chilli pollinating problems

[swainclubber]

I have a strong and healthy habanero chilli plant..It has lots of side shoots now growing up and it is doing really well.It is living in my conservatory.(so it gets extremely hot during the day, and very cold at night..

With the first 2 flowers i used a cotton bud to try and pollinate them, but they dropped off after 5-7 days.I have read that chillies are generally considered as being a self pollinating plant.

The plant is also misted daily!

Any ideas/thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Ben

[swainclubber]

[fbgrifter]

see post called 'aubergines and peppers'

[swainclubber]

ok thanks..i've done everything it says  ???

[fbgrifter]

then its time to get out the viagra!    :-[

[Georgie]

You are right to spray because this keeps the red spider mites at bay.  Forget cotton buds though.  Instead, gently tap each flowering stalk with your finger and you should see the pollen fall and hey presto - germination!  :D

G xx

[swainclubber]

cheers

[swainclubber]

its really strange,i have used that method on many plants before, but when i try it on the chilli, i see no pollen on my fingers!!

[Georgie]

I do mine every day - sometimes I see pollen, sometimes not.  But I get a satisfactory rate of setting fruit so I guess it's just a matter of timing.

G xx

[swainclubber]

ok thanks agan.i shall stick with it

[David R]

swainclubber, if you look closely at the anthers, you will notice that some are showing pollen and others are not, this is a natural feature aimed at preventing self pollination, (The anthers ripen at a different time to the female stigma). Its better to use 2 plants, then transfer pollen between them, wait to see that the anthers are showing pollen, then pick some up on your fingertip. Where you tap the plants and dont see pollen, thats probably where the anthers are not quite ripe, or already exhausted.

keep at it, and you will succeed.