Flower pollination is the transport of pollen from a male plant to a female plant. Some flowers contain both male and female parts and pollination occurs through the transfer of pollen from the male to the female organ in the same plant. Pollination occurs naturally with the help of animals, wind or through self-pollination. However, sometimes human intervention is required to pollinate the flowers by hand.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Determine if you need to pollinate the flowers by hand
Step 1. Pollinate houseplants that are not in contact with animals, such as bees or other insects that carry pollen, or the wind
- Transfer pollen to outdoor plants that are not naturally pollinated. If your flowers or fruit trees are dying before the fruits bloom, pollination may not have occurred.
- Pollinate by hand to create hybrid flowers.
Method 2 of 3: Cross-pollinate the flowers
Step 1. Determine if the flowers are male or female to cross-pollinate them by hand
To do the pollination you must be able to identify the sex of the flowers.
Step 2. Identify the male flowers
Male flowers usually bloom earlier than female ones and feature hairy antennae-like stems.
- Distinguish female flowers by observing the growth of fruit under the flower. The fruit will look like a miniature egg and will be located right under the flower. Furthermore, female flowers have a shorter stem and a long, thin stigma that connects the ovary to the base of the flower. The stigma collects male pollen.
- Transfer the pollen early in the morning when the flowers begin to open.
Step 3. Collect pollen from the male flower with a small brush or cotton swab
Step 4. If the flowers are far apart, put the pollen in a hard gelatin capsule
Hard gelatin capsules are clear tablets that you can open and fill with herbs or powdered substances, such as pollen. Use the capsules to avoid losing the pollen collected.
Step 5. If the male flower opens earlier than the female one, you can pick it up, transfer it to a vase with water and store it in the refrigerator
- Transfer the pollen to the female flower. Cover the brush or cotton swab with pollen, insert it into the flower petals and gently cover the stigma with pollen.
- Transfer the pollen to each female flower.
Method 3 of 3: Flower self-pollination
Step 1. Recognize the sexual organs found on the flowers of self-pollinating plants
When transferring pollen, it is important to know the parts of the flower.
Step 2. Look into the flower to see if it has male anthers carrying pollen
The anthers resemble antennae. Pollination starts from the anthers, which contain pollen.
Step 3. Find the female ovaries
The ovaries are located at the base of the flower tube and have a round, swollen appearance.
Step 4. Use a small clean brush or cotton swab to pollinate the flowers by hand
Step 5. Touch the anthers with the brush or cotton swab to extract pollen
Be careful not to push too hard with the brush.
Step 6. Transfer the pollen to the female ovaries by gently rubbing it
Advice
- Buy hard gelatin capsules online or at the pharmacy.
- If there are insects in your garden, such as bees, but the flowers are not growing properly, the problem is likely not a lack of pollination. Maybe you are over-fertilizing the flowers or they are sick.
- You can find flower diagrams in gardening books or online; just search for "floral diagrams".
