1736 Eagle Drive
Hixson, TN 37343
Phone: 423.842.4630
Email: lpickles4@comcast.net
Hixson, TN 37343
Phone: 423.842.4630
Email: lpickles4@comcast.net
| Freezing Pollen . . . |
There are probably as many ways to freeze pollen as there
are hybridizers using frozen pollen. Some use the Q-tip
method where they scrape the pollen from the anther onto a
Q-tip and then put it in a film cannister to freeze. Another
method is to use small vials, scrape the pollen from the
anther into the vial, then freeze it. Others use the same vial
but put the whole anther in. My method works fine for me and
it is the "KISS" method . . . "keep it simple, stupid"!
I collect stamens from the flower, sometimes even before the
anther is open. I break the stamen off and slide it through my
thumb and forefinger until the anther pops off.
are hybridizers using frozen pollen. Some use the Q-tip
method where they scrape the pollen from the anther onto a
Q-tip and then put it in a film cannister to freeze. Another
method is to use small vials, scrape the pollen from the
anther into the vial, then freeze it. Others use the same vial
but put the whole anther in. My method works fine for me and
it is the "KISS" method . . . "keep it simple, stupid"!
I collect stamens from the flower, sometimes even before the
anther is open. I break the stamen off and slide it through my
thumb and forefinger until the anther pops off.
| The anthers are collected in an egg carton, one compartment for each cultivar. The egg carton is then taken into the house and placed under a ceiling fan for 2-3 hours to dry. |
When dry, the pollen is transferred to my
bulk storage. For this I use a 28
compartment pill box. The pill box is then
put in a zip lock bag and placed in the
freezer. I can keep adding more anthers to
their individual compartments. I have used
pollen successfully after storing for 5 years
using this method.
bulk storage. For this I use a 28
compartment pill box. The pill box is then
put in a zip lock bag and placed in the
freezer. I can keep adding more anthers to
their individual compartments. I have used
pollen successfully after storing for 5 years
using this method.
| When I want to use a cultivar for hybridizing, I transfer a few anthers to a smaller pill box. When through hybridizing, the pill box goes into a zip lock bag and is placed in the freezer. When removing from the freezer to use, allow the bag to warm about 15 to 20 minutes before opening. This also dries any moisture that has collected on the plastic |
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The pollen on the anther should be
yellow and fluffy. If it is hard, or is
almost white, it probably is not good.
yellow and fluffy. If it is hard, or is
almost white, it probably is not good.
| The winter of 2009, I had 15 pots of Bob Carr's H. 'Wonder Of It All' in the greenhouse with 1 to 6 fans in each pot. I thought I was setting a lot of pods and decided to count. I had set 165 pods as shown above, most with frozen pollen. |