Any and all. :Party: What's the longest you've stored pollen (and still got viable seed)? And how do you store it?

Years. Near freezing temps.

What kinda container? Are you concerned with mold or excess moisture?

I put them in aluminium foil and the one that can last the longest is hangianum ~ 2 1/2 years ! The shortest one ! sanderianum ~ half a year ....

Thanks guys.

I have some sitting in the "butter compartment" in the fridge, wrapped in paper towels. I pulled some malipoense out last night (that had been in for about 3 months). Looked just like a potatoe chip, and took some water to make it sticky agian. Well see if it takes.

Thanks guys.

I have some sitting in the "butter compartment" in the fridge, wrapped in paper towels. I pulled some malipoense out last night (that had been in for about 3 months). Looked just like a potatoe chip, and took some water to make it sticky agian. Well see if it takes.

hi Rick!
Just a thought -I don't know anything about this but I know about cooking and that, if the butter compartment is in the door of your fridge, it (and the egg dept.) are the warmest places in your fridge. I always read that you should never store eggs in the door because it can get warmer than other areas. So, just thought I'd mention that! Good luck!

I'm keeping pollen in the fridge using Hadley Cash's method of putting the pollen inside capsules (like perscription medication capsules). He tells me that they are available at health food stores. I used some from some older medication that I'm not using anymore. So far, so good!

Looked just like a potatoe chip, and took some water to make it sticky agian. Well see if it takes.

RickL,

Did it take?

Lien

God evening

I store pollen in plastic vials and keep them for about 12 month or so,
at 7°C (no fahrenheit sorry)
some basic rules for pollen storage

Collect pollen asap, they easily become contaminated by fungus/bacteria in the glasshouse

Separate the pollen mass from the support to avoid contamination during storage

Do not store all pollen from one plant in the same vial keep them separated in order to avoid contamination of both

And last but not least carefully note the pollen origin to avoid mess up's. I keep several pollen from the same specie but from different clones


Uri

Excellent suggestions, Uri! Thank you for the good tips.

Yes, most helpful, thanks!

If I were to take off my pollen, will the flower begin fading fast? Or is it only when you pollinate? Thanks!

No fortunately it does not interfer with the flower durability.

If I were to take off my pollen, will the flower begin fading fast? Or is it only when you pollinate? Thanks!

No, only when pollinating but I recently collected pollen for the first time from my phil and all but one flower faded prematurely. It was also the oldest flower, so age could have been the reason. :confused:

Cool! Maybe I should start collecting some of my better plants pollen then...

No the malipoense did not take.

Anything I had in the fridge that was wrapped dry has now gone into pill capsules.

I also use the Hadley Cash method of medicine capsules, and you can find them at health food stores.

There is a company called U-Line. You can find them on www.uline.com. They have small zip lock poly bags. There is an area on the front of the bag for writing in ink. I have found these extremely helpful. I used to use the capsules before. However, it was difficult to mark what they names were. Hope this helps!

That's a good idea Greenpaph.

Actually after putting the pollen into the capsules, I wrap and tape them up in a paper towel, to keep them dry and to label them.

But your idea is probably better.

I have a TON of those small ziplock bags at work in various small sizes. If anyone wished to use a capsule in one for labelling, I'd be happy to send some to you. They won't be sterile though, I am afraid. (We get our jewelry in them.)

I actually put the pollen directly in the small zip lock bag, label it, zip it closed and keep them all in a container in the refrigerator labelled paphs.
The longest I have used pollen successfully is approximately 18 months (Lawless Addsand pollen). The zip lock bags are excellent pollen containers!