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Date Posted

Upstate S.C.

Ok, here is my second question. I have began to hand pollinate my second plant. I have read so much about this that I'm pretty sure I have it down pat. The problem is everytime I pull the flowers off the male there isnt any pollen dust. Isnt the pollen suppose to come out on your finger. At least a little is.

7/6/2008 10:19:44 PM

Danville, CA (petman2@yahoo.com)

You need to pick them the night before before they are open. Look for the same coloring as a female just before she opens (oranging up) and put them in water. No need to refrigerate, just treat them like the flowers you buy your special someone. Then in the morning they will either be open, or you can peal back the petals, or I like to cut around the bottom and pull the entire top off just leaving the "paint brush" to pollinate with. Try it with a few before you really need them to perfect the method. Good luck!

7/6/2008 10:30:32 PM

Rhode Island

the flower will open when its ready. usually the morning after you see early evening orange /yellow as the tip of the flower tells you it getting ready to open ( same look for a female flower by the way )
no need to cut and put male flowers inside but you can if you want the extra work
we just cover the male and females the night before and unbag in the am around 8 -9 oclock

7/7/2008 5:44:07 AM

Upstate S.C.

OK OK, Thanks for the replys but, I may have confused some folks. Ok, the flower is open, MALE AND FEMALE. The problem is when I cut the MALE I dont see any pollen powder on the stem. There is nothing. I rub my fingers ALL up and down and NOTHING. NO POLLEN POWDER

7/7/2008 1:21:18 PM

Rhode Island

i have never experienced this situation of no pollon inside the male freshly opened flower.
are you sure they are fresh openings that morning?
flowers will stay open sometimes a second day but the pollon is gone at that point
other than that id have to guess something is wrong in the plant but dont have a clue

7/7/2008 7:49:51 PM

Westford, MA

Why would there be pollen on the flowers STEM???
I would think the pollen is on the Stamen, INSIDE of the flower petals???

7/8/2008 2:16:47 PM

Utah

what time of the day are you cutting the males?
if you cut them very early in the morning sometimes the little tubes the hold the pollen haven't opened yet.
if they haven't opened yet then heating them up a little will do the trick. ie... bring them inside - or put them oven with just the light on.

if you cut them later in the day ... like in the afternoon ... all the pollen may be gone because the bee's got to them first.

like petman said .. cutting the males the night before usually works well.

7/8/2008 7:58:24 PM

Upstate S.C.

Thanks, Guys for so much of your help. For the past 6 months I have started this new hobby and also this web site. Everyone is so friendly and willing to help. Why cant the people that I give tickets to be as nice as everyone here is. Thanks Christopher

7/9/2008 9:27:41 PM