Dollie, have you tried pollinating at night? I have good results doing it at night or very early in the morning. That is when thier natural pollinators like moths etc are at work and that is when the brugs release thier fragrance to attract pollinators so it makes sense to pollinate then if you can.
Also I got good pollination results in LA and other hot climates in the fall and even the winter ( in AZ) when temps start dropping at night. I try to raise the humidity around the plant a little after depositing the pollen. I have better luck with fresh pollen vs frozen.
This sounds kinda funny but think of how bugs pollinate...they don't just go in there smack a dab of pollen on there and leave (wham bam thank you mam LMAO) but the point is they sort of go in there and linger.. I have found brushing the stigma softly on all sides etc. with the brush does seem to work better for me-maybe it is foreplay LOL.
I have 10 pods starting so far this season and I just started pollinating a few weeks ago. I know you can do it!
If all that don't work try a little candlelight and music -just kidding ! rotflmao
~Lenette
This message was edited Oct 13, 2008 5:24 PM
Cinderella Import
what a great thread to read and such lovely photos, perhaps a bee brought in to pollenate might help or even a moth?
LOL Lenette, thanks for the tip. I've never tried night pollinating, (I've tried late in the evening almost night-fall without luck),but will give it a try this weekend....and I'll even add the candlelight & music :).....and even a glass of wine for me.
Joeswife, I have bees, moths, hummers, butterflies, & even drangonflies in my garden......Hope I can find out the cause soon of no seed pods on any of my brugs. I'm starting to get blooms on most all my imports now and want some crosses! I think I'll try Lenette's method of night pollinating. Thanks for your comment about this thread. I'll post more import brug pictures as they bloom out.
Quote: "Humidity or the absence of moisture in the air is also detrimental to seed pod formation."
No wonder I couldn't get anything to take! We are dry, dry, dry here! San Diego is really reclaimed desert. In the Summer of 2007 I tried using a misting fan, but got some kind of fungus growing on some plants so I ditched the idea and the plants. Decided to leave the breeding to the experts and just have some Brugs for pleasure only. My patio smells divine right now because Creamsickle is flushing in the garden next to the patio. Absolutely wonderful scent!
Dollie, on the advice of Brenda (theraglady), I finally got myself a headlamp and am ready to pollinate at night. Apparently, the pollen will "take" only when the brug is fragrant - and usually that's in the evening - actually right about now. AND it's dark out there right now!
I believe that I wasted many pollen attempts last summer, as I didn't wait until the fragrance was released.
(Thanks, Brenda) ♥
Mary, It's been my goal since I started getting imports from Germany to get some beautiful crosses using these imports. I want to cross my imports with each other, and cross with some of our beautiful American brugs... Spent the weekend working on getting a few pollinated. Keep your fingers crossed for me!
My climate is the direct opposite of yours.....we have a very humid climate in Louisiana. I spent a couple of months in Phoenix last year with my daughter. I love your beautiful desert climate, and agree very dry.
Creamcickle hasn't bloomed for me yet this year.....but yes, what a wonderful fragrance! I'd love to visit that patio of yours right now. Can't wait until mine blooms.
Teresa, I started night pollinating this weekend.....maybe that was my problem not getting seeds to set. You know I had forgot, but Brenda did mention that in Fl. this past spring about using the headlight to pollinate. Thanks for reminding me......And thank you also Brenda for the tip.
I don't think that the pollen will take only when it is fragrant because many times I pollinate before the bloom is actually open and it isn't fragrant then. I just meant that night time is when a brug is normally receptive to pollination etc. so that is a good time to try. I usually pollinate before the bloom is open all the way because then the bugs haven't gotten to it yet. Then I tie it shut afterwards. You can take the anthers out at that time as well with some long tweezers or forcepts.
Pollinate when the flower is all the way out of the calyx but not actually open. Sometimes the corolla will be puffed up too. It is usually about the day before the flower actually opens.
I think humidity does help, I remember having problems in AZ (very dry there) getting some to take last year. We ran the misters for 15 min. after pollinating and had much better results.
I need a headlight too lol.. right now I have a penlight and hold it in my mouth. What a freak I must look like out there looking up brug skirts with a pen light LOL! Sometimes I do wish I had a speculum though, specially with the doubles. LMAO!
Thanks everyone for all the helpful information. I've tried just about all suggestions.....Maybe the results will be good.
Lol Angel, a speculum might just be the perfect tool.