|
Post by Brian Barnes on Apr 17, 2008 17:08:08 GMT
BUT make sure you don't mistakenly point at the plant and laugh while doing so....They don't like it! ;D Brian. Save the finger pointing and laughing for a friend who is caught in a mire of Smilax testiculosus. Too bad you all couldnt post a video on youtube of that. ;D Very true, Michael...That particular species has a habit of promoting extreme octave variation of it's victims' voice as well! Hmmm...i see the prospect of a new opera maybe? Magna Opus Testiculosus? Happy Growing, Brian.
|
|
|
Post by BarryRice on Apr 17, 2008 17:31:04 GMT
I wander around doing my bumblebee act with a pocket full of fine paintbrushes. Loaded with pollen from the inner surface of the umbrella pistil, one brush will pollinate many plants. Brushes are washed at the end of each pollination session. Hey Aidan, So, let me be Old Scratch's advocate.... How do you know that you're getting all the pollen out of the brushes? Surely when you clean dust-like pollen from brushes, you're really only removing a percentage of the pollen that is not quite 100%. Or does the soap/surfactant/alcohol you use (if any) kill the pollen? Or have you just learned from experience that this method of brush cleaning doesn't result in a significant number of hybrids? B
|
|
|
Post by sunbelle on Apr 17, 2008 18:23:10 GMT
We would do exactly the same as Aidan. Hot soapy water does the job. Also, when the brushes are damp after cleaning, a close visual inspection will reveal any clinging pollen grains.
|
|
|
Post by mred23 on Apr 18, 2008 11:39:33 GMT
Suck all the pollen off the brush ... bee pollen is good for yah and mixed with a bit of fresh nectar .... Mmmmm fresh nectar!
|
|
|
Post by Aidan on Apr 18, 2008 16:34:24 GMT
Barry - It seems doubtful pollen would remain viable after rinsing and a good baking in the sun, but all I can say is that it works for me! ;D
I'm about to order a hundred cheap brushes for use this year and so I won't have to re-use them that often.
|
|
|
Post by RL7836 on Apr 18, 2008 20:35:33 GMT
I've been using my finger for years to pollinate my Sarrs. Ditto. Every few years, I'd try a brush and hate it (& then wonder why everyone else in the world does it that way). The only real issue I have is with the Sarrs w/ the small umbrellas (rubra, minor, etc). Even though my little finger is skinny, I often split the umbrella trying to get in there and get some pollen.... I probably need to use a toothpick for them...
|
|
|
Post by rco911 on Apr 20, 2008 0:08:54 GMT
Same as Aidan and N.A.N. A friend of mine says that it helps if you actually "BUZZZZZZZZ" while pollinating, LOL... :-)
|
|
|
Post by wmgorum on May 1, 2008 21:14:52 GMT
Interesting thread... I've been using paintbrushes as well 'cause using my fingers are not an option for me 'cause my hands are so big, and like Ron said, it's especially hard on small flowered plants like minor and rubra.
I bought a variety of brushes with colored plastic handles. I use a different colored brush for each species. Red for rubra, yellow for flava, teal for alata, blue for minor, etc. I'm a visual person and this is easy for me to remember. If i'm making a cross between two particular plants, I either move the pots out of the common growing area or label them and I label the brush I use as well.
I rinse the brushes off really well in hot water.
Would microwaving the brush affect the viablity of the pollen if there was any left on the brush? That might be a secondary treatment you could use to sterilize the brush.
Will
|
|