Congratulations on your Twirling success!!

Im an addict too about hand pollination and this is my third season Twirlng with around a dozen Seedpods on different cultivars.

My trees with Seedpods will come inside for winter and I'll keep the ones with Seedpods in the back room as well as my large Kapalua ( with Seedpod) in my great room for the winter season. I will let them start to go semi dormant and they will drop their leaves during the winter, but I will give the containers a little water every month. ( just a little...)

Those Seedpods will continue to grow as we try and get them settled in for the winter and then they will slow down in growth. You might see them grow a tad bit more during the winter and then again as the days grow longer In The spring.

These Seedpods will mature around 9- 12 months with them growing this season and then having to go through dormancy. I would watch them this spring and place a netting over the Seedpod as it gets larger. My J-105 took twelve months to mature going through season to season. So be patient and enjoy your success!!

I am really happy for you !!

My twirlers that I make are from fishing line attached to wooden skewers ( 20 or 25 pound test) I did make a YouTube video since some of my friends were discouraged because the blooms would drop off and I would always say that they were being " to heavy handed". So I just made something to help...

ill post a picture of the netting that I will use when the Seedpods get larger and you think it might mature. Once they get to the point that the stem stops sending the latex and or the nutrients to the Seedpod, it will start to show signs of wrinkling and the seem will start to split. Some say to keep the Seedpod on the stem until it opens and I like to do this too, but if I see it's ready and the stem that Is attached to the Seedpod is not serving it purpose and I know it's time, I will watch and if I see splitting at the seam, I'll take the Seedpod off and place it in a dry area.

Some of mine that will go through winter dormancy too!!

Here is a picture of a Seedpod in the beginning stages..

This is on my Jamaican Fire.

Solana Red

Here are a few pictures of my Seedpods that went through last winter and matured in ( spring) of 2017.

You will see as many as 30-40 seeds per pod!! It just depends on how large they grow!!

once they split and ripen, you can let it open or you can use you fingers to open the Seedpod . You will find a type of membrane in the center. Just remove it and set aside to throw away later. The seeds will be all uniform and you can start at the end and pull the seeds out ( gently...) they will all start to fall out after you let it dry.

Hope this helps!!

Laura

Thanks, Laura. I don’t have room for my plants inside. I typically pull them from the pots and store them in a box in my garage. Will this be an issue for the seed pods? I plan on leaving the pods attached to the plants

They should be just fine storing like that. I rarely loose a seedpod during winter storage. Most pods, in my experience, are lost while taking the plant in/out of storage. Garage door panels are notorious seed pod eaters

Laura, a wealth of info as always. Thanks for the pod goals :)...

Hi Andre!!

You are more than welcome!! I'm really glad that you have those ' POD ' goals... ;-). I am simply addicted to making those beautiful seedpods too!! ( I just need to find more room to grow my seedlings..) lololol!!

Have a great evening!!

Laura