Hey,

I'd like some advice on backcrossing Phrag. St. Ouen x self. The older flower is about 8 days senior to the new. Both are in good shape. Does anyone have a cutaway series of photos or illustrations of the pollen to pod parent transfer? And isn't it youngest pollen to older pod parent if you have but two flowers present?

Thanks!

Phil

Interesting question.

It shouldn't make any difference.

Well, let's give it a shot tomorrow morning before work. I'll report back to the forum. Thanks Skipper and Dragonfly22.

Phil

Good luck!

Are you backcrossing it or selfing it? Backcrossing it is crossing back to one of the parents of the original cross. Selfing it is just putting pollen from the same flower onto itself.

The mechanics are pretty simple, and easier if you detach the pouch first. Just take the pollen off and stick on the back of the staminode shield. Often besseae and its hybrids have grainy pollen that doesn't stick very well. You can either help it with spit or the sticky part from an oncidium or cattleya flower. Don't be disappointed if the cross doesn't take, just be persistent and make sure the plant is mature enough to support carrying a pod.

Are you backcrossing it or selfing it? Backcrossing it is crossing back to one of the parents of the original cross. Selfing it is just putting pollen from the same flower onto itself.

The mechanics are pretty simple, and easier if you detach the pouch first. Just take the pollen off and stick on the back of the staminode shield. Often besseae and its hybrids have grainy pollen that doesn't stick very well. You can either help it with spit or the sticky part from an oncidium or cattleya flower. Don't be disappointed if the cross doesn't take, just be persistent and make sure the plant is mature enough to support carrying a pod.

Thanks for the clarification Bill, I am selfing it rather than backcrossing. I have two siblings of the same flask. I will try to follow your method. Again, I'll give it a shot.

Thanks!

Phil

Well, pollen stuck behind the shield. I guess time will tell.

Phil

take a look at this online tutorial:

http://www.slipperorchid.com/info_tutorials.asp

Well, pollen stuck behind the shield. I guess time will tell.

Phil

Best of luck to you!! :fcrossed:

good luck and keep us posted!!!

Good luck with your project!

take a look at this online tutorial:

http://www.slipperorchid.com/info_tutorials.asp

Hey, Justin and All,

Thanks for the terrific help! One final note. I feel REAL weird using my spit to help adhere pollen to a flower's sexual parts..........Please don't let anyone in my family know.............except maybe Aunt Bernice who can talk to crickets by rubbing her legs together.....

Phil

lol what we do for our orchids!!!

Agreed!! The rascals.....

The remains of the flower fell off day before yesterday. The ovary is green. However, the ovary usually stays green for a few days after the flower falls off with this one.

One of my Paph. delrosi is ready to bloom (+ or - 2 days). I'll try again. I had a pesky moth that had survived into late autumn that I think must have pollinated (self) the Paph glaucophyllum back some time ago. This was around the end of October that I noticed (Geez, I think).

Anyhow, thanks to everyone and have a cheery weekend despite the cold.

Slainte,

Phil