some species stigma are receptive from the get go but the pollen is not, like Astrophytum. so if you run your brush through the filaments, you wont see much pollen where as if you wait for 2 days and do the same the brush will be coated in yellow dust. many cacti do that, probabyl to help promote cross pollination. Stigmas also become more receptive at different times depending on species.
i personally use those really tiny paint brushes the ladies use for makeup around their eyes. they are fine and work great without really messing up the stigma too much (q-tips dont hold and release pollen nearly as good, and they are huge).
ideally its nice to store pollen for timely species, then there is not guessing games and playing around
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Stephen Robert Irwin: 22 February 1962 – 4 September 2006. Rest In Peace.