Dragon Fruit Pollen Applicator Yellow

Using a manual nasal aspirator to puff pollen into the stigma of a dragon fruit flower is a simple and effective hand-pollination technique. This method mimics natural pollination by gently blowing pollen directly onto the sticky stigma of the flower.

A manual nasal aspirator (like a baby nose sucker) is a fantastic tool for hand-pollinating dragon fruit, especially in wet or humid weather when a brush can collect too much moisture and damage the pollen.

Here’s a clear step-by-step guide:

🌼 What You’ll Need:

• A manual nasal aspirator (the rubber bulb type, like a baby nose sucker)

• A small container or spoon to collect pollen

• Access to open dragon fruit flowers (usually bloom at night and are receptive the same night)

🌸 Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Collect the Pollen

• Identify fresh, open dragon fruit flowers (typically bloom between 7 PM–2 AM).

• Use a small spoon, brush, or your fingers to gently collect pollen from the anthers (the yellow-tipped filaments).

• Place the pollen into a clean, dry surface like a spoon or small dish.

• Optional: You can collect pollen from a different variety to ensure cross-pollination (important for some varieties).

2. Load the Aspirator

• Squeeze the bulb of the aspirator first to expel air.

• Carefully touch the tip of the aspirator to the pollen to suck a small amount inside. The pollen should loosely sit in the bulb or at the tip.

3. Locate the Stigma

• Find the central structure of the flower — this is the stigma. It looks like a cluster of white or pale fingers rising above the yellow anthers.

• The stigma must be open and sticky (receptive) for successful pollination.

4. Puff the Pollen

• Gently insert the tip of the aspirator near (not touching) the stigma.

• Carefully release the bulb (or squeeze gently again if using it to puff air out) to blow the pollen onto the stigma.

• Make sure some pollen lands on the stigma’s surface — a light dusting is enough.

5. Repeat if Needed

• You can repeat this process with other flowers or apply more pollen if needed.

• Label hand-pollinated flowers (optional) to track fruit set.