I have had the best luck with baggies. I poke holes in the baggies with a corn holder for drainage/aeration after lightly moistening the soil. Connie first gave me this method and having tried direct sowing in pots, this is usually a better guarantee for me. I know some schools may say that yanking them out of the baggies after germination will delay them because of the transplanting factor (moving them into pots). I also re-use my baggies. Feel too guilty throwing them out after one seed start. I just change the soil-less mix in between and the label, of course.
I haven't used a heating pad and pretty much use the same dim(not completely dark)spot for all the seeds, whether it asiatic or oriental and everything in between. I know there are temperature preferences of the different types, at least I have read that in literature. That said, most of the time I have pretty great luck. And with limited space inside here, I have been pretty happy with results. I'd say my temps are right around 65, and in the dead of winter maybe less. I do use a heater in my plant room if the temps outside are well below zero and will be for an extended period of time, but only on low, a space heater I mean. Asiatics are my most difficult creatures. The OTs and trumpets do especially well. The orientals and martagons do just fine. Though I haven't done marts in a couple years. Mostly because of time taken to get to bloom. Maybe if my first seeds come to bloom I will be re-inspired; one can only hope, right?
