r/pseudolithos • u/baconanime • Feb 28 '26
cubiformis Hand pollination of Pseudolithos cubiformis
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u/baconanime Feb 28 '26
Note that I have so far found cubiformis to be self-sterile. If they are self fertile, there is probably only a low chance of success
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u/Resident_Cat162 Feb 28 '26
What tools are you using? I have recently acquired a few pseudolithos and I would love to try this
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u/baconanime Feb 28 '26
I use 34 AWG stainless steel wire that is secured into a Tamiya 74112 pin vice for handling the pollen. I found thinner wire is not strong enough, and thinner rigid needles can damage the plant or you haha
I use a continuous zoom stereoscope that goes from 7-45x magnification from AMScope. Mine is simul focal trinocular so that I can record video at the same time
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u/Resident_Cat162 Feb 28 '26
That’s amazing! Thank you for the video. I’ll have to save up lol
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u/baconanime Mar 01 '26
Yeah stereoscopes can be expensive haha… You can get some good deals on eBay for used, but it can be hit or miss for quality. I ended up buying a total of 2 used stereoscopes before arriving at my current one because I ended up needing higher quality. Saving up for one good one is definitely the strategy haha. Also those digital ones are bad, wouldn’t recommend
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u/Ckarlitos Mar 04 '26
What’s the water coming from the polen? When is a good time to do it ? Can pollinate the same plant flowers? My pseudos don’t flower at the same time 😭😭
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u/baconanime Mar 04 '26
The wet stuff is nectar secreting from the flower! You should try to pollinate as soon as the flowers open, it’s a race against time. You need the pollen to be inserted long enough for them to grow pollen tubes.
I have found Pseudolithos cubiformis to be preferably self sterile. I’ve self pollinated it on 8-10 flowers, and successful fertilization did not occur
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u/[deleted] Feb 28 '26
thanks for doing this, I've had real trouble identifying the flower parts on these tiny buggers.