I have a question since I am hopefully going to try a hybrid. When I receive pollen from another source(Ross isthe Daddy)Do I have to do anything special before using it? Also since it is my first time I want to make sure I hit the right hole. The stigmatic surface is behind or undernetah the staminode..correct? I rub the pollen on that? The photo below shows an arrow where I rub it on? Thanks! Any tips or hints for success will be appreciated.
Tadd :evil:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y266/TADD/bell3.jpg

May I suggest you visit www.troymeyers.com. First enter the site. Then click on Informational Pages. Then click on Pollination of a slipper orchid. That should help you threw it. Naturally, nothing would be better then having an expert by your side, guiding you threw the procedure.

Hope this helps !!

Hi Tadd,
It goes behinf that thing your pointing at. It works best if you remove the pouch. I have seen pictures of people who have cut a small rectangular hole in the pouch and inserted the pollen through there. Good luck, I've heard that crushing the pollen will help with pollenation, but be careful pollen is very small and hard to find if dropped. I've crushed pollen before and gotten capsules, but I've done it without crushing and also had it work. To each there own.
At home i have a couple of sites that have pictures of pollenating paphs, I'll post the links tonight.

Kyle

Hi Tadd,
It goes behinf that thing your pointing at. It works best if you remove the pouch. I have seen pictures of people who have cut a small rectangular hole in the pouch and inserted the pollen through there. Good luck, I've heard that crushing the pollen will help with pollenation, but be careful pollen is very small and hard to find if dropped. I've crushed pollen before and gotten capsules, but I've done it without crushing and also had it work. To each there own.
At home i have a couple of sites that have pictures of pollenating paphs, I'll post the links tonight.

Kyle

Well, I used to be good at it, but all my crosses this year failed for some reason. :mad:

People better than I say to aim for the perimeter of the stigmatic surface, not dead center. Think like a bug, they are going to come out to either side of the staminode.

Some people will wet pollinia, especially if they are old. Spit works. I've also tried honey, which seems to work. Anything to get them to stick to the stigma.

My manual dexterity is failing rapidly (poor genetics, poor career choice, etc...), so I usually break off the pouch before fertilization. Otherwise I can't get in there. Cutting a window is not something I would be able to do, nor do I think it is any better than snapping off the pouch.

I've also heard about using contact lens solution. The theory is that it disolves the protein coating of the pollen and that makes if work better. Never tried it. I alos think it was used in reference to phals.

Kyle

there are many guides on the www that show how to do Paphio mating. there is no need for contact lens solution.

congrats TADD and ross :Party: it would actually make TADD the mother :lol: if it doesnt work try,try again good luck!

Tadd a Mom???? HEE HEE. :poke: Only Kidding. It looks like you have a really pretty pod parent.

OK, I am no expert, however, I did try cutting that rectangular hole behind the staminode, rather than cutting off the eintire pouch. This was on a Paph. I was not sure what to do next, but smeared the pollen all around and than put it in the place where I thought It belonged. Yes, Paphs are very confusing to pollinate. The obvious thought would be to pollinate them in the front of the stamanoid. I think not. Finally got a clue and did the pollinating thru a cut that I made and I pollinated thru the back of the staminode. I don't think that I did it ecactly correctly, but:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b234/dustyatticstuff/Capsule3.jpg