Please instruct me how to crossing Aloes...

[Cabanas]

Hello,

This is the first season that I will have more than one Aloe in bloom at one time, which I am really stoked about. I will be having Aloe Striata, Aloe "Not-Maculata" and hopefully Aloe Cameronii x Maculata, Aloe Pluridens, Aloe Peglerae, A. Elgonica & A. Arborescens a little later.

A. "Not-Maculata" is a maculated aloe that I haven't been able to identify. It is significantly smaller than Maculata, which I also have, has sharp, brown teeth and stripes accross the leaves. It also pups freely. I received this aloe from a friend and they labeled it simply, "Generic Aloe".



I would like to create some crosses with these aloes with hopes of bringing up my own Aloe hybrids. I understand there are lots of variables in the making, and that I might not end up with anything fancy, but I only want these hybrids to grow in my own yard and possibly share with friends at some point down the road. I would also like to simply experiment with aloes. How could I go about creating the crosses? I mean, apart from letting the hummers and bees do the pollinating. I am completely new to this and will need any help I can get! Last year, I had A. Maculata, A. Striata & A. Pluridens bloom at different times, and not a single plant set a seed pod.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Josh

[Jean-Michel DUPUYOO]

Hi Josh,
Did you obtain seed by cross pollinisation in 2010? If yes could you give em some informations?
Sincerely.
Jean-Michel

[wantonamara]

Josh, I am guessing that your A. not maculata is a A. grandidentata, or a dwarf soap aloe.

Their is a thread awhile back on freezing pollen.

[Cabanas]

Jean-Michel, I did get lots of seed pods off of one of my Aloe Striata. Unfortunately, I did not label the pods that resulted from the flowers that I hand pollinated with the pollen from the Aloe pictured above (Grandidentata??). I saved the seed and am currently germinating them in a pot. I have nearly 100 seedling coming up!! It's really exciting to see! It will be nice to see how the seedlings turn out.

Wantonamara, Thanks for the ID. I had actually done some research and had come up with that same ID. It's good to have some confirmation on that. I will be looking up that thread! Thanks!!

[Boo Hollow]

I believe there were several articles published in the earlier CSSA Journals under the title "Horsehair Confidential" that detailed pollination techniques for aloes, haworthias, et al. Here is a link to the abstract of one of the articles. Most of the older journals are still available (I can't offer back issues for sale here but send PM and I can send you in the right direction).

http://www.cssainc.org/index.php?opt...314&Itemid=212