i always put mine in a cup of water. i have some seeds that i bought, just for ornamental plant, its a plant that looks liek weed, it flowers the same as weed, but its bright purple hairs. today is the 2nd day they were in the cup and they sprouted. ive had many a seed that sprouted in 24 hours doing this. people say you can kill them this way, but ive never killed a seed, and i grow everything from weed to tomatoes and cucombers and flowers