I ususally check for pollen before I take it from the pollen parent, Usually I pick a bloom for pollen that is a few days old. I have had the best luck with pollenizing a very fresh bloom for the pod parent. Sometimes even before it's fully upen. I don't distroy the bloom to get the pollen, I just use a tweezers to get it, and the flower can stay in tact. I alway put pollen on all three stigmatic lips. Also seems like it works best if you don't use the first flower open on a stalk as the pod parent.
