do i remove the plant bits from pollen ? or OK to leave ?

[Collembola]

hello,

i have been collecting pollen, leaving the floral vegetable matter to roll around etc drying with silica (not leaf, just flower "casing" (?))

(haven't tested viability...)

i saw some video on youtube of a guy showing how to pollinate, with the same (vast "banana" collection).

---------------------

is this bad practice ? (i know bad for moisture (hence silica))

also, should i tweeser out the flowers prior to (attempted) storage ? or are they fine to be left in with the pollen (if dry) ?

THANKS!

 

[MicroRoy]

You might go down the kitchen do dad isle and look for a fine strainer.

If they have a Cocktail section check that out.

 

[Collembola]

hehe,

thankyou i only collected a 2 little pots worth, will be easier with tweesers (don't want any (more) pollen clouds about)

> do they actually need removing ?

been reading conflictory information

thanks

 

[Corpsey]

yes remove them if you want to store the pollen, they add moisture which will ruin the pollen. i use tweezers to pull them out before drying the pollen for 24 hours with a dehumidifier in a small room, then in to the final storage in the fridge.

if you want to use it right away then the male flower sacks don't need to be removed.

 

[amanda88]

pick them out as we all must do,

drying with silica ain't bright either

as its a humidity stabilizer, dries out to about 65%RH tops

pollen needs about 75-85% dry to keep it alive

tho at 65% it will stay viable for 2-3 weeks

good luck

 

[mack 10]

Some people say to freeze the pollen but the old heads never freeze pollen, just a cool/ cold dark place.

 

[stoned-trout]

I do mine on a mirror ..tilt it and tap..then remove unwanted stuff with tweezers and scrape up pollen like cocaine and put in small envelope packs...then into freezer for long term or cool area for use shortly after.....yeehaw

 

[Collembola]

thankyou for all of the replies!!!, i will do that / improve method