Pollen Weed: How to Collect, Store & Use it?

Hello, there grower fam! We have all obsessed over our cannabis plant; how much it grows every day, the amount of sunlight it needs, and every single instruction that would lead to beautiful, green buds. While growing marijuana is not a child's play, we have seen many seasoned cannabis users experimenting, trying to curate the dank flowers that they love so much. And it makes sense too! When you have your supply, you don't need to empty your pockets just to get a whiff of that beautiful plant. 

That being said, the lockdown, the oozing creativity, and of course, the slight loosening up of the world regarding cannabis has people searching for DIY ways to grow their own weed. And when it comes to growing cannabis, collecting pollen weed becomes an important aspect. 

Plants reproduction works in a slightly different manner than it does in humans. However, it still involves the role of a male and female plant. The male plant bears the responsibility to produce pollen, which is transferred by the wind to the female plant (the stigma). This leads to seed germination, and ultimately to newer plants. Seems like a fair cycle, doesn't it?

In the wild, pollination is dependent upon the wind. But when you're working in a controlled environment with your green canna-plants, pollen weed needs to be collected, stored, and then used as per convenience.

If you're not looking to grow new seeds, collecting and storing weed pollen is used to preserve cannabis genetics, and fertilized with the female plants as and when needed. This is how the cross-breeds are curated and authentic strains are preserved. 

Before we move on to the pollen collection methods, let's first understand why there is a need to collect and store weed pollen. 

Why do you need to preserve cannabis genetics?

As a grower, you may have come across instances where you want to shift to newer strains or simply mix and match to curate a new one. Moving on from a certain strain is tough since you lose the original genetics when you shift to the other one. Many people preserve the mother plant, but it takes so much care, maintenance, and space, especially if they are not producing any flowers. This is where collecting and preserving cannabis genetics becomes a viable option.

Secondly, procuring cannabis genetics from nurseries and seed banks is a tedious job. If you ever have to cross-breed or simply return to the original plant, having your own pollen/seed bank will fasten the entire process while making you independent from the slow, tiresome process. 

Collecting and storing pollen weed is a fantastic way to experiment with your cannabis plant, as well as for preserving the authentic and original genetics of the mother plant. Some people like to save the seed, which is also a great option since pollen is a little more laborious to collect. However, if done right, you can turn the pollen, which is viable only for a week or so, into a preserved genetic that can last for up to a year when stored correctly. 

| Also Read: Pollen Press: What is it & How to Use a Pollen Press? |

How to collect the Weed Pollen?

Before we start with the pollen collection methods and dealing with the tiny, featherweight element, let's lay down a few ground rules. 

• Make sure there is no air/wind in the room. Turn off all fans, keeping the movement to a minimum. 
• It is advised to handle the pollen while wearing latex gloves. 
• Use a mask if you don't want to end up inhaling the pollen and sneezing like a banshee. If you're extremely sensitive, wear goggles and a respiratory mask. 
• Have your work station prepared! Pollen is extremely sensitive and susceptible to blowing off with the wind. It would do well if you have all the things that you require to store the pollen.
• Once you are done dealing with pollen, change your clothes and take a shower before you decide to move out of your home. 
• And this goes without saying, but don't handle pollen when you're baked. It won't be a very successful session!

Collecting weed pollen is a very sensitive activity. We don't want to allow the wind to take these little particles to the female plants, which would then lead to female plants producing seeds instead of green buds. It may also lead to Hermaphroditic plants, which produce average buds and seeds. If possible, keep the male and female plants in separate rooms. If you don't have space, ensure that they are not placed in close proximity while being in the same room. 

Male cannabis plants start their pollen production after a few weeks into the flowering cycle. Once they reach this stage, the pollen sacs split open, allowing the wind to carry the pollen to the female plants. You can find the pollen sacs where the plant's branch and stalk meet. 

The most important thing while capturing the pollens is to ensure that you collect them at the right time. If you fail to do so, the pollen will be released into the air, and once the male plant is done with the job, it starts withering. Make sure you capture the pollen as soon as the sacs are open when they are most viable. 

There are two simple ways to collect pollen weed; one involving snipping away a flower cluster while the other entailing a lot of shaking. Let's get started with the first method. 

First Method of Cannabis Pollen Collection

You would need a sealed storage container or a heavy-duty Ziploc bag to successfully collect the pollen. Use scissors to snip off a cluster of the cannabis plant, including the pollen sac. Place them in the container or the bag, and store them in a warm, dry, and dim place for a week. This is done to dry the cluster, making it easier for the sac to open up and let the pollen out. 

To test if the cluster has dried completely, give the container a good shake. If you see the pollen easily spilling out from the sacs, they are ready to be collected. If the pollen sac doesn't open up easily, dry it for a few more days before attempting again. 

After a successful shaking session, it is time to separate the plant matter and the pollen using a micron screen. Place the wax paper/parchment paper beneath the screen. Dump the cluster over the micron screen, and the pollen should fall right through it, onto the paper below. Make sure you're not attempting this in a place where the wind/air can carry pollen away. 

Second Method of Cannabis Pollen Collection

Not everybody is a fan of snipping their plants, so here's a better way to collect the pollen weed. You would still need wax/parchment paper, but instead of cutting the segment, we would just give it a shake. 

Let me explain this better. 

When the pollen sacs are mature and ready to burst open, you place the parchment or wax paper beneath them and give the branch a flick or shake. This would allow the pollen to fall onto the paper. Once collected, pour the pollen through a micron screen to sift any plant matter that may have sneaked into the paper. 

After filtering, spread the pollen (use a clean brush) on the paper and place it in a dim, dry, and warm place. The temperature should range between 65 and 75 degrees and the ideal humidity is 30%-60%. Allow it to dry for 48 hours, after which you can move on to the storage process. 

| Also Read: What is Kief: How to Collect & Use It? |

How to store cannabis pollen?

You have harvested your pollen, it is time to preserve it to ensure that it lasts long enough for fertilization. 

The #1 rule when it comes to storing pollen is to keep it away from moisture. You follow this, and your pollen will last for as long as you want. Pollens are not naturally equipped with a strong, protective outer shell, which explains why they decompose when in contact with moisture. 

Many cannabis growers also swear by the flour-pollen mixture method which seemingly works extremely well to preserve the weed genetics. You mix the pollen with flour, in the ratio of 4:1 (flour to pollen) for long-term storage. The flour takes away any moisture that may have seeped into the pollen, similar to how we place our smartphones in rice if it comes in contact with water. As flour absorbs the moisture, pollen remains viable for a longer amount of time. And if you're worried this would affect the fertilization process, fret not. The female cannabis plant knows just what it likes, and rejects everything else. No harm was done!

Coming to the actual storing part, cannabis pollen requires a dry, airtight, and dark place where it remains out of light. Keep your eye on the temperature fluctuations as they can lead to cell damage or moisture due to condensation. You can store it in the refrigerator or the freezer. 

Coming to the storage container, I honestly prefer a glass jar instead of freezer/plastic bags. They are more reliable, and in terms of air-tight quality, they have superior hold. For an added layer of protection, you can store the small glass container in a bigger container, to ensure no amount of air/moisture can find its way inside. 

Pollen Usage: Fertilization 

Once you are ready to use your pollen weed, it is time to carefully take it out of the storage and fertilize it with the female plant. However, if you're not planning to use the entire batch, extract only a little amount, leaving the rest in the storage itself. This is done so that the temperature fluctuation doesn't ruin the entire collected pollen batch. 

The first step to using the pollen is leaving it out for 12-24 hours. This allows the pollen to thaw without any hindrance from moisture or air. After the pollen has come to room temperature, it is time to pollinate the plants. 

You can use a simple Q-tip or a brush to transfer the pollen onto the female pistils. For more professional ones, they use a pollen bladder to do the task.

Your female plants should be 21 days or 3 weeks into their flowering phase before you decide to pollinate. You apply the pollen where the buds are developing, which can be found where the leaves of the plant meet the stem. You will notice a few white hairs, which are where the pollination will occur. 

You can apply cannabis pollen from multiple strains to a single female plant. But make sure to label the branch to document the traits and unique characteristics. Make sure you keep the plants isolated from the rest to ensure there is no accidental cross-pollination. 

This brings us to the end of pollen weed collection, storage, and usage. Hope this was helpful and you found it interesting. If you have any questions, feel free to comment below, and I'll get back to you. 

For more such articles, keep watching this space.