RYERSON EXPANSIBLE ORCHID FOLDER Page A. 
LET'S TALK ABOUT PLANTING ORCHID SEED 
In its native habitat, Cattleya orchid seed is spread around by Mother Nature, much 
of it falling on the ground, where it won't grow at all. A small percentage falls 
in a crevice of tree bark, where it is watered by the rain and fed by a bit of leaf 
mold, so that it germinates and grows. 
Man is not satisfied with such a small percentage of successe When he has made a 
seed cross that he hopes and trusts will produce some especially fine orchid hybrids, 
he does everything in his power to insure that the medium in which he plants to seed 
is scientifically correct; and that it will grow ORCHIDS instead of molds and fungus. 
The Orchid agar must be just the right sconsisteney; the necessary nutrients must be 
added; the pH adjusted; the sum total must be cooked sufficiently to sterilize it, 
but not enough to “break down" the agar and prevent its “jelling" properly. 
Then the Orchid seed must be washed in disinfectant just long enough to kill the mold 
and fungus spores, but NOT ENOUGH TO KILL THE SEED ITSELF. And the washed seed must 
be popped into the flasks under such sterile surroundings that ne mold spores float 
in with them. 
Once the seed has been sown, and the flasks placed in a warm, light place where they 
won't be disturbed, there is not much you can do but wait and watch for results. If 
you have been sucsessful, you should be able to see some green dots appearing on the 
surface of the agar within two or three weeks, but sometimes it takes longer. If 
nothing shows within two months, I'd be discouraged. 
Any one of a number of conditions might be responsible for the failure. 
l. The seed was no goods (The inexperienced flasker usually jumps to this conclu- 
sion because it absolves him of blame.) 
2 The disinfectant was too strong, so that it killed not only molds, but seeds. 
3. The seed was left in the disinfectant too long. Usually the more complicated the 
hybrid, the easier to kill the seed's viability by too strong solution or Jeaving it 
in the solution too long. Not all orchid seed can be treated alike with equal results. 
4. Something may have been wrong with the agar formula. For the healthiest germina- 
tion, all ingredients should be added in exactly the correct proportion, and the pH 
should be corrects If the media is either too acid or too alkaline, maximum growth 
will not result. 
Obviously, preparing and processing your flasks will involve a lot more work and 
equipment than the actual seed sowing. 
That's why I offer sterile bottles of agar; hypochlorite with wetting agent; plant- 
ing dropperse..eEVERYTHING YOU'LL NEED FOR THE FLASKING OPERATION....so you can have 
the fun of flasking seed without all the fuss of advance preparation. 
INTRODUCTORY SEED AND BOTTLE OFFER 
One 2-flask packet of seed, with everything needed for sowingeerccesesecverevese$De00 
Please do not ask me to substitute two one-flask packets of different crosses. The 
smallest portion available is the 2-flask packet. 
