The newly germinated seedlings will require more water and to stay moister than a older plant. They require more moisture usually until they have 4-5 true leaves. On the other hand. They do need to still dry back slightly, they cannot stay water logged. If water is always available from the bottom, then this is too much.
Many people root prune hoping to create a larger caudex early on or to do root training, but I prefer to and I think most just let the seedlings get a good healthy root system. I believe that this human intervention (root pruning) may assist with the desired appearance, but the seedling is going to give you what it is genetically determined by itself.
Pinching. I have done a lot of this, but for myself I do it very early on to produce more branching. I would not do it if I only had a few plants. I usually wait to see what the seedlings are going to do on their own and with a few that are growing more vertically. I may pinch out.
Grit on top will help with fungus knats.
Rick
