A lot of very tiny seeds are sold pelleted. Basically, the seeds are coated with clay so they are easier to work with. If you are seeding any that are to be surfaced sowed, like petunias, press the pellet into the soil and water in good. The clay should soften and allow the moisture to get to the seed. Once the clad has dissolved, normal germination will period will begin. It is important to keep the seed tray on the damp side and I find a spray bottle works great.

I blast it off right away with spray bottle .. the ones that need light to germinate at least

I guess I should get a better blaster or change the mist setting. It seems to take me a couple of times of misting to see the clay disappear.

I just get them wet.. let em sit for a few seconds and then hit them strong a few times

There was a problem with some pelletting materials a few years ago.
Some contained sodium salts, I think.
Now this year I have come across some more bad pellets.

always a bummer

Seems pellets can be vastly different sizes and probably different materials, too. Some dissolve way easier and faster than others. I had some cheap seeds from the hardware store once that took forever. I swore they were rocks.

Karen

yeah that's not good

All the pelleted ones I've had, the coating started to disappear as soon as they hit the wet soil! Yeah, spray bottles work really great, too. And the force of the water helps push them into the soil.