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TONIGHT WE FEAST! (tiny cherimoya fruit) (feddit.org)

submitted 2 weeks ago by Luccus@feddit.org to c/houseplants@mander.xyz

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Last year I managed to fertilize a single flower on my cherimoya tree, which is a bit difficult as the flowers are female in the morning and turn male in the evening. This year I will hopefully be able to have the tree in a south-facing window. So I'm hoping for proper fruiting next year.

Also, strangely enough, cherimoyas seem to do well in an indoor environment and don't seem to have any pest issues at all.

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[-] Swedneck@discuss.tchncs.de 12 points 2 weeks ago

i never cease to be astounded by how things go about procreating, what's next? the flower being half male/half female split down the middle, and having that split rotate?

[-] Luccus@feddit.org 6 points 2 weeks ago

Damn, woke plants. lol

[-] ryannathans@aussie.zone 5 points 2 weeks ago

Does the pollen die if you collect it and store it?

[-] Luccus@feddit.org 5 points 2 weeks ago

I think so. Although I've seen videos, where people will fertilize with pollen that's up to a few days old.

My current method is just having multiple flowers and since they usually open one after the other, I'll just sacrifice the first one and keep a daily fertilization streak going.

…btw. don't use cotton swabs. I used cotton swaps and a small brush is definitly the better tool.

[-] ryannathans@aussie.zone 5 points 2 weeks ago

I usually use an electric toothbrush with no head but never seen this species before

[-] nokturne213@sopuli.xyz 3 points 2 weeks ago

My dad used to use a toothpick to pollinate his cactus.

[-] nokturne213@sopuli.xyz 4 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

That was going to be my question. Collect pollen at night, fertilize in the morning.

Next option, a second tree in a dark room with ~~UV~~ grow lights on an alternative day-night cycle.

[-] ryannathans@aussie.zone 5 points 2 weeks ago

I think you'd use normal spectrum or red/blue lights instead of UV but that's smart

[-] nokturne213@sopuli.xyz 4 points 2 weeks ago

I guess the correct term I should have used is grow lights.

this post was submitted on 01 May 2025

105 points (98.2% liked)

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