How to pollenate the flowers?? - Page 2 - Orchid Board

gixrj18 · #11 01-26-2008, 10:52 AM

When you pollinate them, the flower will lose color, and shrivel up and die (within a couple days). It recognizes that it's pollinia have been removed, and realizes it has fulfilled it's purpose in life (reproduction). If you are successful, the stem of the flower will remain the same color as the rest of the stems, and eventually start to swell with seeds....while the flower continues to die. At this point, it's a good idea to cut away the petals, to prevent moisture from being trapped in the column....sometimes this moisture will cause a fungus in the seed pod. If the pollination fails, the stem and the flower will wilt, and fall off the plant together.
Tindo, if you touch the end of the column (if the orchid was a face, this would be the nose), you will notice the anther cap will disconnect from the flower. Either inside this cap, or still stuck to the flower, you will see 2-4 yellow pollinia (male sex gland). Remove these with a pair of tweezers, and discard the anther cap that you plucked off....it is no longer needed. If you look on the bottom-side of the column, directly behind the place where you just pulled the pollinia from, you will notice a tiny, wet-looking, sticky reservoir....or stigma (this will be the female gland). If the flower was a face this would be on the bottom-side of the chin. Get the pollinia to stick to one of the arms of the tweezers, and place it inside the reservoir. Try to do this in the first week that the flower is open, and your success rate will be higher. Some times I'll try to coax the pollinia a little further down the throat of the column (to help it along), but you have to be gentle. It is a good idea to fillet a flower open, so you can see what's going on in there.

This is a Cymbidium, but it's pretty much the same with other orchids:

How to pollenate the flowers??-2007_1225xmas0011-jpg

How to pollenate the flowers??-2007_1225xmas0019-jpg

Gwenchanter · #12 01-28-2008, 10:09 PM

Ghosoff, the third picture you posted looks exactly like my phal which I just bought but the tag did'nt say it's name so it's currently unidentified!! Do you have an ID for yours?? I would love to know what it is to see if it is what I think it is!
-Thanks

ghosoff · #13 01-29-2008, 05:28 AM

I have to say thanks alot Jin, and gixrj18 who explained in hella detail with the piture but, 1 more question has this one been pollinated???
Hey and Gwenchanter check it out you might be able to find a better pictuer of that plant in my gallery but the name I can't really read it but I think it says this but I will send a picture later so ya'll can help me decipher what it says I actually have 2 of these same orchids but cant read both!!! Phalaenopsis – Phal. Amaballa

gixrj18 · #14 01-29-2008, 09:38 AM

It appears to be....as long as it keeps swelling, and doesn't shrivel and die, you got it. You may want to hang a tag on it, so you know what it was pollinated by, and the date it was pollinated. This will help you, later down the road.

Royal · #15 02-08-2008, 04:19 PM

I say go for it! We learn by doing. Most genera are similar in structure, but from genus to genus the orientation changes a bit. Get yourself a loupe for viewing slides or a magnifying glass and check them out up close. You'll see what needs to go where if you have a basic understanding of orchid anatomy. I figured out a couple just by poking around until the pollinia just popped out!

Don't be intimidated by the horror stories. Just do your research and be patient. Lots of info on the web for your next steps. Have fun and good luck!

Pippin · #16 02-08-2008, 05:06 PM

Tin. I have to warn you that playing with toothpicks, agar, banana, jars and pressure cookers is very addictive. It is as addictive as growing orchids. LOL

Royal · #17 02-08-2008, 05:11 PM

Tin, Pippin is right. Beware.

Tindomul · #18 02-08-2008, 05:14 PM

Yes, I know. I can't wait to try it again. Though its been over a year, possibly two. I was not very successful at it.

ghosoff · #19 02-09-2008, 05:48 AM

Hey check this out ya'll I was in a store and happened to be lookin at orchids with my 3 year old niece and she happend to pull off a seed pod and i was wondering what should i do with it and is it mature yet ?? And how do i store this??

Orchidaholic · #20 02-25-2008, 01:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghosoff

Hey check this out ya'll I was in a store and happened to be lookin at orchids with my 3 year old niece and she happend to pull off a seed pod and i was wondering what should i do with it and is it mature yet ?? And how do i store this??

Do you know what kind of plant it came off of? If it was a phal pod it's probably under developed, but not definite! To store it, put it in an envelope, label the envelope and put it in the fridge! Then go do some homework to learn how to sow it! It's gunna be fun!!!