How can I pollinate my blossoming orchids?

Question

I have tried it wit toothpicks - no success.

Answer 1

The site below might be of help to you. It's hard to really describe the technique, so if you go to this site, go to the faq's section and then tips on pollination. There is an illustrated guide there.

http://troymeyers.com

To add to this in response to the 3rd answer. I have grown orchids from seed, "flasking", for a number of years. I believe what you are trying to describe is a technique called meristeming. If not grown from seed how do you account for the huge number of hybrids on the market?

Answer 2

First of all, why do you want to pollinate them in the first place??  If you think you really want to, use a q-tip, but most likely you wont have much luck.

Orchids are tropical plants and need insects to be pollinated.

If you are thinking you can pollinate them and get seeds for new plants, let me give you a little advice:  Most orchids found commercially are reproduce by cuttings.  Many of them are by stem cuttings (a piece of stem is removed from the "parent"plant and dipped in a rooting hormone. They are usually put in an area with mist or at least really high humidity. Give them a few weeks, and you will see roots on them. They usually root readily.  It takes much less time and effort to produce other orchids this way than by growing them from seed.  The plants will mature faster and they will be identical to the parent plant.  Planting from seed will give you something, but maybe not what you would expect.  Seed sometimes revert back to "ancestors" of the original orchids which may or may not be desirable. (Most orchid growers cross breed orchids until they have the desirable traits they are looking for..hardiness, color, etc)  

Answer 3

Try with a small paint brush, you can buy at the hobby store