Pollinating Flowers

Some Bromeliads are easily hand pollinated

I am not going to go into depth of crosses and hybridisation this guide is only intended to get you started. It is all ways best to cross or use pollen from different flowers to the one you pollinate. remember to take notes of times/date/parent and pollen parents etc......also remember to remove any chances of insects etc..... from repollination of the same flowers part of this is to remove the pollen sticks from flowers........ once you get the idea you can delve further into bromeliad pollination

Vriesias:- to hand pollinate the flowers touch the pollen and if yellow powder is left on your fingers pollen is ready to be used very gently break off the pollen sticks (anther) one by one and gently rub pollen onto the stigma

Pictures above shows the basics 5 x pollen sticks and one Stigma in middle looks like yellow broccoli

Neoregelias (Neo's) :- there a bit different, but same concept using a piece of wire or a tooth pick gently insert down into the centre of the flower pull out and look to see pollen powder and if pollen insert into a different flower.

Aechmeas:- same principle as vriesias for pollination, when berries develop keep watch and look for change of colour once colour change you should be able to remove berries with no effort when this happens it is a good indicator seed is ready. Squeeze one berry between fingers and look hard to see seed in jelly. if all looks right squeeze a few berries onto cheap paper towel or tissue and allow to dry. once dry put paper onto a seedling tray full of sphagnum moss keep moist not wet.

Tillandsias:- Similar to Vriesia pollination

Tillandsia seed ready to be sowed