Cut off an antler with the yellow pollen at the end. Tap it on the the stigma after it splits wide open several days after the flower opens. At room temperature, it usually takes approximately 6 weeks until you have mature seeds. Look here for pictures.

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Yes, just pinch off the filament in such a way that you have an inch or so to hold onto it. Then, I simply paint the pollen onto the stigma and then watch and wait.

It will take 6-8 weeks for the pod to mature. You will know when it is mature by the fact that it will crack open slightly, exposing the dark brown seeds.

Sometimes, the pollen doesn't stick very well, so you can try it again the next day. I prefer to wait until the stigma is fully opened, and I pollinate before the bloom starts to fade.

Others, I am sure use different methods. Hopefully, they will share them with you also.

Everyone seems to have their own method for pollinating, but I use this one. I pollinate my daylilies the same way.

Good Luck! It's LOTS of fun!

Wow, what great info this is, thanks for telling and showing us how!

Just wondering if you may be trying to cross two different types, can the pollen be saved for later use on another bloom that hasn't opened yet? If so, for about how long and how would you store it?

there is a post elsewhere in another forum which says you can freeze pollen - i think even up to a year. i'm going to experiment this season with frozen polen. make sure it's frozen in an air tight container. if the polen will be used within a month, you can just refrigerate it.

Thanks tokyomafia! I am going to try it and see what happens.

I keep pollen for up to 6 months in coin envelopes in the butter keeper of the fridge. It can be stored with silica packs in a tightly sealed jar in the fridge for even longer.I had been storing with silica but I'm experimenting a bit to see if it is really necessary. Lora

I do believe that the silica will help in my environment. Being so close to the Gulf, we have extremely high humidity except for those occassional cold fronts. I have a rather large an old dehumidifer in my class room and with the exception of when it is cold enough for the heat to turn on, I dump a bucket of water every morning despite the fact that I can only run it over night due to the noise it makes. Thank goodness for automatic shutoff. It would definitely overflow.

The problem is getting the pollen dry enough 'before' it goes into the ziploc and in the fridge. I also have difficulty drying seeds. It takes forever and a day. I may try some silica with some seeds this year (before storing) to see if it helps with longevity.

Thanks!

I think it was you Lora or maybe Hans? Who told me that crossing H's was similar to Daylilies. But I can't remember for sure, whoever it was sent me on a Google search and I found this pretty good article (with pics) at Tinker's. I'll link it below

Here is a link that might be useful: Hybridizing My Way

Hi MBT,
Good to see you :)
That is a very good link,probably from Hans-Werner.
The biggist problem breeding hippis seems to be the lack of a database.It's all trial & error to figure out the ploidy.
Hi Elizabeth,
I'm having humidity problems this year too.It's not gotten cold enough for the furnace to run much and it just-keeps-raining! The dehumidifier just keeps running and I have an extra fan on in the gh. Lora

Hi guys, I am bumping this back up because I am trying my firt hand at polinating flowers. Right now I just have my Exotic Star and a Red Lion blooming. This is such valuable info I keep referring to it. I like the way you tag the plants too when you are as forgetful as me, in 6 weeks I will forget who kissed who! Anyway, I have more Amaryllis in bud and since I will be laid up after some (UGHHHHHH) surgery, this will be a fun way to occupy my time. Another question...If I take pollen from Red Lion and swathe Exotic Star, do you call it: "Red Lion x Exotic Star"? This may even be a silly choice, I do not know, but I am experimenting just the same. Thanks for your input.

Cindy~

You write the seed parent first, so your cross would be Exotic Star x Red Lion. Score 1 for the matriarchy?

R.

lol-raydio, score a big 1! Thanks, my friend. Don't forget to let me know when it is warm enough at your end for me to send your surprises! Sheesh, it's going to be 85 here all weekend. Where's my Florida winter??? Bwahhhhh!

Actually, I think you're good to go.

I was going to email you to say so, but felt like I was being a pest--but the weather is currently fine here!

R.