Question on iris seed

Hello:I received some crossed iris seed in a trade.The seeds has been cold stratified in the refridgerator.
I have soaked the seeds in water and planted in cups and placed under grow lights like I do with my daylily seeds.
I hope,this method works for germination as far as starting indoors under lights.Has anyone grown iris seeds this way?
Should I have waited until the iris seeds germinated first in water before potting up in cups and placing under lights?
Any advice would be appreciated?
Thanks!

As soon as they germinate and there is no threat of freeze get them puppies in pots or out side at least
Anita

I will get the iris outside after they germinate and plant outdoors after our last frost date which is around May 15th.
I will keep post as soon as the iris seeds germinate.Keeping my fingers crossed.
Thanks!
Karla

I start my seeds directly outside after the stratification process (soak seeds inside pantyhose for 10 days changing water daily to keep it fresh, then pour off the water and put them in the freezer for 3 weeks.) Next they go into a black garbage bag and I put them under the house (cool dark place) until they begin to germinate. (Refrigerator isn't good if you keep fruit in it - Fruit gases will kill seeds).

Start checking in about three weeks to see if any of the seeds have sprouted.
When some have sprouted, I plant them all and the waiting begins for the babies to begin popping up.

Plant seeds in 3 parts potting soil to 1 part vermiculite (The vermiculite helps control the moisture and keeps seedlings from rotting as they are prone to do if they stay too wet).

The lights probably aren't a good idea since irises germinate when the soil temperature reaches about 55 degrees.

George Sutton shared the above method with me - It works wonderfully!

Since I did my plantings in the fall outdoors, I covered them lightly with some straw for overwintering and they did well. I'm in Middle Tennessee (Zone 7) and our winters are usually pretty mild.

Cathy