Pollen storage

[Chip Green]

Popular internet opinion can induce extreme anxiety when it comes to pollen storage. Whether that be long term, or short term, share your experiences.

There will always be the "boogie man" in cannabis cultivation lore. Discussions such as these, help erase the effect of bro science myth.

I recently harvested a substantial amount of very valuable reversal pollen.
Once dried, COMPLETELY dried, I intentionally left a single vial on my workbench, at normal living conditions, as an experiment to ease my paranoia of letting pollen just sit around.
It stayed there for 26 days, in a centrifuge tube.
After use, I contend that pollen was as viable, if not more, than it had been three weeks prior.
Discuss.

 

[UncleB]

What method do you use to completely dry your pollen?

 

[pwnytailjoe]

Great thread! I've been curious myself. I've got a vial of Blukakke pollen in the freezer that's been there about six months. I've been letting it go so I can try to do a pollination at some random, far away date when I pop more of those beans.
I've also got the male Fast Purple F1 sitting in my garage stil from 3 weeks ago Think I'll head out there and grab up what's left and try another Flo pollination sometime later.

Right now, RH where I'm sitting is 26%. I could probably dry a side of beef overnight.

 

[Amarok]

What method do you use to completely dry your pollen?

I toast some uncooked rice in the toaster oven to remove all moisture and then add it to the pollen jar. Seems to work for me.

 

[Frimpong]

I toast some uncooked rice in the toaster oven to remove all moisture and then add it to the pollen jar. Seems to work for me.

Was just talking to somebody about this. I microwave it and it helps .

 

[Chip Green]

microwave it

This example right here. I would have expected that would destroy the viability.

***EDIT***
Edibles can have an adverse effect on reading comprehension.
Do not microwave pollen.

 

[Chip Green]

What method do you use to completely dry your pollen?

I like a half pint mason jar. With legitimate males, when the pods begin to open, I scoop them off with the lip of the jar. I don't even bother picking out the pod skin material. As the pods pile up, a gentle shake will begin to separate the dust from the skins. Working in low humidity environments for a good portion of the year in my location makes this really easy. I generally keep the collection jar in a dedicated veg area without a lid for several days.

When I do reversal, the same process, but after a few days of drying, it helps to smash up the pods, with an arbitrarily selected tool.

 

[GthaEnigma]

This example right here. I would have expected that would destroy the viability.

I believe that was in refererence to the rice, as opposed to baking it in an over to use as a dessicant.

 

[Chip Green]

So we're not microwaving pollen then?

 

[GthaEnigma]

Not to my knowledge. I agree that would end viability.

 

[Chip Green]

***EDIT***
Edibles can have an adverse effect on reading comprehension.
Do not microwave pollen

Ok deep breath, after actual belly laughter at myself.
This is how bro science is created.

 

[pwnytailjoe]

First off, am I doing this right?



I have a funny story about rolling into Ferndale, California back in 1994 when Outbreak was being filmed.
It was a Sunday morning and we dipped in to check the place out after leaving Arcata. The place was vacant as most small towns are on Sunday morning.
We're taking in the quaintness and all of the sudden there is a huge cubicle in the middle of downtown with "CDC" on it.
I'm like wtf is going on here...?
It took us about 20 minutes until we encountered someone who kindly explained that a Hollywood movie was being filmed there.
Sighs of relief.

I went out and grabbed the rest of what was referenced in my previous comment.
Stuck it in the [not turned on] oven overnight, sealed it up, and into the freezer.
Now what.