Hand pollinate Phalaenopsis

[jtsang]

Hi,

I tried to hand pollinate, not sure if I do it right or not? See the pics (see the tiny yellow thing that I placed it inside the column). If it is success, what is the obvious change on the flower? How to collect the seeds?

The Phalaenopsis is potted with the bark-mixed chips.

Thanks!

[mayres]

There are a number of these exercises shown on Youtube - here is one for example that shows it pretty good.....

YouTube - Orchid Hand Pollination 2

Flower should wilt shortly and then thickening of the "stem" behind flower.
I believe some phal seeds are utilized when "green" (?). Hopefully someone with a lot more knowledge than I will be along shortly?!

[hera]

You know you're not going to get a blue phal right?

[jtsang]

Yes, I know Just want to get some experience.

[Ron]

Hi within 3 or 4 days the flower pollinated will wilt.
I would cut off the rest of the flowers no being used for pollinating, keep all the strength for the pollinated flower
Below is 2 of my pages showing development of seed pods and ready for harvest.
It took about 7 months of waiting, waiting and lots of worry as my first attempt aborted after 3 months.
This lot are now in the lab germinating.
Best of luck with them

Phallie Seed pods, Ready?

Phallie Seed pods, Ripe with seeds

[Biophiliac]

I am SUPER new to this... so don't laugh!
What is the point of pollinating? I see the pod-- but what's the pod for?

[steam fire and ice]

The pod, is a seed pod, and if it is viable, will contain hundreds to thousands of seeds for producing more orchids. Pollination is a way of preserving a species, creating a new hybrid, or a way of producing more of a plant.

[Ron]

I am SUPER new to this... so don't laugh!
What is the point of pollinating? I see the pod-- but what's the pod for?

The pod, is a seed pod, and if it is viable, will contain hundreds to thousands of seeds for producing more orchids. Pollination is a way of preserving a species, creating a new hybrid, or a way of producing more of a plant

As often garden plants produce many seeds in individual seed pods.
Orchid seed are enclosed in a capsule we often refer to as seed pods, they usually contain many thousand of very tiny seed.
In the wild the seed pods would ripen and burst open, usually on a hot windy day, ensuring the seeds would be spread over a large area, hopefully some seed would germinate and grow onto new plants, thus ensuring the survival of the species in the wild.
But us humans manipulable the process to produce new Hybrids or species in numbers to suit our needs
Flasking and sowing the seeds is another story

[jtsang]

Thanks for your info I am sure I will have more questions later on...

I saw a sign on the flowers, two of the petals started curling up. I will post the pics later tonight!

Originally Posted by Ron

Hi within 3 or 4 days the flower pollinated will wilt.
I would cut off the rest of the flowers no being used for pollinating, keep all the strength for the pollinated flower
Below is 2 of my pages showing development of seed pods and ready for harvest.
It took about 7 months of waiting, waiting and lots of worry as my first attempt aborted after 3 months.
This lot are now in the lab germinating.
Best of luck with them

Phallie Seed pods, Ready?

Phallie Seed pods, Ripe with seeds

[jtsang]

The flower is wilted now. See attached pics. So, should I just cut off the wilted flower, and just leave it alone? Or the wilted flower will fall off eventually?? As you mention, the seed pod will be mature in 7 months? Thanks!

Originally Posted by Ron

Hi within 3 or 4 days the flower pollinated will wilt.
I would cut off the rest of the flowers no being used for pollinating, keep all the strength for the pollinated flower
Below is 2 of my pages showing development of seed pods and ready for harvest.
It took about 7 months of waiting, waiting and lots of worry as my first attempt aborted after 3 months.
This lot are now in the lab germinating.
Best of luck with them

Phallie Seed pods, Ready?

Phallie Seed pods, Ripe with seeds

[Ladyofthelakes]

I admire those of you who try to pollinate for new plants. It sounds like it takes years from seed pod to a bloom. 10 years, yikes I can't conceive of having that many patience.

Hardy Souls you are!

[Ron]

The flower is wilted now. See attached pics. So, should I just cut off the wilted flower, and just leave it alone? Or the wilted flower will fall off eventually?? As you mention, the seed pod will be mature in 7 months? Thanks!

I would leave the flower alone, they will wilt and dry up and fall off.
May look untidy but then messing around with the flowers may upset the pregnant pod
Cheerio

[stet]

I also need help with hand pollinating my phal orchid...i dont know exactly how.... if i pollinate a few blooms will the others die?

[Ron]

I also need help with hand pollinating my phal orchid...i dont know exactly how.... if i pollinate a few blooms will the others die?

They other flowers will go on flowering for a while.
Personally I am after seed so my first prioroty is seed, so I cut any other flowers or buds off so all the energy will go into making the seed pods.
Best of luck

[idennis]

I did the stupidest thing ever, I pollenated 4 diff flowers on the same stem thinking I'd only get one seed per flower, I hope my plant doesn't die from that by wasting all the energy into those 4 flowers for seeds. Yes they've all wilted and are impregnated, I pollenated without knowledge of the fact that you have to flask and sterilize and all that.....so pretty much I may have just killed my phal. Guess we all learn from our mistakes oops!

[Brooke]

If you are not going to flask your seeds, cut the pods off, no damage will be done.

Brooke

[skipper]

My question is about how long does it take from pollination to the new plant flowering? I know this is a very thing to pin down, but what would a ballpark time frame be?

Dale

[orchids4me]

Originally Posted by skipper

My question is about how long does it take from pollination to the new plant flowering? I know this is a very thing to pin down, but what would a ballpark time frame be?

Dale

Hi Dale,
What type of orchid are you refering to they all have different amounts of time elapsing between pollination to mature capsule then they have different lengths of time elapsing from flasking to germination to deflsking then from seedling deflasked to blooming size. Example a Neo usually take 5 replates which is 2 + years just in jars from germination to deflasking steps so it really depends which orchid you're talking about

[skipper]

Emmaye I would be refering to Phals. I am sure there is a wide variation of time here as well.

Dale