General Tuformation aud 
Special Tustriuctious 
SEEDLINGS IN TUBES 
The agar-agar formula in which orchid seeds are planted is a jelly-like 
material which will break up easily when disturbed, therefore, it must be 
realized that seedlings in tubes will undoubtedly arrive at their destination 
stirred up. Orders of ten tubes or more can be packed in a specially pre- 
pared box and shipped via Railway Express with a reasonable degree of 
success but regardless of careful packing or method of shipment we cannot 
guarantee the condition of tubes on arrival. However, this disturbance of 
the agar does not in any way affect the seedlings and losses will not be 
suffered if the seedlings are transplanted IMMEDIATELY UPON AR- 
RIVAL. Because of this fact seedlings in tubes are never offered for sale 
until they are ready for transplanting into community pots. 
To avoid excessive losses, prepare your community pots in advance and 
plan to take care of your seedlings as soon as they arrive. 
Remove the contents of the tube to a piece of glass and sprinkle a few drops 
of water on the seedlings to separate them from the agar. As you separate 
them, sort the seedlings into groups according to size since they will do 
better if planted this way. Then using your favorite planting medium, 
put them into the community pots. Even the very smallest seedlings can 
be salvaged if they are tossed evenly upon the surface of a five or six inch 
bulb pan, using the same potting material that you use in the community 
pots. Leave a half inch space at the top of the pot so that a piece of glass 
can be placed over the top of the seedlings to maintain the highest possible 
humidity. Then place the pot in a saucer of water so that the seedlings will 
be kept very moist. Check them in about a week and you will find that many 
of them have grown roots and can be planted into their community pot. 
Replace your glass and leave them for another week and continue in the 
same way until all of the small seedlings have been planted. By this pro- 
cedure you will reduce your losses to a minimum; it is an unnecessary loss 
to throw away the small seedlings as many people do. There will usually 
be some small seedlings in every tube since some seeds are so much slower 
to germinate then others. 
CUSTOMERS WHO WISH TO GROW THEIR SEEDLINGS ON FOR 
AWHILE IN THE TUBES SHOULD PLAN TO PICK THEM UP HERE 
AT THE GREENHOUSE. 
