Bromelaid (neo) pollination questions

Deli · #1 (**permalink**) 03-13-2010, 03:32 AM

I noticed one of my Neos (Marble Throat) is producing buds in the center cup, And I'd like to try my hand at pollinating them. I've read the article that Mulford Foster has on fcbs.org and it seems pretty straight forward. Question time:

Anyone here have any experience pollination neos, Marble Throat in particular? (Antone, maybe?)

When can I expect the flowers to open, and how long until I have to and pollinate them, before they are non-receptive (or close)? I know it varies between plants, but just in general.

If pollinates successfully, How long until the seeds (berries) can be removed?

And also any tips/suggestions would be welcome

nathan · #2 (**permalink**) 03-13-2010, 03:37 AM

After you pollinate it , if it takes . The flowers will close and develope into seed pods. It can take a month to a couple months. Wait a month to check them. Then gently pull at one of the pods. If it comes out easily then theres a good chance there is good seeds in there. If it doesnt come out wait a week and try again. dont force it out. Keep checking every week or so. If nothing comes out or it comes out and its all mushy then it wasnt a succsessfull pollination.

im sure more experienced members will go into more detail for you. But hope that helps a little anyways . . .

Deli · #3 (**permalink**) 03-13-2010, 07:40 PM

If there is a good seed, do I plant it immediately? and how long does it take a seedling to fully grow? The article said 4-5 years and Im hoping thats not right o.O

donstr · #4 (**permalink**) 03-14-2010, 11:30 PM

I've done one cross so I'm not an expert but I did get seeds so....

Each flower is only receptive for a few hours. I ended up trying each flower a few times over the day to make sure I actually got it.

From what I've read a lot of Neos won't self-pollinate so you're probably going to need another brom in flower. That's the hardest part I think, I'm sitting on about 30 neos that aren't in vivs and it's very rare to have two flowering at once.

You'll get a lot of seeds out of each berry. I got about 20ish out of each lilliputiana berry and a bit more out of the other parent brom (some sort of large neo).

And yeah, 4 years until full grown.

Deli · #5 (**permalink**) 03-15-2010, 12:42 AM

I take it the seedlings grow much slower than pups?

donstr · #6 (**permalink**) 03-15-2010, 01:37 AM

oh yeah. The pup is getting a lot of help from the mother whereas the seedlings are doing it all by themselves.

Deli · #7 (**permalink**) 03-15-2010, 02:24 AM

Makes sense. Only sucky thing is I dont know if Neo Marble Throat is self-pollinating. Wouldn't hurt to try. On the off chance it works, how many seeds should I expect from each "berry"? Just a rough number, maybe.

Potential to have allot of Marble throats is making me antsy right now. lol.

nathan · #8 (**permalink**) 03-15-2010, 03:37 AM

Another cool thing about growing them from seeds is every plant will be a little different.

donstr · #9 (**permalink**) 03-15-2010, 04:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deli

Makes sense. Only sucky thing is I dont know if Neo Marble Throat is self-pollinating. Wouldn't hurt to try. On the off chance it works, how many seeds should I expect from each "berry"? Just a rough number, maybe.

Potential to have allot of Marble throats is making me antsy right now. lol.

Not sure but probably 15-30.

a Vertigo Guy · #10 (**permalink**) 03-15-2010, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deli

I take it the seedlings grow much slower than pups?

What you read was correct. I did a lot of Billbergia hybrids two Decembers ago. Will be another two yrs or so before they actually start looking like plants instead of weeds.