Whirling butterfly plant, also known as Gaura lindheimeri, is a beautiful perennial plant that produces delicate white or pink flowers that resemble fluttering butterflies. This plant can be grown in gardens or pots and requires minimal care. However, to increase your yield, you may need to pollinate the plant manually.
In this article, we will guide you on how to pollinate your whirling butterfly plant and increase your yield.
Pollination is the process of transferring pollen from the male part of the flower to the female part, which leads to fertilization and fruit production. Whirling butterfly plant relies on pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds for pollination. However, if your garden does not have enough pollinators or if the weather conditions are unfavorable, your yield may be affected.
Manual pollination ensures that your whirling butterfly plant produces more fruits, which can lead to a higher yield. Additionally, manual pollination can help you control the quality of your plants’ offspring.
Here are the steps on how to pollinate your whirling butterfly plant:
Whirling butterfly plants have both male and female flowers. The male flowers have stamens with pollen, while the female flowers have pistils with a stigma at the center.
To collect pollen from the male flowers, use a small brush or cotton swab and gently brush against the stamens. Make sure you collect enough pollen to transfer to the female flowers.
Transfer the collected pollen onto the stigma of the female flowers. Use a gentle touch and make sure you cover all parts of the stigma.
Repeat the process of collecting pollen and transferring it to the female flowers until you have pollinated all the flowers.
After pollination, wait for the fruits to develop. The fruits will appear as small pods that contain seeds.
A: The best time to pollinate your whirling butterfly plant is in the morning when the flowers are open and dry.
A: You need to pollinate your whirling butterfly plant several times, preferably every day, until all the flowers are pollinated.
A: Yes, you can use your fingers to transfer pollen from the male flowers to the female flowers. However, using a brush or cotton swab is more effective and reduces the risk of damaging the flowers.
A: It takes about two weeks for fruits to develop after pollination.
Manual pollination of your whirling butterfly plant can help increase your yield and improve the quality of your plants’ offspring. Follow the above steps on how to pollinate your whirling butterfly plant and enjoy a bountiful harvest.