15. The hardest part about hybridizing is getting a competent, reliable and trustworthy lab.

14. Know what you are breeding for. Any idiot can make a seed pod.

13. Buy new plants. You should always keep updating your bloodlines.

12. Whites come in several varieties and it is very important to be able to tell them apart. Check the back side of lateral sepals. They are usually green, pink or of no noticeable color. Those with green on the back permit the yellow to come through when used as the pollen parent on yellows.

11. Everyone needs whites, whites with red lips, multifloras, etc. Even if your aim is to make the best novelty or red, you can increase size quicker by introducing a white than any other way. Multifloras increase flower count.

10. Learn about ploidy.

9.  The pod parent is apparently dominant for shape.

8.  When breeding with yellows, the yellow flower should be the pod parent.

7.  Learn about genetics.

6. BEFORE making a hybrid, learn about the qualities and faults of a plant. When breeding, try to correct the faults and keep the qualities.

5. Use the best possible flowers in hybridizing to obtain the best results.

4. Do not make a hybrid because you can. Any idiot can.

3. The best thing that I have found to store pollen is glassine envelopes (used for stamps by collectors). Many stamp shops sell 100 for $5 or so. You can write the name of the plant and the date collected on it and store it in the refrigerator.

2. Pollinate fresh flowers. Pollen, on the other hand, can be stored for a while. If taking pollen from flowers, take it from fresh flowers.

1. Buy flat (not pointy) toothpicks.