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Is hybridizing a plant hard to do?

rhodea

By Rhodea

Canada Ca

I wonder if it could be done by the average gardener?




Answers

 

It entirely depends on what plant it is.

Normally its

Selecting a flower from one plant of a different variety e.g colour,
Remove stamens of another flower still attached to a plant of same species
Rubbing this onto the flower of the different species (the one attached to the plant)
Remove attached flowers petals, leaving it still attached
Labelling the flower still attached with what you crossed it with!
The seed of the cross will be produced as normal on the still attached flower.

Not all are succesful and you have to do it before the attached flower opens to wide so insects dont get there first.

Hard to explain!

http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/custom/files_uploaded/uploaded_resources/15113/parts_of_a_flower.jpg

Is a pic of the parts of a flower.

Hellebors are a good one to try.
Any one else know a site or better way to describe!?

4 Aug, 2009

 

Ive found it difficult ot find books that dont either go into to much complicated detail abotu it.
RHS may know of some 'begginner' books www.rhs.org.uk.

May be worth ago.

Patience is whats required too as it can take years to get a plant to flower showing what your breeding has produced. Sometimes a bad result, some good!

Sweet peas are worth a go too

4 Aug, 2009

 

I know quite a few gardeners who would describe themselves as 'average' who hybridise plants. Personally I don't have the patience for this.
Popular genus seem to be rhododendrons and bulbs like daffodils, crocus and galanthus.
You can use a small paintbrush to transfer the pollen from one plant to the stamen of the other.
Hygene is important and the brush should be cleaned between each operation. Also the recipient of he pollen will then need protecting so that it does not get further pollenated by a passing insect.
Sorry, I don't know any books devoted to htis topic. Maybe a web search would bring results.

5 Aug, 2009

 

yes do a web search on how to hybridise plants, plenty of online info available, I looked it up myself,
seems it,s not too difficult or so they say.

5 Aug, 2009

 

wow intense stuff
you could end up with some crazy results
worth a try though, but like already mentioned the waiting must be a drag

x x

5 Aug, 2009

 

Hmm worth a try.
If scientists can extract DNA from humans,and then inject it into human stem cells etc, then you think someone could do this with different plant species?...Just as long as you don't end up with a plant with two flowerheads...Lol....or maybe that's good???

8 Aug, 2009

 

Bulbaholic.I aplogise for implying that us gardeneners are "average".We are exceptional!

8 Aug, 2009

 

Rhodea, GoYers are not just exceptional - we are the BEST.

8 Aug, 2009

 

Simply the best!

8 Aug, 2009

How do I say thanks?

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