Pollen Storage.

Okay All,

I don't know if anyone ever started a thread on pollen storage or pollination techniques, so if not then here we go. We all know males are not necessarily what we're looking for, so let's put these so called useless bastards to some good use. Any and all information welcome. So let's learn how to create our own super strain!

So who's first?

Sherman420

I keep mine in a little specimen jar with a moisture absorber. I keep it in a container with my seeds and uncooked rice, in the fridge have some viable pollen from 3 years ago still.

eastcoastmo said:

I keep mine in a little specimen jar with a moisture absorber. I keep it in a container with my seeds and uncooked rice, in the fridge have some viable pollen from 3 years ago still.

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Hey eastcoastmo,

Thanks for getting the ball rolling. I keep my seeds in uncooked rice as well. This pollen issue has been on my mind for a while now. So you can keep pollen viable for that long? Have you ever crossed anything interesting?

Sherman420

yeah I store my pollen in air-tight tupperware with silicon packages in it.
I have used pollen 4-5 years old with no problems. I basically take pollen from all males and store them before I cull the males.

sherman420 said:

Hey eastcoastmo,

Thanks for getting the ball rolling. I keep my seeds in uncooked rice as well. This pollen issue has been on my mind for a while now. So you can keep pollen viable for that long? Have you ever crossed anything interesting?

Sherman420

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Hey mate, no worries at all
Yes mate, I used the pollen only a few months ago and it still got me seeds!
Ive only got pollen from one male so far and that is a dj short blueberry, ive used it to make a few crosses so far and they've all been pretty good. Dunno if you can see my sig, but I journalled one of them, the blueberry x white shark (mako).

eastcoastmo said:

Hey mate, no worries at all
Yes mate, I used the pollen only a few months ago and it still got me seeds!
Ive only got pollen from one male so far and that is a dj short blueberry, ive used it to make a few crosses so far and they've all been pretty good. Dunno if you can see my sig, but I journalled one of them, the blueberry x white shark (mako).

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Hey Brother,

I'll have to check out your journal. Seem's like an interesting cross. The more I've been reading on fem. seed's V.S. regular ones, my finding's are that regular seed's produce a better female than fem's. This is according to Mike at Madala seed's. I guess in retrospect that's why I started this thread. I'm going to order regular seed's this time around and would like to use the males for something rather than just ditching them.

Peace,

Sherman420

Sounds like a good plan mate, I usually do the same! I'm still tossing up whether to make fem or reg seeds this round too. Been working on a strain for a few years now and kinda over popping so many regs to find a female...but i do agree with you that i think regs make better females

sherman420 said:

Hey Brother,

I'll have to check out your journal. Seem's like an interesting cross. The more I've been reading on fem. seed's V.S. regular ones, my finding's are that regular seed's produce a better female than fem's. This is according to Mike at Madala seed's. I guess in retrospect that's why I started this thread. I'm going to order regular seed's this time around and would like to use the males for something rather than just ditching them.

Peace,

Sherman420

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I simply don't believe it. I have grown plenty of fems and regs, and even some of the same strains, I have a hard time seeing a difference in them. I love my reg seeds because I am a pollen collector, but eh, there would have to be some serious lab proof for me to buy into that claim. And as of right now, even with the labs, we still don't even know what to look for really that makes one plant more special than the others.

sherman420 said:

Okay All,

I don't know if anyone ever started a thread on pollen storage or pollination techniques, so if not then here we go. We all know males are not necessarily what we're looking for, so let's put these so called useless bastards to some good use. Any and all information welcome. So let's learn how to create our own super strain!

So who's first?

Sherman420

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I ran an experiment recently. Took an Afghani male (homegrown fantaseeds) and hit my Durga Mata II CBD female (paradise seeds) with it. We've been harvesting beautiful seeds, while we toke on this prime bud: Durga Mata II mom at about 4 wks

Afghani daddy, I actually thought he was a she due to his strong, stinky smell noted very early in veg -

Afghani x Durga Mata II CBD strain. I just call it Midnight Nectar 100% germination - 2 days.

Growing the Nectar atm and I'm noticing most plants lean towards the Affie dad in growth pattern and appearance. Strong Stinky and HASHY smell upon rubbing the leaves. Smell is stronger than either parent. Plants are only about 5" tall. I'm very happy with my experiment so far

I only seeded about 30% of the buds, so most came out looking like this.

great thread @sherman420 got some SSDD pollen right now and it never occurred to me to try and store it like seeds. thanks-great timing.
@eastcoastmo and @althor thanks for the suggestions.
@indicat33 nice seed picture--having F2 versions and new crosses is awesome. and, like you, i try to only seed about 30% so there is still a nice harvest.

Do you guys just store plain pollen in the container used or do you I'd it with browned flour? How long do yall let the pollen dry before sticking it in fridge? It's a great thread and some processes before and after would help a lot too

Good questions Ak.
I add SOME regular white flour if I am having problems collecting pollen, because I have had strains that just dont want to give it up (selfing), when the pollen pods bust open, just a little pollen comes out. Considering you only need the tiniest grain to actually do the trick, mixing in some flour will spread it a lot further. Just dont over do it, something like a 1/20 ratio. I have overdone it myself and ended up with pollen that is barely viable. Instead of a bud with 20 seeds I get a bud with 1 seed.
I generally will let the pollen dry for about 3-5 days after the last time I collect. I will use the same container to collect however many times a day pods are opening, when I get to the point that I feel I have all I need, I set it out to dry (in a dark part of my grow room) for 3-5 days. Then I put a small silicon packet inside the container before putting it into the freezer.


When I get ready to use the pollen, I will switch it to the fridge for 24 hours, then put it in the same spot I let it dry out for another 24 hours before I use it.

I dont remember where, but when I was researching storing pollen techniques, I read someone saying they switched to fridge first so I did and continue to do so. I dont know if it makes any difference at all.

akhiymjames said:

Do you guys just store plain pollen in the container used or do you I'd it with browned flour? How long do yall let the pollen dry before sticking it in fridge? It's a great thread and some processes before and after would help a lot too

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Mate, i just collect all the pods, dry them for a week in dark, dry spot and then put them in the container. When i want to use it, i sieve it over the bud and it seems to work real well

I like the OP's avatar of the doll from Seinfeld that looks like George's mom. Classic stuff, cheers.