I found this at Grow Notes: "Use pollen sacs from old or fading blooms - they will already be quite dry and the pollen inside should be powdery. Alternately, you can use pollen sacs saved from flowers that bloomed earlier. They are easy to keep for use in future crosses by storing in a paper envelope with a desiccant." "Desiccants - You can purchase desiccants in various forms from craft stores or any retailer of dried or pressed flower supplies. You can also collect and reuse desiccant packets from shoe and leather goods purchases - they can be reactivated over time by zapping them in the microwave on low heat for 1 minute." You could use rice as a temporary desiccant if you don't have anything else on hand. Here is a link that might be useful: Hybridizing African Violets

Hi everyone I just wrap the pollen in a bit of foil and place it in a small envelope with the details written on it. This is then put into an air tight screw top jar and into the freezer. I have used two year old pollen from the freezer with good results using this method. Just remember, once it's thawed out you have to use it immediately and you can't re-freeze it. Just for the record - I have stored Neo. seed in a similar method and found it still viable after three years. All the best, Nev.

Hi francis_eric, your question seems to have been answered by an excellent article from the renowned David_Zlesak on Thu, Nov 6, 03 at 16:57 under the heading "polen storage", you will currently find this thread on page 10. May I offer my personal admiration for the persistence that you have demonstrated in the pursuit of an answer to your question.

"Why would running a Q-tip around inside a flower with added pollen do any more in hot conditions than running a Q-tip around a flower without any added pollen? I" Dan - two different situations addressed. Under hot high humidity conditions saved dry pollen might increase the odds of effective pollination but you sure would have to move fast before the pollen got hot. :-) And given the chemical changes that take place in all parts of the bloom, might not make any difference at all. But hybridizers - the one who save and store pollen don't use it in hot conditions but in controlled ideal conditions with a fine brush (like most MJ growers do). " Isn't there is plenty of pollen in the flower but it's just tacky and doesn't want to fall?" Not really. As the above links discuss not only is the amount of pollen severely reduced but it is chemically altered so even if it does come into the necessary contact it isn't viable. Dave