flowering periods, hybrids, etc.

[strangebrew]

This is a continuation of something trout mentioned in one of the recent long posts.

Have growers who get flower's found the flower periods of some/all trich species to coenside?

Does anyone have any idea what it's like in the wild?

I've had a macro/peru and a pachanoi open on exactly the same night.

I am inclined to think this is a result of them being in the same environment. They were treated differently.

[Gunter]

One grower told me that flowering time was the largest obstacle for hybridizing certain varieties of Trichocereus.

He also noted that for him at least the pollen was very short lived, about a week. Another grower has shared that crosses with older pollen do not work for him either.

I think a major part of a very serious breeding effort would involve cryogenic pollen storage.

[strangebrew]

Have those grower's heard of a thing called a fridge?

I 've had successful pollination with pollen that's been refridgerated for at least a month.

[Rev]

same

the pollen stays fresh very well for a month and declines a bit thereafter but can be good up to a year

from 1 month on whether it succeeds depends on factors like

how it treated - temps/humidity etc

how distant the cross is

how promiscuous the pollen aceptor is - My hybrid echinopis are well.. sluts ..whereas i cant get a set on some others like pacahnoi even with very fresh pollen - and the same pollen is used at the same time BTW

[gusto]

I too would be interested in any information and firsthand observations about Trich flowering and successful pollination.

Last year, my two flowering size plants (bridgesoid and Juul's x peruv) opened flowers on exactly the same night, allowing an easy cross both ways. This year the same two plants opened their flowers 30 days apart, and tho pollen was refrigerated, the attempted cross was unsuccessful.

Any tips on particular storage conditions for pollen, other than refrigeration? Also have others noted any correlation between lunar cycles and bloom times?

[Gunter]

Yes both of them,(one posted above) used a fridge.

[strangebrew]

All I can add as far as pollen storing goes is that the successful pollen was plentiful, on cue tips and in a money-bag in the fridge.

Interesting what you mention about lunar cycles gusto, particularly the 30 day apart part.

So far I have found that my flowering has always occurred in the quarter leading up to a full moon.

[strangebrew]

Any lunar connections can be discounted. Me! over at the Nook had flower's open today.

I would also like to know what determines a pollinated flower having 300 or 3000 seeds?

[teonanacatl]

quote:

---

I would also like to know what determines a pollinated flower having 300 or 3000 seeds

---

thats likely to relate to the morphology of the plant and that specific flower, how many ovaries it has etc. it would also have to do with the pollen actually doing its thing, how quick it gets to the ovary, if it makes it, if its got everythig it needs. generally two plants of different genetics will produce more seed then 2 of the same. just make sure u spread the pollen on as soon as the stigma's are receptive and spread it around good, that gives maximum time for it to be pollinated.

[Gunter]

strangebrew:

Any lunar connections can be discounted. Me! over at the Nook had flower's open today.

I think that does not fully discredit lunar influence. There are many factors and a single observation without controls does not amount to falsification of an unstated thesis. Factors that involve the moon may indeed affect the timing of flowering.

 

quote:

---

Interesting what you mention about lunar cycles gusto, particularly the 30 day apart part.

 

So far I have found that my flowering has always occurred in the quarter leading up to a full moon.

---

Right now is in the quarter leading up to the full moon (8/8-8/18) right now. Me!'s flower fits into the timing you noted StrangeBrew.

[ 12. August 2005, 01:10: Message edited by: Archaea ]

[gusto]

My two blooms this season were in the second quarter of the lunar cycle, one 3 days before, and one 5 days before full moon.

( Edited to correct moon cycle)

BTW, my bloom dates were June 17 for the SS02 bridgesoid and July 18 for the peruv/Juul's hybrid, so it looks like it was actually 31 days.

[ 12. August 2005, 11:36: Message edited by: gusto ]

[strangebrew]

 

quote:

---

My two blooms this season were also in the first quarter of the lunar cycle, one 3 days before, and one 5 days before full moon.

 

---

That's the second quarter. Check out my last entry on the following page gusto, your season was very similar to mine. My flower's were 31 days apart. What were your dates?

http://www.shaman-australis.com.au/ubb/ult...t=000671#000001

 

quote:

---

Right now is in the quarter leading up to the full moon (8/8-8/18) right now. Me!'s flower fits into the timing you noted StrangeBrew

---

A lunar quarter is only 7 days, if me!'s first opened on the 10th? that would be just outside.

EDITED TO REPLY TO GUSTO : Make that exactly the same then. My first were 5 days before full moon, second were 3. That really is quite a coincidence!

[ 12. August 2005, 13:33: Message edited by: strangebrew ]

[Gunter]

http://www.lunarrepublic.com/info/phases.shtml

Ah you are right , my bad.

1022 new=2005/08/05 03:05 first quarter= 2005/08/13 02:39 full= 2005/08/19 17:53 last= 2005/08/26 15:19

Still it is close, a few days off. I suspect that the plants pollination strategy involves flowering before the moon in full, I suspect it even mimics a moon in a way. Some mothes fly up towards the moon and mate, and the flowers scent should attract them, as would its light color, and if the nectar contains alkaloids there may even be an intoxication pollination strategy like datura.

[teonanacatl]

perhaps having the moon allows the flowers to floresce a certian color. somone should wack a UV light over one and see what color it glows.