Hibiscus International Supplement #2

Hybridizing begins with the successful production of seed. This is done by simply bringing the pollen "male gamete" (fluffy yellow stuff on the staminal column in the center of the boom) in contact with the 5 or so pads on the top - the female reproductive organs. This has to be done under suitable conditions of temperature. Other factors are important as well such as a minimal fluctuation from day and night temperatures. If these conditions cannot be met outside during certain periods of the year, many are even more successful in obtaining seeds in controlled conditions inside of their homes. Generally, those temperatures in which you are comfortable are suitable for hybridizing as well.

The object is to permit conditions where the pollen grain can produce the pollen tube that grows down the staminal column to permit the male gamete to fertilize the female ovum contained at the base. Hence there are lots of things that can be done to optimize the process, including prevention of conditions that might cause drying such maximizing humidity by providing wet gravel around or under the pot, turning the bloom away from the sun, if in a pot removing it to a shady location, keeping it out of the wind, etc. Hence, cloudy or foggy days are often ideal.

The actual transfer of pollen can be done in many fashions, the easiest being to remove a bloom and brush the pollen on the pads of another. One can use a small artist's paint brush to collect pollen and transfer it to the pads on another flower. Q-tip cotton swabs are also useful for this purpose.

Although the pads are reasonably solid, one must take care not to be too rough for they can be easily broken. There are certain varieties known to be very reluctant to develop seed pods, so these should be avoided by the be-ginner. Likewise, there are those that easily set seed making the task much easier. Also, certain varieties provide what is called hot pollen, meaning it is particularly effective in getting even reluctant varieties to produce seed.

There are a number of reasons why one might want to hybridize:

1) for commercial purposes;

2) for the personal pleasure of doing so;

3) to be able to create plants of quality that you might not otherwise be able to acquire;

4) to develop better varieties from those that presently exist; and,

5) just to create the newest or latest and greatest - the latter not necessarily being better than their predecessors, just different which is a driving force in marketing most any product.

One of the most important aspects of hybridization is the selection process for it determines what you keep and what is discarded. From a given group of seedlings, those looking for minis may discard many that don't fit that requirement and visa versa, which could mean that otherwise superlative blooms are discarded.

In seeing the requirements of commercial mass propagators of hibiscus in Europe, it is obvious that they have developed varieties some collectors would give an arm for, but which never make it to the market place and are des-troyed for lack of the characteristics required in their production process. Hence, regardless of the results, selection dictates the end product.

Dick admiring a seedling of Georgia's Pearl (x) Ten Thirty Seven
that he might (not sure yet) eventually name after himself.