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Feb 9, 2013 11:45 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: shirlee
southeast (Zone 6b)
Daylilies Hybridizer Seed Starter Pollen collector Garden Photography Garden Ideas: Level 1
Butterflies Birds Dragonflies Canning and food preservation Herbs Vegetable Grower
Has anyone ordered hybridizing tools from Pollendabber, and had a
good experience with that on the Lily Auction?

I'm interesting in the micro centrifuge tubes for pollen, and the case that holds them.
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Feb 10, 2013 12:54 AM CST
Name: Connie
Willamette Valley OR (Zone 8a)
Forum moderator Region: Pacific Northwest Sedums Sempervivums Lilies Hybridizer
Plant Database Moderator I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Charter ATP Member Pollen collector Plant Identifier Celebrating Gardening: 2015
I have ordered from Pollendabber a number of times, including the micro centrifuge tubes and case. The compartments of my case are numbered 1-10 across and A thru J down. You can read the ID of each compartment on the bottom; for example, 6G or 8H etc. You have to be careful about taking more than one tube out if you don't have the tubes themselves labeled in some way; easy to get them mixed up then. Since there isn't much room to write on the tube I recommend writing its location id on the lid then keep a separate record linking that id to the cross.

Some of the other items I have ordered from this vendor are various types of labels and tweezers and little ziplock bags.

I like that he takes my check and quickly ships. The name of his business is Earth Star:

http://www.earthstarproducts.c...
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Feb 10, 2013 5:41 AM CST
Name: Fred Manning
Lillian Alabama

Charter ATP Member Region: Gulf Coast I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Amaryllis Region: United States of America Garden Ideas: Level 2
Ponds Hummingbirder Dog Lover Daylilies Container Gardener Butterflies
They are great to do business with, have ordered several items and have always been pleased.
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Feb 10, 2013 5:50 AM CST
Name: Cynthia (Cindy)
Melvindale, Mi (Zone 5b)
Daylilies Hybridizer Irises Butterflies Charter ATP Member Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
Birds Region: Michigan Vegetable Grower Hummingbirder Heucheras Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge)
I have ordered from them also with no problems whatsoever.
Lighthouse Gardens
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Feb 10, 2013 8:32 AM CST
Name: Dot or Dorothy Parker
Fort Worth TX (Zone 8a)
Birds Region: Texas Enjoys or suffers hot summers Pollen collector Lilies Irises
Daylilies I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Container Gardener Cat Lover Butterflies Plant and/or Seed Trader
He is extremely good to do business with and ships right away. The little centrifuge tubes are nice for pollen. Be sure that you dry the pollen before closing the lid. I use a Sharpie and write the initials of the cultivar on the lid, then I can see them immediately. He also has a website you can order from, Earth Star Inc. On the website he has these little green hang tags that you hang on the scape after you pollinate. I love these because they are green and don't make my garden so ugly.

Dot
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Feb 10, 2013 8:50 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: shirlee
southeast (Zone 6b)
Daylilies Hybridizer Seed Starter Pollen collector Garden Photography Garden Ideas: Level 1
Butterflies Birds Dragonflies Canning and food preservation Herbs Vegetable Grower
Thank you so much Connie, Fred, Cindy, and Dot. You are the greatest!!!

Dot, is it difficult to hang those little green tags? Do they slip on easily? Sometimes I have to get
in awkward positions to tie the yarn attached to the surveyor's tape that I use. Looking for a
better, easier way to do things.
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Feb 10, 2013 11:30 AM CST
Name: Betty
Bakersfield, CA
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Birds The WITWIT Badge Garden Ideas: Level 1 Roses
Irises Daylilies Cat Lover Region: California Region: United States of America
Pollendabber is Ed Hartsell of Earth Star, and I've ordered all my supplies from him -- and I just did another order for the little centrifuge cases (both sizes) and tubes a couple of weeks ago, and I got them in three days. I use the 50-tube boxes in the fridge while I'm using the pollen and then store the frozen pollen in the 100-tube boxes. I've also now decided to color code my cases that I freeze pollen in; last year was the opaque white cases and this year's pollen will be in yellow cases. I collected pollen last summer and fall and froze it all so I can be ready for my early bloomers this year. I just write the name of the daylily I'm collecting pollen from on a 3" post-it, cut it off, and tape it to the side of the tube, along with the date collected. I'm also going to color-code the colors of the post-it's by year too. And I have an alpha master list of where in each case (I have three cases frozen for last year) each frozen pollen is located.

I also purchased his little bags for seed storage and think they're wonderful. But I use the hang tags I get at WalMart rather than something I have to attach. My hands are fairly clumsy and I can just loop the thread of the hang tag around and through, which is much easier and faster for me.

And I also purchased two plants of his toothy small CRYSTAL WIND (he's the hybridizer) back in the fall. I hadn't known he also hybridizes until I discovered them on the Lily Auction under the smalls/minis in the Lily Auction Store.

Ed is the nicest person, and after I place my order and request the total for the PayPal transaction, he will often get back to me and tell me he can ship for a lesser amount. He's very considerate and I wouldn't hesitate to purchase from him.

Those centrifuge tubes are WONDERFUL for pollen storage! I wish I'd had them back when I was doing roses because my fridge was full of baby food jars back then!
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Feb 10, 2013 11:49 AM CST
Name: Kim W
Md (Zone 6a)
More daylilies!!!!
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Pollen collector Cat Lover Daylilies Plant and/or Seed Trader
Hostas Echinacea Garden Art Region: Northeast US Region: United States of America
Great To deal with, I have bought centrifuge tubes and cases from Ed as well as plants. Excellent experience with all items. In fact I think I may need more tubes this year.
It's my cats world, I'm just here to open the cans.
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Feb 10, 2013 12:52 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: shirlee
southeast (Zone 6b)
Daylilies Hybridizer Seed Starter Pollen collector Garden Photography Garden Ideas: Level 1
Butterflies Birds Dragonflies Canning and food preservation Herbs Vegetable Grower
Great idea, Betty. Thanks so much. I dry pollen for two days, but haven't had much
experience with using saved pollen or frozen pollen. Want to have it stored properly though
just in case it's needed. Do you put a piece of cotton in the tube to hold the pollen, or just
shake the pollen into it?

Thanks Kim. I do love excellent experiences. nodding
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Feb 10, 2013 8:59 PM CST
Name: Betty
Bakersfield, CA
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Birds The WITWIT Badge Garden Ideas: Level 1 Roses
Irises Daylilies Cat Lover Region: California Region: United States of America
Shirlee, I cut off the stamens and put them in the little tubes with the forceps I got from pollendabber, let them dry for a bit (doesn't take long in my climate) and then close the lids and shake them to get the pollen to release. Then if I'm not going to use it right away I store it in the fridge and take it out as needed, let it come to room temp for around a half-hour, and then I gently "paint" the pollen collected around the sides of the tube and lid onto the tip of the pistil with a soft, very small paint brush. Then the tube goes back in the fridge as soon as I've used it, unless I collected more pollen that I need to dry for a bit. I think the closed tubes and cases keep the pollen dry -- at least I've not had any that showed moisture so far. But please remember that I live in a very dry climate so I don't need to worry about moisture during the bloom season other than that coming from my sprinklers or a hose. We usually have zero rain all summer. My problem is heat and the weather warming up too fast for the crosses to take. I know Michele suggested I do the pollinating earlier in the morning than I did before, plus I've already started fertilizing to try to get more blooms earlier in the year, so we'll see if that helps this year.

Then at some point after I think I won't be needing the pollen for a while, I move the tubes to one of the larger boxes, record which slots I put them in, and hopefully they'll keep up to two or three years. Someone here (was it Lyle?) said you can keep frozen pollen up to three years or so and it will still be viable.

Hope this is helpful rather than confusing, and maybe you can get input from someone else who lives in a similar climate to yours to find out what would be the best approach for you.
Betty
Last edited by Betja Feb 11, 2013 1:29 AM Icon for preview
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Feb 10, 2013 11:05 PM CST
Name: Kim W
Md (Zone 6a)
More daylilies!!!!
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Pollen collector Cat Lover Daylilies Plant and/or Seed Trader
Hostas Echinacea Garden Art Region: Northeast US Region: United States of America
I store mine like Betty does and I live in a very humid area and I don't have any moisture problems with mine either.Thanks for the paint brush tip Betty, that would be much easier and waste less pollen than the way I'm doing it now.
It's my cats world, I'm just here to open the cans.
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Feb 11, 2013 12:09 AM CST
Name: Mona
Guntown, Ms (Zone 7b)
I love nature & everything outdoors
Daylilies Dog Lover
I live in a very humid state. I started collecting my pollen in small paper cups, let it dry for an hour or longer and then put it into the little vials.Also, when you take the little vials out of the freezer, if you'll hold them in your hand for a few moments before going out in the heat, it will help prevent sweating. Be sure to keep the vials out of direct sunlight also. The pollen can cook inside the plastice if the sun shines on it for an extended period. It's worked great this past summer. Be sure you don't leave any pollen out for more than a few hours before storing it in a cool place.

I had serious problems in 2011. I would gather pollen, leave it on the kitchen table for a few days and then use it. I wasn't getting any pod set at all. Finally, after the good weather ended for crossing, I realized what I was doing. I was still able to get a few crosses in the hotter weather by getting up before daylight and doing my crosses at first light while it was below 80 degrees.
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Feb 11, 2013 7:07 AM CST
Name: pam
gainesville fl (Zone 8b)
Bee Lover The WITWIT Badge Region: Ukraine Enjoys or suffers hot summers Pollen collector Native Plants and Wildflowers
Hydrangeas Hummingbirder Dragonflies Daylilies Butterflies Birds
Im going back to using his wires this year. I did it one year, decided they were to expensive and marking on blinds would do the trick. Well, as it stands, between the squirrels digging up the markers and permanent markers being not so permanent, the only few seedlings I even know what are anymore are the ones that I dig up and the wires are right there burried with them. They dont fade, and the squirrels dont throw them out of the pots. I just come in and match them with the list from years past. Even if you buy the ones with alot of colors, you do have to mix two wires, unless you only have a few seedlings.
I also have bought his viles, I finally stopped saving pollen, I never used it. There are always enough flowers to choose from, not to have to mess with the pollen. I know once Larry Grace gave a talk and said he saves his pollen in match boxes.
I have used pollen that has sat on a paper bplate for a day or two and it works just fine. Like you siad above, oce the temp gets to high, nothing works, altho if the plants are in pots, you can bring the pots inside and that works like a charm. I think it was Phil Reily who shared that trick.
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Feb 11, 2013 7:15 AM CST
Name: bb
north of boston on the coast
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Level 1
I'm a paper plate in the fridge kinda gal...

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Feb 11, 2013 8:16 AM CST
Name: Dot or Dorothy Parker
Fort Worth TX (Zone 8a)
Birds Region: Texas Enjoys or suffers hot summers Pollen collector Lilies Irises
Daylilies I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Container Gardener Cat Lover Butterflies Plant and/or Seed Trader
Shirlee,

Yes the little green tags are easy to hang. The only time I have a hard time is when the flower is too close to the scape. Sometimes I just resort to using paper tags with string when that is the case. My problem is my back now. I have to rest a lot and go back out. I start at the break of day when it isn't as hot. Once is gets above 90 degrees, they don't set pods well at all.

Dot
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Feb 11, 2013 8:26 AM CST
Name: Cynthia (Cindy)
Melvindale, Mi (Zone 5b)
Daylilies Hybridizer Irises Butterflies Charter ATP Member Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
Birds Region: Michigan Vegetable Grower Hummingbirder Heucheras Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge)
I keep trying the frozen pollen but I just haven't had any luck with it. Have tried now for 3 years and haven't set a pod with frozen pollen.
Lighthouse Gardens
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Feb 12, 2013 12:13 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: shirlee
southeast (Zone 6b)
Daylilies Hybridizer Seed Starter Pollen collector Garden Photography Garden Ideas: Level 1
Butterflies Birds Dragonflies Canning and food preservation Herbs Vegetable Grower
Thanks Betty, Kim, Mona, Pam, Bobbi, Dot, and Cindy for all the additional hints. Gives me plenty of options to try and much advice too.

I ordered the pollen tubes and case. Looks there are other things I need to order now that
I've seen Pollendabber's web site.
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Feb 12, 2013 6:30 AM CST
Name: Leslie Mauck
Chapin, SC (Zone 7b)
Birds Plant and/or Seed Trader Region: South Carolina Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Pollen collector Hummingbirder
Hostas Daylilies Container Gardener Cat Lover Butterflies Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge)
I just got another order from Ed last week. I love his products.

I dry my pollen, filaments and all, on cheap paper plates for a day or two. The filaments dry out and stick to the paper making the anthers easy to retrieve with Ed's reverse tweezers and then put in the little tubes. I color code my programs and mark the tubes with a 1/4 circle from colored stickers, like you would use in a yard sale, and then put the initials on it. It helps when looking for pollen to only have to look in the green section, for example, if I want a dip poly pollen.

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Feb 12, 2013 6:56 AM CST
Name: Teresa Felty Barrow
South central KY (Zone 6b)
SONGBIRD GARDENS
Birds Hummingbirder Hybridizer Irises Lilies Peonies
Sempervivums Plant and/or Seed Trader Region: United States of America Vegetable Grower Hostas Heucheras
Very good supplier, I give him a good recommendation. I need to order a couple of things myself.
Bee Kind, make the world a better place.
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Feb 12, 2013 2:25 PM CST
Name: Sunny
Ohio (Zone 5b)
Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle
I would also recommend Ed. Just another method, as we all seem to have our own. I pull the anther from the filament with his reverse tweezers and set them on a paper of some sort to use the next day. The stamens tend to hold moisture longer than I want them sitting out. Anyway, after using some of the pollen the next morning, I put the rest of the anthers in the centrifuge tubes. I don't freeze all that many pollens, so I cut a small piece of note card, about one eighth inch by a half and write the name on it. Use a piece of scotch tape around the tube to attatch it and throw them in a bowl. Actually, a few small custard bowls, designated by sculpted, pattern, etc.

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