How to pollinate phalaenopsis orchid

phalaenopsis orchid pot

In nature orchids are pollinated by insects, in cultivation people do it. If you have successful experience in growing healthy plants that produce flowers year after year, you may be interested in how to pollinate phalaenopsis orchid plants.
First of all let’s define the term “pollination”. It refers to the process of fertilization when the pollen of the flower comes into contact with its own stigma or the stigma of another plant. After pollination the flowers are expected to make seeds which can be planted further on.

If you want to succeed in this act, you need to know orchid anatomy well.

So how to pollinate a phalaenopsis orchid?

Choose a blooming healthy orchid. It’s more appropriate to select a plant which has been repotted recently and managed to establish and grow. While the seed pod is developing after pollination, you won’t have a chance to repot it.

Find a flower which has been fully open for a couple of days with waxy-looking petals, gently open them and locate the shaft-like column, which is the main reproductive organ, at the very centre. Identify the anther cap. It can be found at the end of the column and has a slightly pointed piece projecting away from the column.

Place the toothpick underneath the pointed piece of anther cap and carefully pull it up. The anther cap will pop off like a lid. You can end up with two yellow blobs, which are the pollina, attached to the end of the toothpick. The process is not so easy and requires patience. Separate the pollina from the anther cap.

The next step will be finding a stigma. Right below the anther cap you will find a shiny pit. That is what we are looking for. The pollina must be pushed into stigma with a toothpick.

Now the plant may be returned to its growing area. It will take at least 6 months for the seeds to mature. While the seed pod undergoes its ripening times, make sure to remove all flower spikes so as not to allow them sap energy from the pod.