Pan seed starting . I wet the soil very lightly , then I mix my seeds with a little soil and sew on top of the soil in the pan . After seeding I add more water from the sides and it will wick up all over the pan .
I keep just enough moisture for them to germinate and not too wet to pack the soil . If they dry out and I have to add some more water . I may spray with a fine mist over the top .
The pans have a plastic lid and I stack those pans on top of each other on my kitchen counter top . No direct sunlight . My house has low e windows .
Wicking soil will wick up the right amount of water and you do not have to water from the top . My trays float on 4 inches of water . The hole in the bottom lets water wick up to the seed .
On my plug transfer , I fill the trays with soil lightly and after I put the tiny plants in the holes . I will spray lightly with some water in a fine mist on top . This is so the plants don't dry out and die before the soil wicks up water .
It may take a tray a couple of hours to completely wick up .