dgoss1's Blog

Hybridizing Oriental Lilies - #1
Jul 9, 2008 | 11:06 AM PST
Tags: Hybridizing , lilies

I'm new to gardening and am attempting to Hybridize (cross-breed) my Lilies.  This blog is a description of how I am attempting to do this.  I got the instructions from the following site:

http://www.lilies.org/inde
x.html

If you are familier with the process, and see any mistakes I may be making,  please let me know.  I still have a lot to learn and am open to suggestions or corrections.

Since this is my first year, I don't have any pollen saved, It can be frozen and used the following year. 

My 3 Large 9 foot Lilies (which I believe to be Georgette Lilies) were first to bloom so I collected the Anthers as they opened, placed them in an envelope made from wax paper, and stored them in a warm place to dry out.  I also took about half of them and froze for use next year.

Now when another bloom opens (as soon as it opens or just before you can pull the Petals and Sepals open) I collect the Anters from it and freeze to use next year.  I keep the pollen from different types each in a seperate marked envelope.

 

Next, I take a que-tip rub and it around in the pollen I saved earlier (from the Georgette Lilies) and apply it generously to the Stigma of the newly opened Lily.

Then I cover the Stigma with a small cap of Aluminum Foil so no bees or other pollenators can contaminate my cross attempts.

Below is a pic of some stems where everything has fallen off.  Marker #1 is one that has already dried up and can be easily pulled from the stem, this attempt didn't take.   #3 shows the pod that will swell if the germination takes.