The Orchid Garden

pollen storage

Question:

I have a Paph delenatii that just dropped it’s flower. Is the pollen still viable? Is it possible to store it for a short period? I have some nice Paphs I want to cross it with, but I am taking them in to be shown Thursday. Thanks for your thoughts, Scott

Hi Scott, Take a look at the pollinia, if it hasn’t changed color (darkened) or dessicated, or grown mold, it is probably okay to remove and store in the refrigerator. Parvi pollinia tend to be more "granular" in nature and hold up better than some other Paphs. If folded up fairly tightly in wax paper and refrigerated, it can be stored at least three years with a reasonable expectation of decent results. Bob

Response:

Scott, Go to: http://www.gate.net/~fourmick/flasks/orchid.html Then click Question & Answers #18 Mick HBI

|I have a Paph delenatii that just dropped it’s flower. Is the pollen still |viable? Is it possible to store it for a short period? I have some nice |Paphs I want to cross it with, but I am taking them in to be shown Thursday. | |Scott

Response:

I have a Paph delenatii that just dropped it’s flower. Is the pollen still viable? Is it possible to store it for a short period? I have some nice Paphs I want to cross it with, but I am taking them in to be shown Thursday. Thanks for your thoughts, Scott

Response:

I have a Paph delenatii that just dropped it’s flower. Is the pollen still viable? Is it possible to store it for a short period? I have some nice Paphs I want to cross it with, but I am taking them in to be shown Thursday. Thanks for your thoughts, Scott

Hi Scott, The pollen will be viable for a very short time only. The flower is deteriorating quickly. Refrigerating the pollen will definitely help. Waxed paper works well, just fold yourself a little envelope with the pollen stuck to the inside. I admit I’ve never used pollen from a dropped flower, I’m not sure how it’s going to work out. You should know that you could have removed the pollen weeks ago and more than likely the flower would NOT have reacted to it at all. Paphs are not like Catts, Oncids, atc, that drop their blooms once the pollen has been removed or the flower pollinated. We often enjoy blooms for many weeks after doing crosses. TTYL! -Rod- Venger’s Orchids Website http://www.vengers.com/ Basic Culture CD-ROM: http://vengers.com/demo/cd.htm

Response:

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