Tropicals & Tender Perennials: brugmansia seedpods, 1 by theraglady

theraglady wrote:
Okay, here goes. We collect pollen and pollinate usually in the evenings after work. I use very few and no hard to find items. I usually use a hemostat, but since this place is in such a state with bringinn plants it I can't find my normal little collecting kit. Today I used a simple pair of tweezers, the longer the better, a sharpie fine line marker and I use micro centrifuge tubes which I buy on ebay, usually listed under daylily pollen tubes. When you look into the flower you can see the anthers and the stigma. There are usually 5 anthers around the outside of the stigma. Look for the anthers to be covered with fluffy pollen granuals. With your tweezers pull out the anthers and put them in the tube. If you don't have tubes you can put them on a paper plate or piece of white paper. Once you have removed all anthers label. I put the tubes open into a plastic container (Plastic food storage container). The silica graduals will hold the tubes up. I leave them there for three or four days then store in zip lock bags in fridge or freezer.

When I am ready use the pollen I can then just lift an anther, and apply it to the stigma of the plant. Many do use natural bristle paint brushes, but I am too lazy and just can't figure how you can get all pollen from the bristles to avoid mixing up the pollen. Once you have applied the pollen then you tape(masking tape works fine, I use plant labels the open end of the plant shut to keep bees and moths out.

If you are using paper plates or sheets of paper you can put them in a place to dry and store in little baggies, which will need to go into freezer. Make sure you label with name of plant and date. Little coin envelopes work well and are prefered by many people. This is just what works for me.