I've been asked a few times about how to germinate seeds, so I thought I'd write a picture guide. There are different ways of going about it but this is just my method which has proved very successful. Here you go:
1. Get either multipurpose compost from the garden centre or some other 'light mix' or sowing and cutting compost from a grow shop or garen centre. The former has enough nutrients to sustain the plant well into the vegetative stage but isn't too hot (containing too much nutrients) for delicate seedlings. The latter 'light mix'/sowing or cutting compost is designed specifically for delicate seedlings or cuttings but can be used for larger plants in the vegetative stage if nutrients are used to sustain the plant. Garden centre sowing compost can work just as well as the more expensive grow shop stuff IME.
2. Sieve it through a quarter inch riddle/sieve. This is important for seeds (more so than larger plants in the vegetative stage, although I'd do it for these plants as well).
3. Fill pot with the medium and tamp down to lightly compress with tool called a tamper such as the one pictured (buy at garen centres).
4. Water with seaweed extract using a fine rose watering can designed for seedlings. Seaweed extract helps germination along and is good for young seedlings since it contains valuable hormones (especially gibberellins and cytokinins) and vitamins & minerals. Cold-pressed organic seaweed extract is best.
5. Using a dibber (plastic green tool pictured) to make a hole 1/4" deep in the soil.
6. Place seed in hole and cover with a small amount of soil.
7. Label with a plastic label and write the date and strain/plant number using pencil. This is one of the most important steps and shouldn't be taken for granted.
8. Place under light such as a 125W blue CFL a few cm away. A temperature of about 23-28C is required for germination and the light should be able to provide this. At the beginning, do not turn on the grow room's extraction and intake since too much air exchange will dry out the soil in such a small container, potentially damaging the fine roots of your seedling.