HOW OLD CAN POLLEN BE ALIVE? - Cannabis Botany and Advanced Growing Science - International Cannagraphic Magazine Forums

**Sam_Skunkman** · 05-26-2012, 12:29 PM

How long can you keep pollen alive and still get pollination?
How did you keep the pollen?

-SamS

nimbin1 · 05-26-2012, 01:02 PM

hi sam, i keep mine in ''00'' gel caps that i get from the chemist. i keep them in the fridge. the gel cap takes the moisture out of the pollen and than the fridge takes it out of the gel cap. i have had pollen that is still viable after two years. only take it out of the fridge when you need it though or else it will die.

**Sam_Skunkman** · 05-30-2012, 08:20 AM

I have some Original Haze pollen that is 17 years old, collected, cleaned, dried over night, placed in a paper bindle's, and frozen in glass jars for 17 years.
When I used it recently I got normal seed set.
I have many, many, liters of pollen frozen, the oldest around 20+ years.

-SamS

ChaosCatalunya · 05-30-2012, 09:51 AM

5 days hanging around in the Postal system in warm Spain seemed to do no harm, kept in a Rizzla paper in a fridge with Silica desiccant for months before and after.

Infinitesimal · 05-30-2012, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam_Skunkman

I have some Original Haze pollen that is 17 years old, collected, cleaned, dried over night, placed in a paper bindle's, and frozen in glass jars for 17 years.
When I used it recently I got normal seed set.
I have many, many, liters of pollen frozen, the oldest around 20+ years.

-SamS

17 years thats awesome

do you keep any kind of desiccant in the jars?

peace,
Infi

stihgnobevoli · 05-30-2012, 09:55 AM

mixed with flour in a baby food jar in a box room temp possibly warmer for 4 years now. still viable.

bonbolos · 05-30-2012, 11:25 AM

If I may say, i'm very septic about pollen being still viable after more than 3-4 years especially with the storage described by each of you. Pollen viability of the vast majority of angiospermes decrease to arround 10% a few hours after stamen opening. With adequate storage, you may be able to keep it a few years, no more.

did anybody made it germinate on water-sucrose agar and check the emergence of germtubes with microscope ? be careful because the seeds may be parthenocarpic , the developement being triggered by contact between the dead pollen and the pistil and/or aborted germination of non viable pollen.

the best way is still to keep the pollen in vacuum sealed vials at -18°C (see post i did a few month ago on mrnice forum)

https://www.mrnice.nl/forum/6-breeder...le-pollen.html

good luck

stihgnobevoli · 05-30-2012, 07:41 PM

im not a lab assistant im just telling you what i did and that it still pollinated my plant and more branches than i intended.

it made seeds. experiment done.

VerdantGreen · 05-30-2012, 07:55 PM

ive found that mine (properly dried) only lasts for a year or so in a regular 'frost free' freezer. frost free freezers partially defrost to stop the ice build up so this probably compromises the storage somewhat.

VG

05-30-2012, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam_Skunkman

I have some Original Haze pollen that is 17 years old

Was the male spicy/incense smell? Too much bland sweet haze these days it seems... Nevilles haze still got the church (chaco's 130day pheno)

Peace babeh

05-26-2012, 12:29 PM	#1
Sam_Skunkman "RESIN BREEDER" Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 4,659	HOW OLD CAN POLLEN BE ALIVE? How long can you keep pollen alive and still get pollination? How did you keep the pollen? -SamS
	Quote

05-30-2012, 08:20 AM	#3
Sam_Skunkman "RESIN BREEDER" Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 4,659	I have some Original Haze pollen that is 17 years old, collected, cleaned, dried over night, placed in a paper bindle's, and frozen in glass jars for 17 years. When I used it recently I got normal seed set. I have many, many, liters of pollen frozen, the oldest around 20+ years. -SamS
	Quote 7 members found this post helpful.

05-30-2012, 09:51 AM	#4
ChaosCatalunya 5.2 club is now 8.1 club... Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Nr Barcelona Posts: 4,039	5 days hanging around in the Postal system in warm Spain seemed to do no harm, kept in a Rizzla paper in a fridge with Silica desiccant for months before and after. __________________ .....
	Quote 2 members found this post helpful.

05-30-2012, 09:55 AM	#6
stihgnobevoli Banned Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 5,734	mixed with flour in a baby food jar in a box room temp possibly warmer for 4 years now. still viable.
	Quote 1 members found this post helpful.

05-30-2012, 11:25 AM	#7
bonbolos New Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 10	If I may say, i'm very septic about pollen being still viable after more than 3-4 years especially with the storage described by each of you. Pollen viability of the vast majority of angiospermes decrease to arround 10% a few hours after stamen opening. With adequate storage, you may be able to keep it a few years, no more. did anybody made it germinate on water-sucrose agar and check the emergence of germtubes with microscope ? be careful because the seeds may be parthenocarpic , the developement being triggered by contact between the dead pollen and the pistil and/or aborted germination of non viable pollen. the best way is still to keep the pollen in vacuum sealed vials at -18°C (see post i did a few month ago on mrnice forum) https://www.mrnice.nl/forum/6-breeder...le-pollen.html good luck
	Quote 2 members found this post helpful.

05-26-2012, 01:02 PM	#2
nimbin1 Newbie Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 35	hi sam, i keep mine in ''00'' gel caps that i get from the chemist. i keep them in the fridge. the gel cap takes the moisture out of the pollen and than the fridge takes it out of the gel cap. i have had pollen that is still viable after two years. only take it out of the fridge when you need it though or else it will die.
	Quote

05-30-2012, 07:41 PM	#8
stihgnobevoli Banned Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 5,734	im not a lab assistant im just telling you what i did and that it still pollinated my plant and more branches than i intended. it made seeds. experiment done.
	Quote 4 members found this post helpful.