I use the coffee filter/baggie method and check the seeds every few days by holding the baggie up to a light/lamp. If I see what I suspect is a sprout, I take out the filter and unfold it for a better look. I take any sprouted seeds and plant them in a cup or cell pack. At this point if the filter is starting to dry out, I'll spritz it with water to dampen it again, and set the baggie back in a warm place(usually above the computer). Peppers like around 85 degrees to germinate best, but any thing lower than 70 might take quite a while. Some seeds may rot, some won't do anything. I place about 6-10 seeds in each filter depending on how many I have and how many I want of each variety(I garden on a very small scale). I've had seeds get plump, but get a dark stain around them in the filter. When that happens, I'll place them in a clean filter(and baggie)and spritz with dilute chamomile tea to help ward off fungus.HTH

Thanks for that advice. Do you plant as soon as you see the little root? or do you wait until leaves show up?

As soon as I see the root...but sometimes I forget to check and the leaves start to emerge, so I plant those with the leaves just at the soil line. I make a deep wide hole and carefully cover the root, curving it around if needed in the hole. The roots can go from barely there to an inch long overnight, so once they start to sprout you need to check on them frequently.

OK thanks I will check them soon and probably pot them up or put them in the ground.

Z