Pollination
Jane McGary (Thu, 29 Jan 2004 09:52:28 PST)

Diana asked,

My Tecophilaeas are in bloom, but in attempting to hand pollinate them I
have noticed that the anthers have not split to release their pollen. I
have many blooms, all the same, i.e. no pollen. When I grew these in a
warmer drier environment I got plenty of seed. Does anyone have any
suggestions?

I usually get seed on mine in the bulb frames, but I wait to pollinate them
until there is a sunny period, which means I can wait a long time in
western Oregon in the winter. They bloom later here, farther north than
Diana's place in northern California. I assume Diana's plants are in pots,
so she could try taking them into the house for a couple of days to ripen
the pollen. Tecophilaea cyanocrocus does not increase very fast
vegetatively, so seed is the only means to build up nursery stock.

Jane McGary
Northwestern Oregon