Pollen Harvest?

[scallywag]

I'm not new to growing but I'm new to allowing males to grow to maturity to collect pollen. I have always chopped the males but after 20 years of growing I want to make some seeds on purpose. I searched pollen harvest and pollen collecting and get all kinds of results. I'm interested in different strategies in collecting pollen. I have an idea of cutting a male back to just a few buds so I can control the pollen from exploding all over the place. I know this will stunt the crap out of it but not sure if it will affect the quality of the pollen? Does it matter? I figured as long as it is a strong healthy male before I prune the crap out of it, it should be good right?

 

[Adze]

scallywag, Your suggested method should work fine, in insolation, of course.
This works for me:
Trim a couple of branches that are almost ready to produce pollen. Put them in a glass of water in a brightly-lit area, isolated from your flowering plants. Place a piece of foil or glass under them to collect the pollen. After a few days the pollen sacks will open and provide more than enough for hundreds of seed. Let the pollen dry and keep it refrigerated until you’re ready use it. No need to keep the male, the pollen should last for months at least.

 

[scallywag]

Thanks for the quick reply Adze. So if I wait till the male is about to release I do not have to keep the 12/12 light regiment? I mean if I pull it out of my cab and put under a light with out a dark period it will keep maturing?

 

[Adze]

scallywag,

I have always used daylight with that method. I doubt they would try to re-veg, but I wouldn't bet my next crop on it.

 

[chef]

I usually trim them back to the couple topmost tips, much easier to keep the pollen isolated.
A little pollen goes a long ways

good luck, fun stuff!