| How do you hybridize pansies? I've found a unique pansy plant I'd like to try breeding with but I have no idea how. (I've done a little hybridizing of roses so I am familiar with the basic idea) How do you: 1. Prepare seed parent 2. Collect and store pollen 3. Pollinate 4. How long does it take seeds to ripen--does time of year make a difference 5. collecting and storing of seeds |
| Breeding plants isn't a complicated issue, but it takes some familiarity with the male and female parts of a plant. You need to remove some parts so they won't interfere with your process. Choose the flowers you want to pollinate and isolate them so wind or insects cannot access them. A paper bag over the buds just before the flowers open is a good technique to keep the flowers pure. If the plant to be pollinated has perfect flowers (both male and female parts), remove the pollen-laden anthers as soon as flowers open. Collect pollen from the desired male flowers by brushing the stamens with an artist's camelhair paint brush. Then apply the pollen-laden brush to the stigma of the female flower. Cover the blossoms with the bag again and tie it to prevent unwanted pollen from reaching the stigma. After a few days, remove the bag. When the petals fall and the seeds have matured, collect them. Let them dry and store them in an airtight container in a cool, dark place. Next spring plant yourseeds and see what develops from your cross-pollination. |
