I collected and froze a lot of pollen from the roses that overwintered in my greenhouse. Pollen was stored in small labeled paper cups placed into Tupperware containers.
Several days ago, I removed the containers and placed at room temperature.
None of the pollen is being released.
What did I do wrong?
Is there any way to release the pollen at this stage?
Having read the replies below, how do you transfer the freshly released pollen to air-tight containers? Even film canisters have plenty of air in them. Should I buy plasticine bags?
I’m not an expert, but the conventional way to freeze pollen is not to freeze fresh anthers. Instead let the pollen release and then freeze it very dry in airtight containers. I use some little blue dessicant balls in each vial to make sure it stays very dry.
Cathy,
Pretty much reiterating what Joe said. The proper way to freeze pollen is to dry the anthers first to make the pollen release just like you would to use it right away. Then instead of putting it in the fridge, you put it in the freezer. But the pollen must be dry and the container must be air tight. You don’t want any frost getting in or when you warm up the container the frost melts, the pollen will get wet and will be ruined. I use film containers to store my pollen in, they’re small easy to use and the cap closes tight. I bought 50 of them for $10.00 on E-bay.
In the beading section of craft stores they sell tiny clear plastic jars with screw-on lids. I have used these successfully to store pollen either in the fridge or the freezer. I put the fresh anthers in and leave the lids off. After the pollen is released and dried the lids go on and it can be stored. I label the jars with a Sharpie. They are cheap–they come in a clear plastic box and you get a set of 20 for $6, or something like that.
Yours,
Betsy van der Hoek
Minnesota zone 4
P/N 48790, 2" x 3" x 2 mil White Block Poly Bags , case of 1000 is about $6 with a discount when you buy four cases. I use them for storing pollen in both the fridge and the freezer as well as for seeds that have been shelled out awaiting germination. They are a tremendous space saver.
Dry the pollen first in 7-dram vials with their caps off in filtered sunlight. These are available from US Plastics as well although you can find them elsewhere for less. They are reusable, my case of 500 has lasted for many years.
My first mistake was not letting the pollen dry completely using drying crystals. It can take 2-3 days at room temperatures then freeze them. Johannes
June is our wettest month.
Even though our humidity has been dangerously low, I find most pollen doesn’t release as well unless they are dried three or four days. I can’t get anything from Minutifolia anthers until the second or third day, sometimes fourth. Some release seemingly immediately, but many require time.