skip to main content

pollinating by hand?

16 years ago

I'm wondering if anyone has ever attempted to pollinate native milkweed by hand?

My native transplant of A variegata has a nice bloom but I don't see any bee's or other pollinators flying around it. It occured to me I might be able to use something like the tip of a toothpick to try and pollinate in order to get a seed pod forming. Has anyone ever tried?

Maybe glue a few strands of cotton from a cotton ball on the end of the toothpick to mimic the fine hairs on the legs of insects. Or, use the tip of a tiny paintbrush. That might work even better.

Mary

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (2)

lycopus
16 years ago
Normally I would use a paintbrush with soft bristles but pollination in milkweeds is a little unusual. They produce specialized structures called pollinia. They consist of two little sacs of pollen connected by a narrow thread that gets caught on the legs of insects. You should see the pollinia get stuck to whatever tool you are using, otherwise it probably isn't going to work.
Mary Leek
Original Author
16 years ago
lycopus,

My thanks for this helpful information and the instructions. Since I have other flower buds coming on, I decided to try with this first bloom. I did use a tiny water color paint brush and I did see something that looked like tiny little gold strings on the tips of the bristles. I've no idea if this was the pollinia but at the time, I thought it unusual. Sure do hope that's what it was and that it spread the pollen among the little flowers. It will be fun to watch and see if any seed pods develop.

On the other hand, I noticed quite a few seed pods forming on the tropical milkweed so something 'IS' out there doing some pollinating. I saw a busy bee early this morning, the first one I've noticed this year so maybe things are beginning to come together. Also read that ants are capable of pollinating and if that's the case, I do have some help as they're always climbing all over this new bloom. Nature is soooo interesting.

My thanks once again for taking the time to reply.

Mary
Related Discussions
When to pollinate paw paw
Q
Comments (2)
Hi Bradybb, This is a GREAT video...lots of very helpful information. Thanks so much. Just knowing the maroon color indicates maturity will save a lot of wasted effort. and identifying male vs female is essential too. PJ
...See More
Cross pollination
Q
Comments (2)
That's right. This year's pumpkin contains the DNA of the plant on which it is growing. So the pumpkin's shape, texture, flavor, etc will be governed by that DNA, period. The seeds within, however, contain the DNA of the plant on which it grows *plus* possibly DNA from some other source. So those seeds may grow a completely differently characterized fruit.
...See More
pollinating by hand
Q
Comments (3)
You can use a q-tip or a fine bristled paiting brush, but if I've got a ton of male flowers, I'll just break one off, peel off the flower and swab the sucker inside the female flower.
...See More
Pollinating by hand Thai basil?
Q
Comments (2)
Hand pollinating indoor tomato plants just means to lightly shake or tap the stem with the flower. Some people use electric toothbrushes to encourage pollination. Tomatoes are self-pollinating, but they still need some help without bees or other insects when grown indoors. That's what I've read and what I did before they were placed outside. As for cuttings, I would do that before the basil flowered if I were not able to get the basil to seed successfully. I know some people do that to keep a continuous supply of basil before the basil flowers and to prevent the basil from turning bitter. In my case, I have no plans to keep the basil outside and I would like to try to collect some seeds to plant at later date. Do you keep your basil indoors? If you do, does your basil still provides viable seed without any intervention? Or do you keep your basil outdoors. I just want to confirm. Thanks.
...See More

Related Stories

BENEFICIAL INSECTS Attract Pollinators for a Productive Edible Garden

By Abundant City

You can lure bees, butterflies and birds into your yard with the right flowers and nesting spots

GARDENING GUIDES Meet the Grass-Carrying Wasp, a Gentle Pollinator of Summer Flowers

By Pollination Press LLC

These fascinating insects nest in wood cavities and hollow plant stems

FARM YOUR YARD Hello, Honey: Beekeeping Anywhere for Fun, Food and Good Deeds

By The Best Bees Company

We need pollinators, and they increasingly need us too. Here, why and how to be a bee friend

EARTH DAY 12 Entertaining ‘Bee-haviors’ of Native Bees

By Debbie Ballentine

The parade of pollinator antics is another reason to create a garden that nurtures native bees

FLOWERS 15 Native Flowers That Attract Butterflies

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

By picking plants from this list that are right for your location, you’ll get colorful blooms and support pretty pollinators

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Bid Bad Garden Bugs Goodbye and Usher In the Good

By Matt Kilburn

Give ants their marching orders and send mosquitoes moseying, while creating a garden that draws pollinators and helpful eaters

FLOWERS AND PLANTS Help Monarchs and Other Butterflies by Planting Common Milkweed

By Pollination Press LLC

Summer-blooming Asclepias syriaca is an important larval host plant for the monarch butterfly and attracts a number of pollinating insects

PRODUCT PICKS Guest Picks: High-Tech Plant Helpers

By Urban Gardens

Hydroponics, monitoring systems, even an electric pollinator ... these gadgets and services keep your greenery growing strong

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Be a Citizen Scientist to Help Wildlife, Learn and Have Fun Too

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Track butterflies, study birds, capture stars ... when you aid monitoring efforts, you’re lending Mother Nature a hand

GARDENING GUIDES 15 Native Flowers That Feed Native Bees

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

These perennials offer superfood to hundreds of bees and are gorgeous in their own right

Sponsored

More Discussions

cold stratification?

1