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Heeeeelp...... I just received GA3 for Byblis hybrid seeds....

  • #121
Hmmm, might have missed the grand opening. Won't be around the next couple days either.

IMGP4666.jpg
 
  • #122
It'll keep opening up for several days, fortunately.
 
  • #123
I haven't caught them full open yet: B. 'Goliath' x guehoi
Second plant
IMGP4696copy-1.jpg


Anthers look shriveled, maybe past its shelf date.
IMGP4692.jpg

IMGP4694.jpg
 
  • #124
I like the clarity that you can get from your camera. I struggle with mine.
 
  • #125
Your camera either has less megapixels or you are using "digital" zoom. The latter blows up the pixels and has to interpolate details which accounts for some of the "blotchy" look. Much like doing a tight crop in a photo editing.
 
  • #126
Well I tried with no luck to get these to release pollen. I tried twacking a pair of forceps like a tuning for and scrubbing them with paint brush. Guess I'll breakout the battery powered toothbrush but it's a rotary type, not oscillating.
 
  • #127
My new flowers are just buds, several days from opening up. Isn't there some sort of sac that can be popped?
 
  • #128
I tried squeezing the anthers with forceps and "buzzing" it with my electric toothbrush. Nothing, maybe a higher frequency is needed or perhaps the hybrids don't produce pollen???
 
  • #129
Since the one plant is a creeping vine, I am attempting to encourage it to take root on the soil surface of a pot in its path:

003-10.jpg


004-11.jpg


005-5.jpg


In case I can actually do anything with 2 flowers that are open at the same time...

007-8.jpg
 
  • #130
Brian Barnes suggests removing a few anthers and splitting them in half with a razor blade. Dry for 15 minutes and rub the split side on the stigma of another plant.
 
  • #131
I can live with that approach, since I don't own an electric toothbrush!
 
  • #132
Cutting the anthers open works, I could see pollen grains. I do need to get some micro surgery tweezers/forceps though. The dental tweezers I have are just not designed for working with such small soft tissue.
 
  • #133
I need a surgeon... somebody who has good manual dexterity!
 
  • #134
Here's the other plant:

007-10.jpg

B. 'Goliath' x guehoi B
 
  • #135
hmmm, looks like the other flowers aborted on one of the plants.

The branching hybrid has yet to show flowers.

Still no pulvinus observed on any of the plants.
 
  • #136
I've gotta wait a day or two before the other plant opens up a flower before I perform micro-surgery.
 
  • #137
Here are both flowering plants:

002-13.jpg


001-9.jpg


Now for the hard part...
 
  • #138
Slice and dice :-D

Brian says the stigma will be dewy looking if they are receptive, almost like tiny Drosera. Pollen should stick readily to the stigma.
 
  • #139
Pollen? LOL! I haven't seen any pollen. Glad I took the 'before' picture, before butchering the flower parts. I ended up plucking the anthers and putting them on paper, on top of the light, where it's warmer & drier. Who knows... maybe I'll get lucky.... Hey, is that tranparent looking thingy supposed to be the stamen?
 
  • #140
Yeah, the purple tube with the puff ball on the end is the stigma. Slice the banana open lengthwise and the pollen should be available. I used a #15 scalpel. A single edged razor or Xacto knife would work just as well.
 
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