Pollination.....

[dahlia_guy]

I have recently made my first attempts at pollinating. As expected the flowers shrivled and died within a few days but I am still yet to see anything resembling a seed pod forming. It has been 2 weeks. How long before I should see something happening?
Also, is there any sort of guidelines as far as which Genus' or species do not take well to being "selfed"?
Also, where can I find the most complete list of seed pod harvesting times?

Thanks

[MikeWA]

Holy cow it's Travis! You gonna come up sometime soon Bro?

There is a site with 'in general' times for many species but that is not needed anymore. Most flaskers used to require green pods but timing was super critical as pulling the pod too soon would result in infertile seed. So, what I do is watch the pod and wait till it starts to turn yellow then I got these cool lil baggies that tie around the pod that catch seed. When the pod starts to split then I pull it.

You should start to see some swelling in the...stem (not the correct word) behind the flower in about a week or two. This area will stay green throughout the entire process.

What was the genus you crossed? Some pods form faster than others.

[dahlia_guy]

Yeah, I'd love to come up. Let me know when you have a free Saturday or Sunday. I still have a couple of 15 gallon containers full of pumice for you too.

Anyway, I pollinated a Maxillaria grandiflora, Max variabilis, and a Pleuro schnedii. I could hardly see what I was doing to the pleuro so I wouldn't be surprised if it didn't take.

Travis

[MikeWA]

I have tried to pollinate a few Max and have not been successful. I don't know if that's because of my bad technique or that the plant needs to be pollinated in a certain time frame or what. Sorry I can't help you more.

I have a friend who has crossed several Leptotes and Dracula. He has a very powerful magnifying glass for that.

[LJA]

If a pollination won't "take," a lot of times it helps to mash up the pollinia with a toothpick into a paste, and smear that on, instead of trying to press the entire pollen mass in whole.

(Stem part just behind the flower is called the Ovary.)

[MikeWA]

Tee hee! Louis said "Ovary"!