This study reveals and discusses the problems of future elementary teachers after they have completed a practical on germination, including the fact that such practice is conceptually more complex than is usually considered, at least when the aim is to experiment with the determinant factors for germination. In this case there seemed to be some conflict between everyday knowledge and school knowledge. Thus, nearly half of the subjects indicated the need for soil to germinate seeds, an idea probably associated with their personal experience, because in everyday life seeds are placed in the ground. We believe that seed germination must remain a key part of elementary science teaching, but it should be reoriented taking into account its complexity.