Pollen removal on seed plant

[Uechi]

I am about to try pollinating some orchids for the first time and I have a question for the experts. On a self cross you remove the flower lip, remove the anther cap get the pollina and attach it to the stigma. What do you do on intergenetic crosses and crosses on different species? I know on the pollen parent you do all the things I stated previously. What do you do on the seed parent? Do you remove the lip and just place the pollina from the other plant or do you remove the pollina from the seed plant prior to placing the pollina from the other plant?

[dgenovese1]

Hi Uechi,
I was taught to remove the pollinia from the seed parent first. This seems to be working fine for me.
As for intergenerics, you just need to be able to identify the reproductive parts from the different flowers and go from there. This can be a tricky process, and some either won't produce seed or will only produce a few viable ones.
Let me know if you have any more questions. While I am not an expert, I have got a little successful expeience with hobby hybridizing.

[Uechi]

Thanks David, but I guess I wasn't clear on my question. Whether you remove the Pollina from the seed parent first or after the pollen parent isn't the question. The question is whether it is necessary or optional to remove the pollina from the seed parent or whether you can just place the pollen from the pollen parent on the stigma of the seed parent? I would assume that you would want to remove the pollina from the seed parent especially in self pollinating orchids, but I don't know. I would also like to know what books or resources you are using or used when you first started hand pollinating. Regards, and thanks.

[dgenovese1]

Uechi,
To answer the question, I don't know if it is necessary to remove the seed parent’s pollinia before pollinating it. All I can say is that I do.
When I first started doing my hybridizing, I looked at a book titled "Home Orchid Growing" by Rebecca Tyson Northern. The book was recommended to me by Dr. Martin Motes, who also took the time to demonstrate to me how to actually make the cross for a Vandaceous hybrid (he also removed the pollinia from the seed parent first). If you look for the book, it is only available used as it is out of print. I found my copy on Amazon.com used books.
Recently I had a friend ask me about pollinating Cattleya flowers. I told him what little I knew about crossing this genus, and suggested he search the Internet. He was able to find a great article posted on the North Jersey Orchid Society website that demonstrated this process. Here’s a link to that page: Basic Orchid Pollination.
I hope that this is useful to you.

[Uechi]

David,

Once again thanks for the reply. I have both sources you recommended and I too would remove the seed plant pollina.What I am looking for is some defintive rationale. I find it amazing in the 21st century that all or at least most of the information seems to be word of mouth, unless you want to buy what is suppose to be the Holy Grail of orchid propagation, namely " The Micropropagation of Orchids" by Joseph Arditti. At $450.00 plus I think I'll try by experiment. I am sure it is a good book, but almost 500 dollars? I guess the author isn't interested in making a lot of money?

[dgenovese1]

Originally Posted by Uechi

David,

Once again thanks for the reply. I have both sources you recommended and I too would remove the seed plant pollina.What I am looking for is some defintive rationale. I find it amazing in the 21st century that all or at least most of the information seems to be word of mouth, unless you want to buy what is suppose to be the Holy Grail of orchid propagation, namely " The Micropropagation of Orchids" by Joseph Arditti. At $450.00 plus I think I'll try by experiment. I am sure it is a good book, but almost 500 dollars? I guess the author isn't interested in making a lot of money?

I'm going to be seeing Dr. Motes later this month...in a week or two. I will ask him what the rationale is. I'm betting that he is up on it. I'll fill you in on what I discover.

[newflasker]

Originally Posted by Uechi

....I find it amazing in the 21st century that all or at least most of the information seems to be word of mouth, unless you want to buy what is suppose to be the Holy Grail of orchid propagation, namely " The Micropropagation of Orchids" by Joseph Arditti. At $450.00 plus I think I'll try by experiment. I am sure it is a good book, but almost 500 dollars? I guess the author isn't interested in making a lot of money?

The second edition of "The Micropropagation of Orchids" covers more topics and methods how to sow and work with orchid tissue culture. It has more pictures, cheaper and can buy online.

[Uechi]

newflasker you are absolutely right all you need is $450.00++ shipping. Sorry, but most people that are hobbyists, not for profit growers can't afford this.

[newflasker]

Originally Posted by Uechi

newflasker you are absolutely right all you need is $450.00++ shipping. Sorry, but most people that are hobbyists, not for profit growers can't afford this.

If hobbyists want to build their orchid business and seriously learn about orchid micropropagation (especially orchid tissue culture) then it's a must. Otherwise, they can borrow the book from their local library for FREE. Cheers,

[Uechi]

My library and most non college libraries don't carry the book. I tried interlibrary loan to no avail and colleges won't let you at the book unless you are faculty or a student. At the present I am planning on using a flasking service. Tissue culture and flasking are expensive to start if you want good results. I just want some clear definitive information on pollination and an answer to my question. Regards.