Pollen collection question. Pic!

wdcf

Active member

• Apr 28, 2017

• #1

Right now this bad boy is surrounded by females. But I want to cut off his head and place him in a cup of water on my windowsill when the time is right. I rarely mess with males. So tell me someone with experience collecting pollen in this manner, is he ready? Thanks!

 

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troutman

Seed Whore

• Apr 28, 2017

• #2

I would wait until at least one pollen sac is opens.
Cutting him down too early may hurt your pollen yield.
It would be best if you could isolate him somewhere else.
Males don't need as much light as females to mature.

 

wdcf

Active member

• Apr 28, 2017

• #3

troutman said:

I would wait until at least one pollen sac is opens.
Cutting him down too early may hurt your pollen yield.
It would be best if you could isolate him somewhere else.
Males don't need as much light as females to mature.

Click to expand...

Maybe this is wishful thinking... but I'm hoping the first pollen say, won't have much pollen

 

troutman

Seed Whore

• Apr 28, 2017

• #4

I just collected some now. Some Malawi Gold (African Seeds) pollen.

I place cuttings in empty beer bottle filled with water leaning at a 45 degree angle
with the pollen sacs hanging over a clean piece of aluminum foil. A day or two later
I collect the pollen by folding the piece of foil and making the pollen flow off of it
onto a tiny piece of foil 3" X 3" and make a tiny mound of pollen.

Then I bend this little piece of foil in half and do the same while now make the pollen
flow into a small tube and seal it after placing a few silica dessicant gel beads in it.
Then in my refrigerator is goes after being labelled. Each time I collect pollen I place a
new piece of foil to collect more. I'll keep doing this until no more pollen sacs open.

 

troutman

Seed Whore

• Apr 28, 2017

• #5

Looks like this.

Pollen collection:

Pollen Mound Collected onto the small piece of foil.

Pollen Tubes

 

wdcf

Active member

• Apr 28, 2017

• #6

I'm certainly going to try that method.
However how much longer do you think I should wait before cutting my male from its roots?

Also just placing it on my windowsill will be sufficient lighting correct?

 

troutman

Seed Whore

• Apr 28, 2017

• #7

I normally wait until a few pollen sacs open before making cuttings.
An empty room with just a regular light bulb will work.
Once pollen sacs are forming. Males don't need much light.

 

wdcf

Active member

• Apr 29, 2017

• #8

troutman said:

I normally wait until a few pollen sacs open before making cuttings.
An empty room with just a regular light bulb will work.
Once pollen sacs are forming. Males don't need much light.

Click to expand...

Does the light need to be on 12/12? Also would you suggest a normal light opposed to a windowsill lighting?

 

troutman

Seed Whore

• Apr 29, 2017

• #9

The lighting period should be the same as when flowering.

 

wdcf

Active member

• Apr 29, 2017

• #10

troutman said:

The lighting period should be the same as when flowering.

Click to expand...

Are you sure? I have read others state that once a male plant is cut from its roots, the lighting cycle is insignifgicant. And it will continue to flower if placed in a cup of water.

 

troutman

Seed Whore

• Apr 29, 2017

• #11

I think it's still best to stay on the flowering regime if you want pollen.

 

wdcf

Active member

• Apr 29, 2017

• #12

troutman said:

I think it's still best to stay on the flowering regime if you want pollen.

Click to expand...

I concur. But that's not an option. I only have the windowsill available. So I'm praying they will continue to bloom.