HOW TO GROW CACTUS FROM SEEDS 
The growing of cactus from seeds is easy if a few simple requirements are observed. The 
experience is fascinating, as the development is quite different from that of ordinary 
flowering plants. Also perfect specimens without the scars and blemishes of desert col¬ 
lected plants can be obtained, and blooming size plants may be grown in two or three 
seasons which might require five to ten years under natural desert conditions. Cactus 
grows in spite of desert environments, not because of them. 
TIME TO PLANT—For house or greenhouse culture without artificial heat, late spring 
and summer are best, but they may be planted at any time of the year if a minimum tem¬ 
perature of 65° F. can be maintained. Best results seem to be obtained with a temperature 
of 70 to 90° F., but higher temperatures in the glasshouse during the day do not harm 
them if they are kept moist. The seed pans should never be allowed to become dry, but 
do not keep them standing in water all the time. 
SOIL FOR SEED—Sift equal parts of well rotted leaf-mold and sand through a one-fourth 
inch mesh screen. (IMPORTANT—Do not use a finer screen thinking to make a softer 
bed for the dainty seedlings, as the soil must be kept ventilated by the coarse particles.) 
Place some coarse gravel, mortar or broken brick about an inch deep at the bottom to in¬ 
sure drainage. Also have some holes in the bottom of the container. Shallow pots, nursery 
flats or cans may be used. The one pound coffee can is ideal for two or three hundred 
seeds. 
SOW THE SEED thickly on top and cover with coarse sand or small gravel, about ^ to 
V 4 inch deep. Crushed grit such as the poultry feed houses supply is ideal as the dust 
and finer particles are removed and the seeds must have air. Do not cover ivith soil as the 
seeds will remain dormant or smother and decay. For very small seed such as Mamil- 
larias the gravel covering may be put on first and the seed allowed to settle between the 
crevices. This is the way they are grown in nature. 
WATERING—After seeds are sowed place container in a pan of water until moisture 
appears on top. Then remove and water thereafter by sprinkling lightly from the top. 
The covering used must be coarse enough to be undisturbed by light sprinkling. The seed 
must be kept moistened until germination takes place which is about four days to two 
weeks. Some slower kinds will germinate after several weeks. It may be well to sterilize 
the soil before planting with boiling water to kill insects and fungi. If mold or "damp¬ 
ing-off” fungus appears spray with a good fungicide. Do not keep in direct sunlight, but 
give moderate light after seedlings appear. 
TRANSPLANTING may begin when first spines appear, but if the seedlings are not 
crowded they may be left until about pea-size or one-half inch high. Use same soil as 
above with the addition of good garden soil. Equal parts of leaf-mold, sand and loam 
is a good mixture. Add a little charcoal and place some of the gravel used for covering 
seed on top around the seedlings after they have been transplanted. 
TERMS—Greatest care has been used in obtaining seeds from sources deemed reliable and to have 
seeds correctly named, but due to the several systems of nomenclature in use in various part of the 
world, no guarantee can be given as to correctness. We recognize "The Cactaceae’’ by Britton and 
Rose as the authority except that revisions made necessary by more recent investigations and discoveries 
are used in this catalog. 
Prices are in U. S. dollars as at date of publication postpaid anywhere in the postal union. If air 
mail delivery is desired please enclose extra postage. Minimum postpaid order $1.00. 
Due to very limited stocks of some kinds of seeds, some will soon be sold out, so please include 
some alternate selections with your order. We do not substitute without your permission. 20% 
discount is allowed on purchases of 500 or more of one kind of seed. Wholesale growers please ask 
for special wholesale list for larger quantities. Foreign collectors please send price list. Exchanges 
invited from all growers and collectors. 
California buyers are required by law to include 3% state sales tax; this does not apply to other 
states. 
R. W. KELLY, 2410 La Rosa Drive, Temple City, California, U. S. A. 
