Thank you, Frank!
In the absence of having enough of the Park Seed seed-starting sponges, I used a version of your method by creating several little trays filled with seed-starting mix. Your advice to use warm water and to let the moistened soil "rest" overnight is something that I will do from now on.
I also tried pushing seed-starting mix into the little "holes" in the BioDome styrofoam seed-block before I dropped seeds into it. ( The block then floats in the water under the aforementioned BioDome.) This method worked, sorta, but I didn't have reliably good germination without using the sponges from Park Seed.
I had the best germination--and healthy seedlings-- when I put the seeds in the Park seed sponges OR when I put them in the plastic seed trays in the way you recommended.
Lesson learned! If you're going to use the BioDome "blocks," only use the proprietary sponges. But you can have equally good germination and healthy seedlings using your method. And it costs less.
Thanks for taking the time to respond! It's all an experiment with me, and it helps to have advice!
