GENERAL INFORMATION 
and SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS 
SEEDLINGS IN TUBES 
The 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 prepared 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 ARRIVAL. 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. 
