I just spent 2 glorious weeks in the Bay Area and came home with lots of pollen from my mother's yellow Brug — no name, but it looks like Dr. Seuss. How do I store the pollen over winter for use next spring? Right now the stamen are still in the pill bottle with the pollen. Do I remove the stamen?
There is still some pollen attached to the stamen. Does that imply that the attached pollen is not mature?
WOW my part of the world, Veronica!! It may be Charles Grimaldi! This is Grimaldi country, as CG was hybridized here and named after a San Francisco landscaper, Charles Grimaldi! It looks like some of the leaves are smooth, CG usually has both!
I always cut the anthers off and put them in a glassine bag and then double bag them in freezer bags and freeze. The pollen usually is powdery when ready. When it is not, the anther is white and plump but there is no pollen. And when it is old, the anther is brownish and the pollen gets old looking. Not white and nice.
It will be interesting to see how everyone does this!
When I first came to the brug forum, I believe it was Jeanne who made this great picture. I copied it and referred to it often. I was thinking some others here may enjoy it also.
Kell, I collected mine on sheets of aluminum foil and then wrapped them into little packets and then placed them inside ziplocks in the freezer. Do you think that is O.K.
Sure Patricia. I can't think why not. I bought a bunch of these glassine envelopes after Donna sent me pollen in one. They are cheap so easy to use. You just take them outside with you and slip the pollen in and it won't spill!
They are about 3 inchs long and 2 inches across. I then bring them out when I am pollinating and just stick my brush in.
Next time I see you remind me to bring some and you can try them.
I used to make my own with wax paper but I got lazy!!
Hmmmmm I wonder where you can find those around here. I will have to check at Box world in Dublin. That is where I get my little ziplocks for my seeds.
I would say if you find them around here, let me know but I bought 1000. I have a feeling I will long done with brugs before I use them all up. LOL
I got them here
http://papermart.com/templates/11-0-45.htm
They have every kind of bag you would ever want. And a lot you never would want. LOL
oh, my, kell. papermart. i got my cake/pie bottoms and boxes there last holiday season. i still have prenty more. lol.
Would separating the pollen into packets before freezing be better than keeping the pollen all in one container. I found some 2" X 3" zip baggies at Walmart. How long will the pollen stay fresh?
Kell, most of the blooming Brugs I saw were golden yellow and the most common Brug sold at the nurseries I visited were CG.
One of the Brugs I found was Miner's Claim, I had to cut the top and wash most of the soil off to ship it home. It was in a 5-gallon pot so the root system was large. It should arrive tomorrow. After I repot it, it's going into a greenhouse whose minimum temperature is 40ºF. Will that be OK? Or should it be kept warmer until it gets over the transplant shock?
