How to Pollinate Cigar Plant: Increase Your Yield

Cigar plant (Cuphea ignea) is a beautiful and ornamental annual plant that is native to Mexico and Central America. It is commonly grown for its vibrant red, orange, and yellow tubular flowers that resemble a cigar. Cigar plant is an easy-to-grow plant that requires minimal care and maintenance. However, if you want to increase your yield, you need to learn how to pollinate your cigar plants properly. In this article, we will discuss the steps on how to pollinate cigar plant and increase your yield.

Why Pollination is Important

Pollination is the process of transferring pollen from the male reproductive organ (anther) of a flower to the female reproductive organ (stigma) of another flower. This process is vital in the reproduction of flowering plants. Without pollination, plants cannot produce fruits or seeds. In the case of cigar plants, pollination is essential in producing more flowers and increasing their yield.

When to Pollinate Cigar Plant

Cigar plants bloom all summer long, producing tubular flowers that attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. The best time to pollinate your cigar plants is when they are in full bloom. During this time, the flowers are open and ready for pollination.

How to Pollinate Cigar Plant

Pollinating cigar plants is easy and can be done in two ways – natural pollination or hand pollination.

Natural Pollination

Natural pollination occurs when bees, butterflies, or hummingbirds visit the flowers and transfer pollen from one flower to another. To attract these pollinators to your garden, you need to provide a suitable habitat for them by planting other flowering plants nearby.

Hand Pollination

Hand pollination is a more controlled method of pollinating your cigar plants. This method involves manually transferring pollen from the anther of one flower to the stigma of another flower using a small brush or cotton swab.

Here are the steps on how to hand pollinate your cigar plants:

Identify the flowers that you want to pollinate. Choose mature flowers that have fully opened.
Find the anther of the flower. The anther is the male reproductive organ that produces pollen. It is usually located at the top of a slender filament.
Gently brush the anther with a small brush or cotton swab to collect the pollen.
Find the stigma of another flower. The stigma is the female reproductive organ that receives pollen. It is usually located in the center of the flower.
Gently rub the collected pollen onto the stigma.
Repeat this process until you have pollinated all the flowers that you want to.

Tips for Pollinating Cigar Plant

Pollinate your cigar plants early in the morning when the flowers are fresh and full of nectar.
Use a small brush or cotton swab to transfer pollen to avoid damaging the flower.
Avoid touching the petals of the flower as they are delicate and can be easily damaged.
Keep your hands clean and free from chemicals to prevent contamination of pollen.

FAQ

How often do I need to pollinate my cigar plants?

You only need to pollinate your cigar plants once during their blooming season. However, if you want to increase your yield, you can pollinate them periodically.

Can I use a different type of plant to pollinate my cigar plants?

No, you cannot use a different type of plant to pollinate your cigar plants. Cigar plants require cross-pollination, which means that they need pollen from another cigar plant to produce seeds and fruits.

Do I need to remove the stamen before pollinating my cigar plant?

No, you do not need to remove the stamen before pollinating your cigar plant. The stamen is the male reproductive organ that produces pollen, and it will not interfere with the pollination process.

Can I grow cigar plants indoors?

Yes, you can grow cigar plants indoors as long as they receive plenty of bright, indirect sunlight and adequate water and nutrients.

In conclusion, pollinating your cigar plants is an easy and straightforward process that can help increase your yield. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can ensure that your cigar plants produce more flowers and fruits, providing you with a vibrant and colorful garden all summer long.