media temp ... is usually more important than the media itself .. for germination ... and after that.. proper watering ... for proper root growth and after that.. light intensity ... for proper green growth ... and then.. i might think about the media as a variable ... ken ps: and i would sterilize my media before i started... regardless of what the bag states ... as well as all my pots/flats/tools/etc ... i use the baggie method in the micro for small batches ... and once got a turkey aluminum pan from the dollar store ... and covered it with foil .. and made a giant jiffy pop out of it.. lol .. i used the meat thermometer the first time... but i figured out.. that if properly dampened.. when steam escaped out a hole in the top ... i had gotten it warm enough .... never forget.. an ounce of prevention is worth a ton of cure ... http://www.coopext.colostate.edu/4DMG/Soil/sterile.htm

Many factors contribute to successful germination and this issue is only one of them. You also have to have the right soil temps, light in some cases, the right size shallow containers for seed germination, viable seeds, etc. So there are no guarantees either way. While Jiffy Mix isn't the best it does work so since you haven't sown the seeds yet why not just dump all the "pots" into a bucket and make sure it is all good and wet and then refill the containers before planting the seeds? Misting is the least effective way of watering because it only wets the top surface. Bottom watering that forces the soil to suck up the water needed is most effective but it has to be fully wetted to work. Top watering is ok if you can do it without disturbing the seeds or seedlings. Dave

I use ProMix potting soil; sometimes I'll add a bit more perlite, but it isn't totally necessary. Other important considerations for a successful outcome would be growing your plants under growlights, avoiding the use of peat pots, and making sure you don't overwater. When they are far enough along, I give them a weak fertilizer solution too.

I am far from an expert on this topic, but I did succeed on my first try. I found a flattened piece of sans on the driveway at a nursery. I stuck it into Walmart potting soil, staked it up, and watered it when the soil felt warm about one knuckle down. After about a year the leaf became turgid mostly with one bend in the middle. I kept it staked and, months later, a pup sprouted followed by many other sprouts. I left it in the same 6-inch pot longer than I needed to as the sprouts matured. Soon enough I removed the stake I used to prop the limp original leaf and simply leaned it against one of the newer leaves. About a year ago I repotted into a 10-inch pot and placed it in the living room. Today the original leaf stands completely on its own. Since it is in the larger pot and more shady location, the new leaves grow to about 24 inches tall. At this point it is surviving mostly on neglect. We water it when we think about it.