Free The Cannabis Breeder's Bible by Greg Green Page B

involves tying a small paper or plastic bag envelope around the male flowers and allowing the pollen to drop into the bag. This works, but has two problems. The first problem is that the male flowers do not receive any light and so produce far less pollen, if any at all. The second problem is that the bag needs to let some air in to allow the flowers to grow properly. This means a small hole has to be cut in the side of the bag. Although pollen may not flow from the hole, this certainly is not a secure way to ensure that selective breeding takes place, rather than wild, random pollination.
     
    The best way to collect male pollen is to use small black film canisters and a small pair or tweezers. Be sure to label the canister to correspond with the male that you are taking the pollen from. Hold the canister under the male flower and gently tap the flower with the tweezers. The male flower should drop pollen into the canister. If it does not, wait a day and try again. Keep doing this until the male releases its pollen. All it should take is a little tap of the tweezers. If you tap too hard the male flower may fall off.
     
    If you are afraid that you will miss out on the pollen dropping overnight then simply get a white piece of paper and place this around the plant’s base on top of the pot. You can rip the sheet of paper halfway down the middle so that it slides easily around the stem. Remove the fan leaves and any other large leaves from the male or else they will catch the falling pollen instead of the paper. Come back the next day and some of the pollen will be caught on the paper. Gently remove the sheet of paper and curve it slightly. Empty the pollen into a black film canister. Make sure not to use fans in the grow room or else pollen with be blown around. Even extractor fans cause the pollen to spread. It is also important to prevent moisture and light from coming into direct contact with the pollen after collection. Store the pollen using the methods described in chapter 2.
     
    Male flowers open at different times so it may take a few days of pollen collection for you to end up with a workable amount from one male plant.
     
    The application of pollen to the females is easy, but must be done with care and with timing in mind. You should try to pollinate your females at least four weeks before the end of harvest. Pollinating females any later than this can result in nonviable seeds around harvest time. Sometimes it can even take six weeks for the female to create viable seeds.
     
    Only the flowering areas of the females that receive pollen will produce seeds. It is very easy to keep a number of colas sinsemilla by not applying pollen directly to them. The best way to apply pollen is to use a cotton swab or a small paintbrush. Dip the swab or paintbrush and lightly brush the pollen onto the selected areas of the female. Make sure to label the female with the corresponding male pollen that she has received. Using a small piece of tape can help remind you which branches have been pollinated.
     
    For heavier pollination you may wish to remove your female from the grow room to avoid inadvertent pollen contamination of other females. When you have finished brushing pollen from the film canister onto the female simply blow the excess pollen away from the leaves before returning the female to the grow room 5 . You might also choose to let your plant rest for a day before returning her to the grow room.
     
    Female pistils that have received pollen tend to change color although this is not always the case.The best way to mark pollinated areas is, again, by using tape and labels.
     
    Pollen can easily be removed from the females by washing them down with water. This renders the pollen nonviable. Simply dip the pollinated female flowering areas in water or spray them down with water. This may damage some of the trichomes but it will prevent the bud from producing seeds.
     
    Pollinated female flowers should be given adequate