HYB: freezing pollen question
iris@hort.net
  • Subject: HYB: freezing pollen question
  • From: L* M* <l*@lock-net.com>
  • Date: Tue, 22 Oct 2013 13:20:38 -0400
What kinds and sizes of containers do you use to freeze and store pollen from fall to spring?
I've tried a couple of containers, no luck using pollen from either type. I've tried No. 2 gelatin capsules and tiny craft snap top containers. I dried the anthers for a day in low humidity, then sealed them in the containers, put the containers in a ziplock bag of milk powder, then into the freezer.
I have great success storing pollen in the refrigerator during bloom season, just drying for a day, then folding in little sticky notes folded into an envelope and held shut with a paper clip, then put in a loosely folded baggie inside a ziplock with milk powder. I have gotten takes with month old pollen that way. Some takes even after taking the envelopes out of the fridge more than once (exposing to normal high humidity here)
But zero takes with frozen pollen. Now that I'm really buckling down to focus on rebloom, I'd like to try again, since some of these irises that don't make anthers here in the spring, make good looking pollen during rebloom. 

Linda Mann
east TN USA zone 7b

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