Also along with the topic of germination are factors that influence germination. First off germination is when the seed begins to sprout and grow. Now before we get to what influences germination let me make two points. Seed dormancy and viability. Seed dormancy is the period of time where the seed will refuse to germinate after it develops in order to ready itself for germination. Seed viability is whether the seed is viable to germinate or not. A seed can "expire" after a prolonged period of not being acted upon (ie. water, soil). So in some cases people that started there plant project very late could potentially have dormant, unviable seeds because they sat alone for so long without growth factors acting upon them. When seeds are viable, they need water to come to life. Water allows for the softening of the seed coat to allow for the seed to take root and grow. This process is called imbibition.Other factors that influence germination can be the pH of the soil (which also aids in the softening of the hard seed coat), amount of sunlight given (some seeds germinate better in darkness), and the texture of the soil (obstructions could be present in the soil).