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Care of Your Pregnant Plant and its Seed Pod You pollinated the flower, and you notice the ovary starting to swell with seed. So what does your plant need that's different now that it's "with pod"? How long should the pod stay on the plant? How do I know when it's ready to come off the plant? What do I do with it once it's ready? How do package my pod for shipment to the lab? When is the best time of the week to ship? Q: What special care does my pregnant plant need? A: Remember that your plant is still actively growing and will be placing a lot of nutrients into the pod and seeds. In general, give your plant the same amount of light, water and fertilizer that it needs to produce buds and flowers. Q: How long should I leave the pod on the plant? A: There are lots of references as to how long a pod takes to mature. Do some homework and find out what is typical for the type of plant you are growing. Keep in mind that maturation times can change dramatically depending on culture. In general, plants growing in a warm sunny climate will mature pods faster than the same type of plant growing in cool cloudy conditions. Also, plants growing in a greenhouse tend to mature pods faster than orchids grown as houseplants. Q: How do I know when the pod is ready to be harvested? A: You need to keep an eye on the pod so you don't miss an opportunity to harvest it before it dehisces. You will need learn about maturation times for your specific conditions. A rule of thumb is when you notice the pod start to yellow at the veins, it is getting ready to deshisce. It is common for newer growers to harvest the pod too early because they are anxious to see what grows. Be patient and check the pod often. If the pod starts to split, cut it off the plant and put it in a paper envelope. Seal the envelope and then tape all the edges of the envelope to keep the seed inside. Put the envelope in a cool, dry place (out of the greenhouse) to minimize exposure to mold spores. This is the proper way to seal a green pod, too, because green pods may split before reaching the lab, and you don't want the seed to escape.
Q: How do I package my pod for shipment to the lab? A: Put the envelope containing the pod into a package (envelope or box) that will prevent damage to the pod during transit. Paper (newspaper, paper towels, etc.) is a good insulating packing material that will not accumulate moisture. It is not necessary to use plastic bubble wrap. Q: When is the best time of the week to ship to the lab? A: Typically, earlier in the week is better because you don't want your package sitting in some warehouse over the weekend, especially during the summer (too hot) and winter (too cold) months. In the spring and fall, it is not as critical, since the temperature fluctuates less. It is always appreciated if you let us know when you ship your package so we can be prepared to process your pods as soon as they arrive. We will also let you know if there are any delays in shipping if we know the package is coming.
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