This is how you hand pollinate a Phalaenopsis Orchid

At the front of the flower there is something called the Anther Cap which sits on the top of the column and which contains the pollinia. We can pop it off with a wooden skewer, and it sticks nicely so you won’t lose it.

Then we can gently separate the Anther Cap from the pollinia, which stays nicely stuck on the wooden skewer.

The pollinia needs to be inserted right up into the stigma, it’s a little bit sticky, but sometimes it can be difficult to get the pollinia to release from the skewer.

Once insert the Phalaenopsis Orchid is fertilised and the stem of the flower will begin to swell.

It’s best to pollinate one flower with an-others pollinia, and even better to do so between two different plants. This way you can also grow your own hybrids.