Help! Germination

[vonmises]

Hi folks,
This is my first grow ever. I've planted half a dozen seeds on a small plastic tray with 1 inch of sterilized (boiled) rich black dirt. I placed the tray under two 100W light bulbs. They began rooting and now one has sprouted (at least the seed shell has fallen off and a sort of proto-leaf turned green. I had it less than 1 foot from the lights, it turned yellowish in hours so I lowered it to a meter).

* Is 1 inch too shallow now that it's sprouted? I am going to change to perlite and a proper planter, should i do that now? (hope not I don't have a F#!("!) dime!)

* I saved the other half of my seeds. How should I get them to germinate next time? Cotton? A normal planter? the same tray I'm using now?

Thanks! This is really exciting! I've never had anything grown in my life and I couldnt believe it this morning when I saw how a plant comes to life!

 

[vonmises]

ok, obviously 1 inch of dirt will not do it for the one out of the shell.
I'll set up a proper planter.

how about the other seeds? What is the best way to make them sprout?

 

[Damagoman]

As a novice,
put them straight in the dirt, one seed per 3-5 inch pot/container.

Handling sprouted seedlings is not recommended by me,
learn to transplant seedlings rather than bareNaked TapRoot/sprouts.

I myself, use 18 oz. plastic party cups.
Have to drill drain holes in them
and will sow 3- 6 seeds to a cup. After they are 2 weeks after breaking ground, I transplant to 1 gal or 3 gal pots/containers.