What To Know
- Learning how to cross pollinate daylilies is a rewarding journey that allows you to explore the world of daylily breeding and bring your own artistic vision to life.
- The **female part**, called the **stigma**, is located at the top of the **style**, a slender tube leading to the ovary where the seeds develop.
- Remove any excess debris from the seeds and spread them out on a paper towel in a warm, dry place to dry for a few days.
Are you a daylily enthusiast looking to create your own unique and breathtaking hybrids? Learning how to cross pollinate daylilies is a rewarding journey that allows you to explore the world of daylily breeding and bring your own artistic vision to life. This guide will walk you through the process of hand-pollinating daylilies, from choosing the right parents to nurturing your new seedlings.
Understanding the Basics of Daylily Reproduction
Daylilies are known for their vibrant colors, diverse forms, and ease of cultivation. However, to understand how to cross pollinate daylilies, it’s essential to grasp their reproductive system.
Daylilies are hermaphroditic, meaning each flower contains both male and female reproductive parts. The **male part**, called the **anther**, produces pollen, which contains the male genetic material. The **female part**, called the **stigma**, is located at the top of the **style**, a slender tube leading to the ovary where the seeds develop.
Self-pollination occurs when pollen from the same flower’s anther falls onto its own stigma. While this is a natural process, it won’t result in new hybrids. To create new varieties, we need to perform **cross-pollination**, which involves transferring pollen from one flower’s anther to the stigma of another flower.
Choosing Your Parent Daylilies
The excitement of daylily breeding starts with selecting the right parent plants. Consider the traits you desire in your offspring. Do you want a specific color, flower shape, or fragrance?
Here’s a guide to choosing your parent daylilies:
- Consider your desired traits: Think about the qualities you want in your hybrid offspring, such as color, flower size, petal shape, fragrance, and bloom time.
- Choose compatible varieties: Daylilies are divided into various groups based on their ploidy (number of sets of chromosomes). For successful cross-pollination, it’s best to choose parent plants within the same ploidy group.
- Select healthy, vigorous plants: Choose parent daylilies that are free from disease and have a history of producing strong, healthy blooms.
The Art of Hand-Pollination
Once you’ve selected your parent plants, it’s time to get your hands dirty! Here’s a step-by-step guide to hand-pollinating your daylilies:
1. Choose the right flowers: Select flowers that are freshly opened and have not yet been pollinated. Look for flowers with anthers that are shedding pollen and stigmas that are receptive (usually moist and sticky).
2. Prepare your tools: You’ll need a small, soft brush, tweezers, and a small container or bag for collecting pollen.
3. Collect the pollen: Gently brush the anthers of the pollen parent flower with your brush to collect the pollen. Transfer the collected pollen to your container.
4. Apply the pollen: Using your tweezers, gently remove the anthers from the stigma of the seed parent flower to prevent self-pollination. Carefully brush the collected pollen onto the stigma of the seed parent flower.
5. Label and record: Label the seed parent flower with a tag indicating the pollen parent and date of pollination. Keep a detailed record of your crosses in a notebook or spreadsheet.
Post-Pollination Care
After pollination, it’s important to provide your seed parent plant with proper care to ensure seed development.
- Water regularly: Keep the soil evenly moist, but avoid overwatering.
- Provide adequate sunlight: Daylilies thrive in full sun, so make sure your plants receive at least six hours of sunlight per day.
- Fertilize regularly: Feed your plants with a balanced fertilizer to promote healthy growth and seed development.
- Monitor for pests and diseases: Keep an eye out for any signs of pests or diseases, and take appropriate action to protect your plants.
Harvesting and Sowing Seeds
Once the seed pods have formed and started to ripen (usually about 6-8 weeks after pollination), you can harvest the seeds.
- Harvesting seeds: Cut the seed pods when they are fully ripe and brown. Open the pods carefully and collect the seeds.
- Cleaning and drying seeds: Remove any excess debris from the seeds and spread them out on a paper towel in a warm, dry place to dry for a few days.
- Sowing seeds: Sow the seeds in a seed tray or pot filled with a well-draining seed-starting mix. Cover the seeds lightly with soil and water gently.
Nurturing Your Seedlings
Once your daylily seedlings emerge, it’s time to provide them with the care they need to thrive.
- Provide adequate light: Daylily seedlings need bright, indirect light. You can place them in a sunny window or under grow lights.
- Water regularly: Keep the soil moist, but avoid overwatering.
- Fertilize as needed: Use a diluted fertilizer solution to provide your seedlings with the nutrients they need.
- Transplant when necessary: Once your seedlings have developed a few true leaves, you can transplant them into individual pots or directly into the garden.
The Joy of Seeing Your Daylily Hybrids Bloom
The magic of daylily breeding lies in the anticipation of seeing your new hybrids bloom. It can take anywhere from one to three years for your seedlings to reach maturity and produce flowers.
When your hybrids finally bloom, be prepared to be amazed! You may discover a new color, a unique form, or a captivating fragrance. The joy of seeing your own creation come to life is a truly rewarding experience.
Answers to Your Most Common Questions
Q: What is the best time of year to cross pollinate daylilies?
A: The best time to cross pollinate daylilies is during their peak blooming season, which typically occurs in late spring and early summer.
Q: Can I cross pollinate daylilies from different species?
A: While it is possible to cross pollinate daylilies from different species, it is often more challenging and may result in less vigorous offspring. It’s generally recommended to cross-pollinate within the same species or closely related varieties.
Q: How long do daylily seeds take to germinate?
A: Daylily seeds can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months to germinate. Patience is key when waiting for your new hybrids to emerge!
Q: What happens if I don’t remove the anthers from the seed parent flower?
A: If you don’t remove the anthers from the seed parent flower, there is a high chance of self-pollination, which will not result in a new hybrid. Removing the anthers ensures that only the pollen from the chosen pollen parent will fertilize the stigma.
Q: How can I tell if my daylily cross was successful?
A: You won’t know for sure if your cross was successful until the seedlings bloom. However, if the seed pods develop and ripen properly, it’s a good indication that pollination occurred.
