Hybridizing

Basic hybridizing is easy to do and daylily flowers are easy to hybridize. Each flower has all the necessary parts to get you started.

Select the flowers

You can select the flowers you want to cross and collect the information you need to make the cross. You may choose a flower based on various characteristics. However, it is good to have some objectives in mind when selecting the flowers.

Typically each flower has six stamens. Each stamen has an anther that contains the pollen. The pollen contains the sperm cells. The Pistol is the female reproductive system of the daylily. The ovary is at the base and the tip of the long stem is the Stigma. The pollen is placed on the stigma. You should make sure that you cross tetraploid daylilies with other tetraploids and diploids with other diploids as it is highly unlikely that you will get any viable seed from a diploid-tetraploid cross.

Because the life cycle of the daylily flower is short, it is necessary to apply pollen to the Stigma in the morning once the pollen has had time to become dry and fluffy. After the cross is made, you should mark the flower to ensure that it is not removed by mistake while deadheading. The label is fastened carefully to the plant’s stem just below the flower.

Do not be disappointed if some of your crosses do not work. Pollination is not always successful and there are several reasons why this happens. Weather conditions can affect the success of your hybridizing efforts. Rain, humidity, and temperature can all negatively affect results.

Collect the Seeds

If pollination is successful the flower will shed, and you will see a small green coloured seed pod. The seed pod will continue to grow and in approximately six weeks it will ripen and turn a dark brown, at which time it will start to split open at the top. It's at this time you should remove the seeds from the pod and dry them for a day before placing them in a plastic bag and storing them in the fridge until you are ready to plant the seeds.

Plant the Seeds

This can be very simple! Using a container (that has drainage holes) filled with potting soil, and a pen or pencil, create a hole that is 1/4" – 1/2" deep and drop one of the seeds into the hole. Then cover your seed with more potting soil. Water your seeds until you see the water coming out of the drainage holes. It is best after this initial watering, to water at the bottom of the container to prevent mold and other problems.

Germination generally occurs within 10 days!

As your plant establishes you can start to give it diluted fertilizer and watch it grow.

Once late spring arrives (generally June here in our region) they can be planted outside in the garden. It can take 2-3 years before you will see your first blooms. However, be patient, your hard work will pay off.