Plug & Liner FAQ
What are plugs?
Plugs are young plants, usually grown from seed.
What are liners?
Liners are young plants, usually grown from cuttings or tissue culture.
How are plugs & liners used?
Plugs & liners are usually transplanted into packs, pots, or mixed containers for further growing on in a greenhouse. Larger plugs & liners may be transplanted
directly into the field for cut flower, vegetable, container, and landscape applications.
What is a standard Tray?
Standard trays measure 11 x 22”, but the cell size and number of cells per tray varies. The more cells in a tray, the smaller the plants.
What is a “Strip” Tray?
These narrow strip trays range from 1⁄3 to 1⁄2 of a standard tray. Smaller trays sizes allow you to grow a larger selection of product in the quantities you need.
What is a Supernova® Tray?
These bud-initiated liners are grown to flower faster, develop better branching, and flower consistently, providing a blooming salable plant in a 4-6" container in four to six weeks. No pinching is needed, and they require less growth regulators. Supernovas are only available from Four Star.
What does Harris Seeds do as a plug & liner broker?
We act as the liaison between you and our 5 plug & liner grower specialists. We provide you with customer service from ordering to delivery, assisting you directly with issues and claims. Additionally, we exclusively offer 90 day pre-approved payment terms for plug and liner orders!
What do the plug & liner grower specialists do?
Upon receiving your order, our partnered grower specialists produce the product to your specifications and once ready, ship directly to you.
How can orders be placed?
Download/print or use mailed copies of pricelist(s) and fill out the included order form. Orders can be submitted via e-mail (plugdept@harrisseeds.com), fax (877-892-9197), or mail. Orders can also be submitted via phone by calling customer care (800-544-7938). For additional details, please see the How to Order Plugs & Liners document.
What is an early order discount (EOD)?
An EOD is available when an order is placed before each specific vendors’ deadlines. Harris always suggests placing orders as early as possible. Harris adds an additional 1% discount on top of the EOD available from each vendor! Not every vendor offers and EOD, but ordering early is advantageous either way. EOD dates for this season can be found on the grower calendar, vendor price lists, and the How to Order Plugs & Liners document.
What is a volume discount (VD)?
A VD is offered by a vendor based on the number of trays purchased in the previous season. Currently, Raker-Roberta’s is the only vendor offering a VD with Harris customers.
What is a ship week?
Ship weeks are used instead of specific delivery/shipping dates because vendors ship multiple days during the requested week. The week is designated by the Monday of the numbered week of the year. The grower calendar, in the Harris Seeds Ornamental Catalog, includes the numbered weeks and dates for your reference.
What should be considered when selecting a vendor?
Available products (including product lines like Proven Winners)
Distance (shipping cost)
Size of order (boxing, discounts)
Included items (pots and tags, where applicable)
What should be considered when selecting a ship week?
Lead time (time for vendor to grow product)
Finish time (time for product to grow to salable size)
Weather (extreme temperatures can cause shipping delays and/or damage)
Holidays (can cause shipping delays, can influence customer demand)
When should orders be placed?
Harris encourages orders to be placed as early as possible. Please take into consideration how much lead/grow time is needed (minimum 10 weeks) by the vendor, as well as the amount of finish/growing on time required for the items being ordered. Please also be sure to consider the time of year for shipping because weather and holiday closures can cause delays.
How many trays can be ordered?
You can order as many or as few trays as needed. Be aware that any orders with fewer than 4 trays will be subject to a $30 under/below minimum fee.
What is full boxing?
All vendors, except Raker-Roberta’s, have specific box sizes that fit a specific number of each tray size. It is recommended by the vendors to fill boxes, in order to maximize cost effectiveness and minimize the possibility of damage. Please refer to the first page of each vendors’ price list for more detailed information.
Does the boxing need to be ‘full’?
While it is not required for boxes to be filled for shipping, Harris and the vendors always recommend full boxing when possible. Minimizing the empty space in the box can lessen the possibility of damage during shipping. Additionally, if shipping is charged by the box, it is more cost effective to have a full box, instead of paying for empty space. Raker-Roberta’s charges shipping by the tray and does not have specific box sizes to fill. Please refer to the first page of each vendors’ price list for more detailed information.
How many ship weeks and vendors can be included on an order?
Each order can only include one vendor and one ship week.
When is payment due?
Payment is due at the time the order is placed. This means orders cannot be submitted to vendors without confirmed payment.
Terms payment:
• Credit Terms – ideal/best option, most accommodating for grower changes, allows invoice(s) to be paid within 30 or 90 days of receiving plugs.
To apply for terms, please submit a completed application. Return form to credit@harrisseeds.com.
‘Cash’ payments:
• Credit card booking – second best option, reserves funds, card will not be charged until order ships.
• Credit or debit card can be charged – charged at the time order is placed. Must be refunded and charged again if there are any grower changes.
• Debit cards must be charged – charged at the time order is placed. Must be refunded and charged again if there are any grower changes.
• Check – cannot be used for Availability orders. The order will be submitted to the vendor once the check is received.
Why choose credit terms?
• Access to online ordering for most vendors
• Access to availability ordering for all vendors
• No delays for order processing
• No refunding and recharging for vendor changes and substitutions.
• Additional 1% discount for new Terms Customers for 21-22 Season
View more details on credit terms and discounts.
To apply for terms, please submit a completed application. Return form to credit@harrisseeds.com.
Why is sales tax charged?
Sales tax is charged by state based on current Nexus guidelines. Please refer to the tax-exempt information for more details.
What if another item needs to be added to an order?
Once an order has been processed and submitted to the vendor, no changes can be made. If additional trays are needed, we would be happy to place a new order for these items. Please take the 4 tray order minimum into account when placing all orders. If the change is being requested while the order is still being processed, a request can be sent to the vendor. Please be aware that this does not guarantee that the change will be made. We suggest taking the time to consider all options and needs before placing orders, to avoid the possibility of items being missed or forgotten. Under extreme circumstances/emergencies, Harris is always willing to assist as best we can. We can request changes be made, but the final decision always resides with the vendor. For additional details, please see the How to Order Plugs & Liners document.
What if a ship week needs to be changed?
Once an order has been processed and submitted to the vendor, usually no changes can be made. Some ship week changes can be requested if the change is being requested while the order is still being processed, and the new request ship week is 1 week before or after the current request ship week. For this reason, we suggest taking the time to consider all options and needs before placing orders. Under extreme circumstances/emergencies, Harris is always willing to assist as best we can. We can request changes be made, but the final decision always resides with the vendor. For additional details, please see the How to Order Plugs & Liners document.
What if an item needs to be removed from an order?
Once an order has been processed and submitted to the vendor, no changes can be made. Under extreme circumstances/emergencies, Harris is always willing to assist as best we can. We can request changes be made, but the final decision always resides with the vendor. For additional details, please see the How to Order Plugs & Liners document.
Why might freight be adjusted after the initial estimate?
Freight (shipping cost) is estimated at the time the order is placed. This estimate is calculated based on the cost estimate information provided by the vendors at the beginning of the season. Shipping and handling costs fluctuate throughout the season, which can result in adjustments.
Why do cancellations and backorders occur?
Trays may be cancelled or backordered by the vendor for multiple reasons. As plugs and liners are live plant material, it is possible for crop failures, cutting/seed delivery delays, or stunted growth to occur. For additional details, please see the How to Order Plugs & Liners document.
How much finish time is needed after plants are delivered?
Finish time for those newly delivered little plants depends on:
Type/variety of plant
Size of plug/liner
Size of pot to be filled
View the Bedding Plant Cultural Guide.
How many plugs should be planted in a pot?
3 to 4 plugs in 8 to 10 inch pots
4 to 6 plugs in 12 to 14 inch pots
6 to 8 plugs in 16 to 20 inch pots
Etc.
Are additional resources available about growing and culture?
All of our vendors have additional cultural information in their catalogs and on their websites. These details can be helpful when choosing and caring for products. The Harris website also has a sizable collection of helpful guides.
When are tags sent?
For the products that tags are included with, the tags are either sent before the plant shipment, with the plant shipment, or even after the plant shipment. Always be sure to check the entire box at delivery, as the tags may have shifted in transit. If a few days have passed since order delivery and the designated included tags have not arrived, please contact Harris right away. Information on which vendors and plants include tags is listed on the price lists and in vendor catalogs.