Hi Nhu et al, So all this talk of microwaving pollen has come at a good time, I have one plant in a pot of seedlings of Phycella australis in bloom right now with two flowers. Very pretty thing. I am assuming it is probably self sterile so I will nuke some pollen now and mix it with the fresh stuff and report back on results later on. A good mini project on a cold and snowy day, while we await a rainstorm and 50 plus degree temps tomrrow after visiting -3 F yesterday. I will be glad when spring finally gets here. Ernie DeMarie In evidently Z6 NY when it should be Z7. Eranthis are up as are a few crocus, the eranthis are of course frozen today (little yellow frozen spheres that cant open) but hopefully will be okay by tomorrow. -----Original Message----- From: Nhu Nguyen <xerantheum@gmail.com> To: Pacific Bulb Society <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> Sent: Mon, Feb 15, 2016 5:11 pm Subject: Re: [pbs] microwaving pollen By the way, I always use fresh pollen in the microwave. I have not had good results with dried or frozen pollen. Nhu On Mon, Feb 15, 2016 at 1:18 PM, David Pilling <david@pilling.demon.co.uk> wrote: > The drying paper says that microwaves cause a lot of damage, presumably by > making any water instantly boil and explode. If the pollen is already dry > there is not that effect. >