What are you trying to grow?

My first question also is, what are you trying to grow?

Most seed can be spritz with a water bottle and left alone. Mold growth usually forms when I didn't give the soil enough air flow. I've learned I b need a small fan blowing in my seed trays (from a distance) to improve air flow but not dry the soil out to fast.

If these are seeds that need time in the cold, then I've started Lemon tree seeds in a styrofoam cup with some potting soil and left completely alone on the deck over winter till spring.

Another helpful trick for some hard shelled seeds is to expose the embryo. This can make for some drastically reduced germination times.

Conclusion: it doesn't take much water at all. Infact dry soil that gets a mist of water once can prove successful. Seeds will wait in dry ground until it gets a little drink. Soggy soil with no air flow however, will only grow mold and mushrooms.

I have done the same thing the first year I tried to wintersow. I over wet the potting soil. Last year I did not wet it as much and I used soil for seedlings but we had an awful rainy spring that my milk jugs all were so green on the sides. Gross. I was not thrilled with my germination rates but better than the first year. This winter I will try again. I also was stupid and did not realize I could not sow all or any annuals and that only the hardy ones would come up. I spent too much money on flowers that were never going to come up that way. Live and learn in the garden every day.