My seeds are dying!

[SGD]

I've just harvested my first grow and decided to get the next plants started straight away. The seeds I have are a collection of bagseeds. I followed the usual practice to germinate my seeds in a damp paper towel and they sprouted within a couple of days and I planted them straight into their final big pot. I waited and waited and after 8 days there was still no sign so I dug them up to have a look. They hadn't grown at all since I planted them and one of them was mouldy. I cursed my bad luck and started again with the only change being that I swapped the soil for something I found that had a lower Ph, about 6.5. I don't have access to 'off the shelf' products where I live. The same thing has happened again. This time I only waited 4 days before having a look and, sure enough, there was zero growth.
I've put some more into germinate again but I don't know what is wrong, any ideas?

[Rwise]

What are the temps? Just a guess but the soil could be to cold.

[SGD]

Temps are always above 20C.

[SoOrbudgal]

Keep trying don't give up. Winter is a tad more challenging for me to germinate but you can do it. Those may be shit seeds

[plantman139]

Putting them directly into the big pot may be an issue, you said one was moldy. This could be from over watering in the large pot with not enough air/oxygen in the soil. I have been having similar problems. Try putting the just spouted seedlings in a very small pot. If the dirt you’re using is really thick it too could cause problems. Try using the lightest airy soil you can find.

[dphipps1020]

Are you watering the whole pot when you plant the seed? You really just want a little water at first or you'll drown the seed. If you're getting mold, it's probably staying too moist for too long. Start with about a shot glass worth of water once or twice a day. Let it dry a little bit in between or you'll keep running into the same problem. After they sprout, give more water as they grow.

[Kevin77]

I would also think that overwatering may be the cause. Same way you can drown a seed germinating in a paper towel. Think moist, not wet as it needs oxygen as well. I'm not sure if the seed knows how big the pot is so that shouldn't matter but can agree it is easier to control environment in a small pot.

[Farmbuck]

I always put mine in a 5 gallons pot after they sprouted but I sprayed for several weeks before watering them and when I do I water around them and I check them with a water soil test meter to ensure it's moist and not wet.

[SGD]

I think over watering was the problem with the first lot but I gave the second lot less water but enough that the soil was still damp under the surface. I managed to get a bag of potting soil and I'll try that with the new seeds as maybe the other soil had too much nutrients. Thanks for the replies.

[Rwise]

The temp is a bit cool too, to cool and to wet you get just what you listed, moldy dead seed BTDT
Can you get it to 25-30C?

[SGD]

The temp is a bit cool too, to cool and to wet you get just what you listed, moldy dead seed BTDT
Can you get it to 25-30C?

Ok, that's interesting. I didn't know the temp would be a problem for the seeds. My grow room is in my basement which is unheated and currently sits around 16C. Inside the tent with the light running it will get to 20C or 21C when the outside temps are around 3C in the daytime. I have an electric oil filled rad that I could put in there to increase the temp though. In the meantime I've moved my new germinating seeds into the main house until they are ready to plant. Thanks