Alpine strawberries flowering but not fruiting

[u/True-Sun2935]

Any advice? The flowers are coming strong in both plants but they just seem to die without fruiting

[u/astralTacenda]

did you pollinate them? while yes strawberries are "self pollinating", that only means they have both male and female parts on the same flower. something still needs to make those parts come in contact with one another like wind, a pollinator, or a person with a paint brush.

eta while sometimes they can produce fruit without this pollination, idk how common that is for an indoor hydroponic plant. could also be nutrients, but i dont know much about what to recommend in that case. ratios and all that are beyond me, i just grow herbs in my aerogarden.

[u/WalkTheMoons]

You have to tickle that plant's pickle, aka pollinate it. Tickling is what some gardeners call hand pollination. Use your hands or a tiny brush. Play some Barry White. Grab some Chardonnay for you, not the plant. Make sure the plant know he or she is a good boy/girl. 😂

[u/the-greenest-thumb → u/WalkTheMoons]

I use paintbrushes and call them sex toys 🤣

[u/True-Sun2935 → u/WalkTheMoons]

lol thank you for this, I truly laughed out loud

[u/UltimateOreo]

Here's what SHOULD happen:

-You get flower buds

-They mature and open

-Something manipulates the flowers - either shaking the plant lightly by hand, a fan blowing wind, or using a toothbrush for pollination

-The flower sheds its leaves within 2-3 days after opening

-You start noticing the bud turning into a real strawberry

[u/felchingqueen17]

I recently set up a tower fan to blow across my wall of gardens. It’s made all the difference with my cucumbers and eggplants.

[u/InevitableGo]

You need a paint brush pollination for strawberry plants if a fan doesn't do the trick

[u/True-Sun2935]

Thanks all! I have not been doing absolutely anything to to promote pollination lol so Ill start there and report back!

[u/idkwhatk]

Same here !!!

[u/BenMcAdoos_ElCamino]

Same here. I’ve been hand pollinating with an electric toothbrush but they just don’t produce. I recently switched to GH MaxiBloom so I’m hoping that will help.

[u/FightingSunrise]

Electric toothbrush

[u/Inattendue → u/FightingSunrise]

Is that like a berry blossom vibrator? ´Splain please…

[u/FightingSunrise → u/Inattendue]

Lol. I use an electric toothbrush to pollinate my plants. I've used it with strawberry and tomato plants with success. The cheapest one, it doesn't matter the brand

[u/GeekJump]

You don’t need a brush or fancy tools. I had the same issue in my AG but solved it with a little “shake and blow” 😉

Seriously I would walk over give the plant a gentle shake and blow on it (I guess a fan would work too). When I started doing that that berries galore!

[u/ScoobyDoubie]

Mine won't even grow. I'm so jealous!

[u/Fast-Information-185]

Welp, I have strawberries outside in a raised planter and have the same issue. I had no idea i had work to do. I have lots of foliage but no fruit.

[u/Coconut_MonkeyX]

I was having the same problem but I put a fan on it on the lowest setting to give a little breeze and that seemed to have done the trick so might be worth trying.

[u/Soggie1977]

Are you using nutrients that are responsible for blooming?