I like to concentrate my pollen on a single branch, shooting to get about 100 seeds from each cross. I use Qtips to apply the collected pollen. I generally save the best male from each strain, and use them for desirable crosses.
I may be wrong, but everything I've read says that water will kill fresh pollen. I pollinate, wait a day, and then mist water heavily over the plant to kill loose pollen.
Making your own seeds gives you true independence from the seed houses. Keep good records and you'll be impressed with your own foresight, later.
