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Impatiens Germination Problem

I'm trying to start some bedding plants from seed for spring planting, and
I've got a problem with the impatiens.

These are "Impatiens New Guinea Spectra Hybrids" according to the seed
packet.  I sowed them onto a commercial seedling mix and did not cover the
seeds per instructions.  They were kept at 70 to 76 F in a seedling flat
covered with a plastic hood under fluorescent lights.  The flat was watered
initially from the bottom until the top of the mix was very moist.

After 6 days I noticed initial signs of germination in a few seeds as the
radicle emerging.  Now, at 16 days after seeding about half of the seeds
have developed seed leaves and look good, but most of the remaining seeds
have 'stalled' with a small blunt radicle emerging from the seed tip.  The
radicles do not apparently penetrate the mix to form rootlets.  A few look
like they may be developing on  but others just look stuck.

I removed the plastic hoods at around 11 days for about 48 to 72 hours and
also reduce temperature to upper 60's.  The mix may have gotten a bit drier
on top but I did mist daily.  After I noticed some of the seeds had a
problem I put the hoods back on and temp back up.

Any ideas what I may have done wrong?

Thanks,

Brad Hamilton
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