Just curious as to what other's preferences are in starting seeds inside. Nik and soak, coffee filter in baggies or just direct sow in peat pots. I like the baggie method that way I can see what germinates but it's a lot more work than just soaking them and waiting to see if they germinate. I very rarely just sow them without doing anything since I sow a lot and don't want to take up space on ones that won't germinate.

I use the baggy method with pre-rinsed coffee filters & never use paper towels.I rinse off the seed under warm water at the faucet. Then label with Scripto, so I don't forget what I've just sown.
I may place near a window for warmth from sunlight. Or, set the baggy atop the coffee maker once it isn't so hot, after brewing.
I've noticed at times, a rainstorm may trigger some sprouting.

I keep a supply of large sized, cleaned yogurt containers, for potting up seedlings once the root is about an inch or longer.
I mix my own growing medium, by adding soil, peat moss & some perlite. Once filled up with mix nearly to the top, I tap the pot to settle the mix. A tooth pick works well, to easily create a place to insert the seedling root into. Gently mist with water to help stay in place & if the seed coat hasn't come off, continue to keep it damp, or very carefully help remove it while moist, if it gets stuck.

I usually do the coffee filter method too but since I start over 50+ seeds I guess I am looking for a short cut...but what the heck now that we are stuck inside what else do I have to do

Ronnie, if I became impatient with any seed variety that didn't begin to show signs of water uptake, by obviously expanding, I tried to put the seed under a warm water rinse again & keep that baggy in a warm spot. I found the top of the coffee maker to be about lukewarm, shortly after it was done brewing. Carefully test the brewing lid with your hand first, when you are certain it isn't too hot, first.
The kitchen may be warmest, if you are often cooking...

Sometimes, it is as though they have a schedule of their own. Exposing to sunlight for about 12 hours may help.
I'm just used to dealing with some recalcitrant seeds that may require 90 days in the fridge. Or, others seed sown in summer that don't even appear until the next spring.
For some of those nil, it is well worth a little extra waiting for.

I pretty much do what y'all described. Mucho prayers on a daily basis for the seeds over 7 years old.

I probably ought to have used the term "reluctant" to germinate, in regard to older seeds instead of recalcitrant. But waiting patiently for months for some to germinate, it seemed appropriate.

For the moonflowers I nicked the seeds, then soaked them in warm water for maybe 20 hours. I put them in a glass next to a heat vent so the water would stay warmer. Then I planted them in 3 oz clear plastic cups that I drilled holes in the bottom of with my own mix of 2 parts peat moss, 1 part perlite and 1 part vermiculite. Within 24 hours most of them already began to sprout, the rest of them by the next day.

I nick the seed, then soak in very warm water for about 14 hours. Very few don't germinate.

Resurrecting an old thread, but always a relevant one.

I know most people don't have sulfuric acid lying around, but it's highly effective on all of the I. nil I've tried it on.

Soak the hard black seeds for 20 minutes in a very small amount of concentrated sulfuric acid.


Dump into large volume of cold water. Rinse thoroughly and soak the now brown seeds in water.


24 hours later


3 days later

Useful information, thanks!

It's not for me but cool that it works so well for you.

I dont want to handle that stuff, but it seems to work well. I will stick with my hot water.

I soak my seeds for 24 to 48 hours in hot tap water with 2 or 3 sprays of hydrogen peroxide added to the water.

Most seeds sprout in 24 hours or less but some take longer. I never soak for more than 48 hours, even if they haven't germinated yet.

I then sow them in a solo cup with a well-draining potting mix, set them on a heat mat, & cover them loosely with a plastic ziplock until the plant emerges from the soil.

As soon as the plant emerges from the soil, I remove the plastic.

You can get hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle at Walgreens. I refill my spray bottle.

Never thought about using peroxide. I soaked some other seeds this year, some cilantro and okra, and they germinated well, also.

I use nearly boiling water and just soak the seeds usually, without nicking them, in darkness and let the water cool, the seeds imbibe (absorb water and swell) fairly quickly which can be easily observed. An hour or two is usually good, but I tend to leave them overnight.

I then plant the seeds in a potting mix in containers, usually under lights indoors.

I used to nick them all, but experimented with hot (near boiling) water and now use that in most cases, because it works well for me. I didn't know of anyone else using this for Ipomoea when I tried it, though it is a common method for Acacia.

That nearly boiling water works for me, too.And I don't nick the seeds.

gardenfish said: I dont want to handle that stuff, but it seems to work well. I will stick with my hot water.

No H2SO4 in my garden shed!