Preserving Orchid pollen

[Psyched]

How is the best way to preserve orchid pollen for longer time? Wash it in alcohol and store it in refrigerator? How long I can store it before it goes bad?

Any input is appreciated.

[ronaldhanko]

When I want to keep it, I put it in small glassine envelopes (used by stamp collectors) and refrigerate it. It seems to keep nearly indefinitely that way. I don't know what the purpose of washing it in alcohol would be, but I would be afraid that would damage the pollen.

[ronaldhanko]

I also label it.

[Psyched]

Thanks ronald.

I thought alcohol or disinfectant could kill any mold or fungus spore that accidentally come with the pollen.

[luckygrower]

Thank you Ron,
I also was wondering the same thing as not all my plants are in bloom at the same time.
Thanks again, Mike

[Psyched]

I read in a book that crossing different species which bloom at different season can give birth to free flowering hybrid. This is why I want to test it out although it will take time to prove it.

[ronaldhanko]

Originally Posted by Psyched

I read in a book that crossing different species which bloom at different season can give birth to free flowering hybrid. This is why I want to test it out although it will take time to prove it.

There's no question that this is the case. Sophronitis coccinea hybrids often bloom two or three times a year unlike their parent. Finding our for yourself, though, is going to be a lengthy process. You'll not only need to do the cross-pollinating, but then you need to get information on the length of time to let the seed pods develop (times are very different for different hybrids. You'll need to decide whether to harvest them green or lethem develop to the point where they start to split (you have to be very careful not to lose the seed in that case). They then (if there is viable seed) have to be sown in sterile flasks and raised until they are ready to be potted out and grown to flowering size - a process that takes several years. I would suggest that you do a search on this site for information related to hybridizing, flasking, seed pod times, etc.

[Royal]

Don't use alcohol. Just stick it in the fridge as Ron suggests. You should be harvesting pollen from relatively new flowers on healthy plants. If this is the case, you need not worry about mold or fungus. If you are concerned about it, leave the harvested pollen to dry for a few days before storing in the fridge.