Rosebush1223
Newly Registered
Posts: 1
Joined: Sun Jan 29, 2006 9:02 pm

Roses; Cross-polination & Color Theory

Hey, who else is interested in cross-polination of roses?
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If your a fellow cross-polination fan, this is the place to talk, chat, ask questions, or whatever!!! I guess I'LL start
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1) How can you cross polinate easier
2) How can you determine the colore of a cross-polunate?
3) How can you control the outcome of your roses?
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:oops: Sorry, I'm a rookie gardener, but I'm SO intrested. :oops:

kevinschoppe
Cool Member
Posts: 90
Joined: Sat Apr 30, 2005 10:54 pm
Location: Zone 8A Texas Gulf Coast

Well, Welcome to the Forum!

I'm still early off in my gardening experience too, but stick around and you will get some good knowledge from the Mod's here.

As for you quary about cross breading. I have no idea. I can say that my baby's blanket is half pink, and half white! It is pretty cool looking.

grandpasrose
Greener Thumb
Posts: 1651
Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2005 12:21 pm
Location: Quesnel, BC, Canada - Zone 4a

If you are talking about cross-pollinating two different varieties, there are no guarantees of anything. This is how new roses are developed. Breeders study long and hard the family trees of roses they might use to gain the particular qualities they are wanting in a rose they want to breed.

They then cross-pollinate the two varieties, wait for the female to produce seed, then wait out the cold time frame the seeds need and then plant them. Every single seed will produce a rose entirely different from the next. Thousands of seedlings are raised by breeders, just to find one desirable rose with the characteristics they want. Like entering a lottery.
All the rest of the seedlings are worthless.

The actual performing of the cross-pollination is actually quite easy. The petals and anthers of the seed (female) parent flower are removed. The petals of the pollen (male)parent are removed. The anthers of the male are brushed against the stigmas of the female and then a paper bag is tied around the female flower head. The flower head remains on the bush until it has formed a rose hip that is plump and meaty, but not crinkly.

Bury the rose hips in a pot with some peat moss and leave them outside for the winter. In the spring, bring them in, and squeeze the seeds out of the rose hip into a bowl of water. Any seeds that float are infertile, so only plant the ones that sink. Then wait for them to grow, and see what you get.

The only real control you have over what color you may end up with or any other characteristics, is by studying the family trees and backgrounds of the parent roses.

If you are really just wanting to know about cross-pollination, I hope I have answered your questions. If you are looking for ways to propagate and get more roses the same as you already have, there are much easier ways, and I could pass that on to you. Just let me know!

Have fun! :wink:

Val

The Helpful Gardener
Mod
Posts: 7491
Joined: Mon Feb 09, 2004 9:17 pm
Location: Colchester, CT

Good stuff Val!

grandpasrose
Greener Thumb
Posts: 1651
Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2005 12:21 pm
Location: Quesnel, BC, Canada - Zone 4a

Thanks Scott! 8)

Val



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