full course. :)

Hello Spencersmpm
Okay I'm gonna try to send the steps for the coffee filter seed sprouting operation. This has worked for me so it should work for you I left out the light steps Sorry :(
If I have left out any steps or anything I appoligize I'm still learning I used the small size
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Wow the pictures are huge I must be doing something wrong, I can use some help

Wondering why you guys do an extra step. Why not just start them in cells?

john

OMG LMAO! Are you sure you did small? It worked though! I'm not sure what John means by an extra step. Email me what you did and we can troubleshoot. :)

John are you talking about germination or posting photos?

Germinating-once they germinate you then put them in soil why not just germinate them there in the first place. I did some germination tests using paper towels and decide to go ahead and plant those that germinated -couldn't see an advantage.

If you are using Xp there is a great microsft resizer that is free. Download, right click on a picture, select size and zap it appears.

john

I use a ziplock and paper towel only because I don't have enough room to keep that many seed starters of soil warm.
I use several 12-72 cell starters with clear covers.
I do think heat helps germinate seeds better than room temp. potting soil.
If I had room to put starter cells on heat mats I would save myself some work.
I agree with you about no difference in using soil or ziplocks.
I put seeds straight into soil that I get after most of my plants are in pots.
Once the majority of my seeds are sprouted I can put a couple seed starters over heat.Usually the seeds I get later in the season go right into soil.
If I had enough room I'd put seeds straight into the pot they are going to grow in permanently.

I also use a heat mat. I use a 200 cell tray and put one seed per cell. As they sprout I can move the entire cell to a larger cell in a tray under lights with little disturbance of the root.

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Yeah, that is why I like this idea because it's compact. I am going to look into cell trays though because I might be able to put one on top of the fridge.

Just a personal observation, I like the coffee filter/paper towel idea because you can see who makes it to the next round and who doesn't in a smaller space.