It’s that time of year – plants are in bloom! The creative potential is growing with each flower opening up. One beautiful thing I enjoy about Sarracenia cultivation: it offers a wonderful creative outlet. My imagination runs wild at the thought of possible plant combinations throughout the year. And at this point in the season – working with the flowers is a fundamental step in making the visions real. After some effort and little wait – intangible ideas manifest into something beautiful, tactile, and living.
Here is a general reference on how I do pollinations. Keep in mind that there are so many ways (and maybe even better ways) to go about doing this. Experiment, have fun, and find what works for you. I’m sharing what works for me and hope this helps you in your creative botanical journey.
ONE
Item: Notebook
Purpose: Information repository
Some use electronic devices, but I find that it’s more efficient for me to write with pencil/paper. Personally I like to feel the grit of the pencil strokes and the weight of the notebook, vs. tapping pixels. Notes help me to keep ideas and crosses organized. I record potential ideas that I can reflect on, as well as write down the crosses right after I’ve completed them. It’s handy to check the notes in the later years. For example, I can see what worked, what didn’t, and helps with preventing re-makes. Although I admit, some crosses are great to re-create!
TWO
Item: Brush
Purpose: Collect and deposit pollen
I like to use a brush. It’s has a more artsy feeling for me. I like to think that at each stroke of a brush, creative energy is unleashed. By the way, other items that can be used for pollinating, such as ear-hole paraphernalia. Or simply a finger. What’s needed is a way to collect and deposit pollen. It doesn’t need to be fancy.
Important: To keep crosses as intended, clean the pollination tool before and after pollen use. I simply wash my brushes. When working on multiple crosses, it helps to have multiple brushes on hand.
THREE
Item: Bags
Purpose: Protection
I use these gift baggie sheer things (flower condoms) to protect the plant after the pollination is done. Pollinators are busy at this time of year going from flower to flower. Covering the flower helps to keeps the cross as intended by keeping unwanted pollinators out. Baggie protection can begin while flower still in bud; before it’s even opened. The bags are light weight and can be easily slipped on or off. Other items that I have seen used include cheese cloth or a lightweight sheer type of fabric, secured by twisty tie or something similar. What is needed is something to keep pollinators out. Once the pollination is successful and receptor nubs are no longer receptive, I remove the bags to be used another year. I usually wait until the pod tilts upward and petals fall off.
FOUR
Item: Tags
Purpose: Information repository
I use these jewelry tags that are plastic and writable. I tag the flower with the cross listing the pod parent first, an “x” and then the pollen parent. (Sarracenia “Pod Parent” x “Pollen Parent”.) The tags hold up really well outdoors and can handle the Oregon rain and sun. By the way, I use pencil for my tags as pencil won’t fade.
FIVE
Item: Pollen
Purpose: Pollination
To pollinate, pollen is collected from the pollen parent flower, then placed onto the stigmas (receptor nubs) of the pod parent plant. Well… what if the timing of flowers don’t align for the desired cross? Pollen can be saved for later. That’s what I did here. There’s a little pollen remaining in the flower style (upside-down umbrella sac thingy). Since my desired pod parent plant was going to flower later, I trimmed the pollen parent flowers, stored in a small container, and placed in the fridge for future use.
If timing aligns and both flowers are open – then it’s easier. I would simply collect pollen from one source, then deposit onto the target. Check some of the images below for reference.
Left: Pollen (powdery stuff) drops from the anthers and is deposited onto the style. (Upside down umbrella sac thingy.)
Center: The stigma (little receptor nub in the circle) is the pollen target. Typically found on the interior umbrella tip.
Right: A pollen loaded brush paints pollen onto receptor nub.
[click on photo to enlarge]
When pollinating, I try to get to the flower as soon it opens up. The longer a flower remains open, the greater that chance that some other pollen may have gotten to that receptor nub. Once the pollination is done, all that’s left is to tag it n’ bag it. The pollination is recorded on the tag and then attached to the flower stalk. A bag is slipped on the flower to keep other pollinators out. I also record the cross in the notebook. (Figure one above.) At times, I like to go and re-apply pollen in the days after to make sure the pollination took. Some say re-application helps with getting a better seed set. (We’ll get to the seeds later in the fall. 🙂 )
