Beginner! Help, what should I do? Seedling humidity % (dome) is ok, but the soil is DRY??

Hi, first time grower. I have read that best temeprature for sprouting is 26-28 celsius (about 80F) and humidity is 70-80%. I also have read that overwatering is a popular beginner problem.
Maybe I am overthinking it, but here is my issue. I would appreciate your help. HELP THE PLANTS, if not me

Stats first
240 w Kingbrtite with cree red 25 inches from pots. (50% intensity to get the 26-28 celsium temp)
3X3x6 Tent.
Biobizz light mix.
5 gallon airpot
2 Dutch Passion (Think different) autos
Guys, maybe I am overtinking it.

1. I presoaked my soil (with about 30% pot volume, it dried in ventilated dark area to acceptable wetness in 5 days)
2. Sprouted seed in paper towel, planted seed.
3. Put up a home made humidity dome - bottom of 1.5liter bottle with 4 holes on top for air circulation.

12 hours have passed.

My AC infinity controller probe shows 65-70% humidity in my dome, but the SOIL IS DRY 3-4CM DEEP. Very dry. It is dry because to reach 26-28 celsium I have 240 w light on 50% intensity. I dont have a CFL light.
So is this OK? Should I squirt some 10 ml (10squirts) of water around the dome to make the soil a bit wetter?
If I do that, humidity goes to 85% (in the dome) and slowly goes back to 65-70% in an hour or two. (as the soil dries up again)

I am very confused. I cant spray too much water, that raises humidity in dome over 90%.
I also cant turn down the lights, then the temperature goes down.

Sorry for the long post...
TLDR: Humidity dome microclimate is good, but soil is dry.What to do?
Thank you very much!

You don't need to use domes for seeds. Worry about the environment in your tent and try to get the humidity up around 65% if you can get it that high in there. Seeds aren't clones and in my opinion should never be put in domes. It just creates weak plants in fake environments. Get them used to the environment they're going to grow in and dial in your tent VPD to around .8 if possible. I know this doesn't answer your question directly but it's my best advice.

you see i did this until they break soil (remove immediately after seeing them poking their heads) and then they’re on their own and never ever let the soil dry out until they brake soil. if you did then you might have already killed them. dont presoak and dry out your soil this is not laundry just water it once and dont again until it dries and never let it dry until they brake soil

With all that research you didn’t read about seedlings in large containers? Start small, then transplant. Now you gotta water deep and wait. Start misting or just watering around the plant and you’ll get more problems.

Kerowacked said:

With all that research you didn’t read about seedlings in large containers? Start small, then transplant. Now you gotta water deep and wait. Start misting or just watering around the plant and you’ll get more problems.

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There is no issue with seedlings in large containers. 90% of the plants i grow have gone straight into 3 gal pots, and watered to runoff day one. Never a single issue. This whole small pot, shot glass of water and constant attention is a heavily overquoted falsity.
March 20

April 20

Never had a single issue You can all constantly water in tiny containers for no reason, I'll just drop a seed in medium, soak it to runoff and not touch it for a week or more. The issue isn't the big pots, its people refusing to water the big pots. They put a bloody shot glass of water around the stem and wonder why the roots aren't growing, and you all blame the pot size.

Do agree that domes are not needed though.

Domes are for rooting clones, not seedlings OP. I've had no issues with seedling at anywhere from 45-80%. It rarely gets below 40-45 here due to proximity.

Kerowacked said:

With all that research you didn’t read about seedlings in large containers? Start small, then transplant. Now you gotta water deep and wait. Start misting or just watering around the plant and you’ll get more problems.

Click to expand...

Yup, I did.
Chose autoflowers,they seem to be ok with a single container for most people

Seeding starter trays work just fine... If you want to increase temps of your trays use a heating pad instead of increasing your lighting. Save you some money too.

Father Earth said:

Seeding starter trays work just fine... If you want to increase temps of your trays use a heating pad instead of increasing your lighting. Save you some money too.

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Check seedling mat temperature! Vivosun mats easily hit 86F. Use an IR thermometer to verify.

hotrodharley said:

... Check seedling mat temperature! Vivosun mats easily hit 86F. Use an IR thermometer to verify ...

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A mechanical light timer with a 2 hour on and 1 hour off cycle keeps normal temps when using heat mats. A small bar towel between the heat mat and tray can also help.

StareCase said:

A mechanical light timer with a 2 hour on and 1 hour off cycle keeps normal temps when using heat mats. A small bar towel between the heat mat and tray can also help.

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I do exactly that with the towels until my IR shows acceptable temperatures. You can use an Inkbird as well. Probe on the surface you want the temperature controlled at.

VincenzioVonHook said:

There is no issue with seedlings in large containers. 90% of the plants i grow have gone straight into 3 gal pots, and watered to runoff day one. Never a single issue. This whole small pot, shot glass of water and constant attention is a heavily overquoted falsity.
March 20
View attachment 5126247
April 20
View attachment 5126252
Never had a single issue You can all constantly water in tiny containers for no reason, I'll just drop a seed in medium, soak it to runoff and not touch it for a week or more. The issue isn't the big pots, its people refusing to water the big pots. They put a bloody shot glass of water around the stem and wonder why the roots aren't growing, and you all blame the pot size.

Do agree that domes are not needed though.

Click to expand...

To each their own but i would never advise a first timer to germinate in five gallons of soil, auto or photo. Their next question is either how do i save this or what are these bugs flying around.

Kerowacked said:

To each their own but i would never advise a first timer to germinate in five gallons of soil, auto or photo. Their next question is either how do i save this or what are these bugs flying around.

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i just dont know how or why it would be hard though. I'm a new grower. My first plant i just dropped a seed into 5 gal pot and watered it to runoff. Everyone told me it couldn't be done, yet every plant was and has been fine since. I just don't know how or why that could possibly be so hard for everyone else to replicate such simple actions. I literally can't figure this out.

It is far harder to regulate medium moisture in a smaller pot for me and i end up with smaller plants side by side every time i try smaller pots, and its just extra work that doesn't need to be done. Every time i help a new grower with a plant it is because they have been in small pots and don't manage watering properly. I get them to pop another in a 3 gal pot and water it to runoff day one, and every time they have better luck immediately. I always get the "i was so sick of having to water constantly, this is so much easier but everyone told me i had to use solo cups". I've even had it here on this forum quite a few times. I swear i live in an alternate universe to everyone else.

I even contemplated entering solo challenges but the plant just stunts terribly and dries up, and the one in a 5 gal pot powers ahead. I'd love to figure out why im completely incapable of using small containers. I have issues every time i use anything under a 1 gal pot. I must be plain slow, or maybe im just used to big pots as i've always placed every seedling into 5 gal pots (strawberries, chillis, tomatos, capsicum) for years.

Im absolutely terrified that i will be in a life or death situation one day and have to grow a plant in a small container to avoid death. Ill be guaranteed dead.