How to pollinate Heliamphora

Pollinating Heliamphoras is not as simple as pollinating Venus flytraps or bladderworts, which is why I created this guide on How to pollinate Heliamphora. Heliamphoras are not self-pollinating, and for successful pollination, it is necessary to have multiple blooming plants together.

In the photo below, you can see a Heliamphora flower.

The most challenging task for successful pollination is obtaining pollen from the plants. Heliamphoras do not release pollen like most other plants. In nature, pollen is released from the anthers through the vibration of pollinators‘ wings, so this process needs to be replicated to collect the pollen. A suitable source of vibration could be a razor or an electric toothbrush. If you prefer a more traditional method without using electricity, a tuning fork works well. For easier handling, it is recommended to trim the petals, as this will improve access to the flower’s internal organs.

The biggest challenge is determining the right time for harvest. Flowers release pollen after maturing, but within a limited timeframe. I’ve found that collecting pollen in several sessions works best. The pollen is very fine, so be cautious to prevent it from being blown away or missing that it has been collected. I recommend using a test tube for this. Insert the flower into the test tube, and the tube will transfer the vibrations to the flower. The pollen cannot be dispersed because it is in a closed space. Alternatively, you can pour the pollen onto paper, but it’s crucial to handle it very carefully.

In the photo below, you can see that the pollen is very fine and almost invisible unless present in large quantities.

For pollination, you can use a brush or my personal favorite—a toothpick with a darkened tip. It’s easy to clean and makes the collected pollen clearly visible. Next, transfer the pollen onto the stigma. Keep in mind that the stigma only accepts pollen for a limited time, so it’s a good idea to repeat the pollination process several times. After all, we don’t want to fail simply due to poor timing, right? 😊

Finally, carefully apply the pollen to the stigma.