Question
QUESTION: Dear Wayne,

removing the pollinia from a Phalaenopsis flower being pollinated with the pollinia from a different flower influences the success of the pollination?

Thank you very much!

ANSWER: Luiz, not only will removal of the pollinia not influence the results, but is recommended to avoid unintended selfing of the flower to be pollinated. This is essentially no different from a selfing when the pollinina must first be removed before using it to pollinate its own flower. Pollination should always be done early in the life of a flower (ie shortly after the bud opens) to maximize success.  Use all of the pollinia from the different flower to help insure the best pollination.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Dear Wayne,

thank you very much for your answer.

Now, how many seed pods a mature Phalaenopsis under good growing conditions can satisfactorily produce?  What is the maximum number of pods I should try to get from a plant?

Thank you once again!


Luiz Lichtenstein

Answer
Luiz, I would not exceed two pods per plant.  This is to avoid stressing the plant too much to affect its future growth.  The plant puts a lot of energy into the production of seeds-- energy that would otherwise go into the production of roots and new leaves.  I have never tried for more than one per plant.