Re: HYB: Freezing pollen
iris@hort.net
  • Subject: Re: HYB: Freezing pollen
  • From: L* M* <l*@lock-net.com>
  • Date: Sat, 20 Nov 2010 06:54:56 -0500
Thanks everybody for the details and tips.
The Q tips never have appealed to me (I either swipe whole anthers or use a little stiff synthetic paint brush), but I think I like the idea for freezing pollen, collecting and refrigerating anther by anther, day by day. And eliminates figuring out whether or not the little stems on the anthers are adding too much moisture. Although I've not had success with frozen pollen, I've had very good success storing pollen in the fridge for a month or more, so like the idea of stockpiling Q tips in an envelope until ready to use.
I started using the little watercolor paintbrushes from the Dollar Store, ~5 brushes for $1, so I could get the pollen to a fresh stigmatic lip even when the rest of the bloom is wet with dew (it hangs around till noon or later some parts of the iris rows some days) or rain. (If I'm lucky, the bloom will wait till after no more dew is forming to drop the falls, but not always lucky). The Q tips would never work in those conditions, but I'll bet I can lift pollen from the Q tip with a paint brush. Will try that just to make sure.
And will try freezing fresher whole anthers without drying first - just to see if I can get <something> to cooperate!
From what you guys are saying, it sounds like I've been letting it sit out at room temperature way too long before freezing.
I think moisture has been an issue in the past, especially with IMM and other pollen I've tried to collect from summer bloom. Too much humidity outdoors and in the house, even with dehumidifier & ACs going full blast 24/7.
About the stiff little paint brushes - I like them because the bristles are stiff enough that I can scrape the last grains of pollen out of a less than ideal anther. The bristles pick up the pollen grains between the bristles. But I don't exactly "paint" them onto the stigmatic lip - to avoid damage, I sort of "roll" the pollen on by rolling the brush between my fingers, letting the sticky surface of the lip pull the pollen off the brush. 

Thanks again everybody.

Linda Mann east TN USA zone 7

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