Seed Sprouting Experiment with Paper Towels, "The Paper Towel Method"

Mar 26, 2024

4 min read

--Julie Wennberg, Updated February, 2025

While browsing the internet for seed starting success tips,I discovered several gardeners that recommend using wet paper towels to germinate difficult seeds. I began to consider this.

Strawflower and snapdragon seeds are known to be challenging to germinate. In 2023, I struggled with both of these.

So I figured, why not try out the "Paper Towel Method"?

*Detailed instructions for "The Paper Towel Method" follow below.

Initial Trial

On March 21, 2024 I put bunches of strawflower seeds to the test in damp paper towels stuffed into ziplock bags. Strawflower seeds prefer light to germinate, so I put them in the corner of my office, which gets lovely indirect light and is a pleasant 70 degrees.

Only 3 days later, on March 24, I noticed that several varieties were beginning to sprout. By day 4, 2 varieties, Apricot/Peach Mix and Silvery Rose were sprouting and ready to to planted. The following day, the other 2 varieties were ready to plant. Typical germination/sprouting of strawflowers when typically sown is 7-10 days, so what I had read about this method being faster proved true. As you can see in the photo below, I had near 100% germination. I was amazed at the success rate.

Ziplock bags of strawflower seeds in damp paper towels. — Strawflower seeds in damp paper towels waiting to sprout in indirect, bright light.

sprouted seeds in damp paper towel — Sprouted Apricot/Peach Strawflower Seeds

I planted them in 1 1/2" soil blocks. Even after just one day in soil blocks, the strawflower sprouts look settled in and happy.

Strawflower seed sprouts — Strawflower sprouts are settled in after 1 day

On to Snapdragon and Pincushion Seeds, & More

Since I had success with my Strawflower experiment, I grabbed my extra seeds for Pincushion Flowers and Snapdragons to try the damp towel method. Snapdragons in particular were challenging for me to get good germination.

I sowed the snapdragon seeds in damp towels on March 24 and by March 30 they were ready for planting into soil blocks! Especially noteworthy for me are the Madame Butterfly Pink Snapdragons. Of the 40 soil blocks I sowed on March 13th, I have only 1 seedling. In the damp paper towels, I had close to 100% germination on the same variety! I have my fingers crossed that they thrive once in the soil blocks.

Some of the Pincushion flowers have germinated and I planted them into 3/4" soil blocks March 30.

Tweaking the Method

One thing I found a bit difficult was to get the sprouts off of the paper towel. Online, I found Garden Betty's suggestion to use flat coffee filters next to the seeds.

Using coffee filters made the process of getting the tender seedlings off of the paper and into soil blocks much easier.

However, I found that on its own the coffee filter dried out too quickly. So I ended up sandwiching the coffee filter with a single layer of paper towel on each side.

Voila, it worked great!

Plant Outcomes

As the pre-sprouted plants matured, I found that they were healthier, more robust, and grew better than the same seeds I did not pre-sprout. So I'm now a believer in pre-sprouting challenging seeds using the "Paper Towel Method".

Over the weeks of growing, the pre-sprouted seedlings significantly outperformed the conventionally started seeds.

Same soil & light. Left sown typically, 10 days prior to the pre-sprouted batch. Right, sown after pre-sprouting.

Making Pre-Sprouting my Primary method of Seed Starting

In 2025, pre-sprouting my seeds using the Paper Towel Method will be my go-to for most of the seeds I start. As a hobby grower the extra time and steps to pre-sprout my seeds is well worth it to have vigorous, healthy flowers.

The "Paper Towel Method" - Detailed Instructions

The process is very simple.

Items Needed: white paper towels, flat coffee filters, quart sized Ziploc bags, Sharpie to label the bags, water, your seeds. (Optional, water in spray bottle to wet towel & filter more easily, drinking straw to puff air into bags).

Gather supplies & seeds. Be sure all is very clean.
Cut 1 side off of coffee filter so it opens easily. Trim down to fit in bag. Fold paper towel in half and trim to easily fit in bag.
Dampen 1 small paper towel sheet and 1 coffee filter. Be sure are wet, but not dripping.
Label the Ziploc bag with variety, date, etc.
Open both the towel and filter. Put filter on top of towel. Sprinkle seeds on half. Do not crowd. Do another bag if have too many to fit easily. Fold empty half over seeds. Gently press so seeds are getting good contact with water.
Carefully insert seed sandwich into bag. Close bag completely, try to leave some air in it. You may even use a drinking straw to puff a bit of air inside before fully zipping.
**Keep flat!! If you are not careful, your seeds will get out of place and you will need to open it up and get the seeds back in place. Yep, did that a few times.
If seeds need light to sprout, put in bright room-temperature location. If they require dark, put in a handy room-temperature location, such as a room that's always dark, a drawer or cupboard.

Gather Supplies. Cut paper towels and filters to fit easily in bags. Label bags.

---Wait for sprouts. Check every day or so. I noticed that most of a variety will sprout within a day or so. I usually wait and plant all the sprouts of a variety at one time.---

Once the sprouts are ready, carefully transfer them to your soil blocks (or cell trays/pots).
Be very gentle and careful not to disturb the roots any more than you must. You can even plant some of the paper with the seedling without harm. (Carefully cut around the root).
I put a bit of moistened soil in the hole I placed the seedling into, making sure it gets good contact with the soil. Then I give the tray a little mist of water and put it under the lights. I often put a humidity dome loosely over the seedlings for a day or 2, depending on the humidity in the room.